Daijiworld Media Network - Kaup (SP)

Kaup, Sep 21: Due to the apathy of Padubidri gram panchayat a public toilet located near the Padubidri downtown has become unusable and hence drunkards have turned the spot into their den.

The public toilet is very near to Padubidri town and its market. As the toilet has not been taken care of, it is in a neglected state. The locals on their own have cleaned the toilet voluntarily. Since the last five years, it was being maintained by a private firm. As the toilet was located away from the bus stand, rarely did the people use it. The firm thereafter stopped maintaining the toilet. Later it was maintained by the staff who used to maintain the toilet near the gram panchayat market. Since the lockdown, the toilet also has been closed down.

From the last six months, this toilet has not been cleaned. Miscreants who broke open its door have thrown empty liquor bottles in the toilet bowl that has been filled up with bottles now. The locals say that they had brought this situation to the attention of officials and people's representatives many times but none have taken any action.

Acting panchayat development officer of Padubidri gram panchayat, Sathish said that he is not aware of the issue and the panchayat development officer is on leave and he is temporarily discharging duty in his place. He said that repair work in respect to the other toilet near the market is in progress.

There have been complaints about the non-existence of public toilets at Barkur, the town with 365 temples which is frequented by tourists, devotees and students. A toilet had been built near the bus stand but it is not being maintained since the last few years and the toilet is full of liquor bottles and things used for immoral activities.

Udupi taluk former president Barkur Sathish Poooary said that when he was the taluk panchayat president although the problem of space was encountered a toilet was built but regretted the fact that it is not being maintained now.