The Greater Chennai Corporation has ordered all fuel stations in the city to provide the public free access to toilets.
A number of fuel stations deny access to toilets, claiming that the facilities have been developed for their own employees. Some stations collect money from people using the toilet.
For example, the Indian Oil fuel pump station near Omni Bus Stand in Koyambedu collects ₹5 to use the toilet.
Pointing to the fact that money has already been earmarked for maintenance of toilets in the sale of every litre of diesel and petrol, Corporation officials have asked the dealers to stop such illegal collection of money.
“Many complaints have been received from residents. Corporation officials will coordinate with the Union government to take action against the dealers who prevent access to the toilets,” said a civic official.
Meeting with dealers
As part of Swachh Bharat Mission, The Health Department officials of the Corporation have planned to conduct a meeting to sensitise all dealers to the importance of giving access to the general public free of cost. “We will have signboards in the fuel stations to inform the public,” said the official.
The civic body’s Solid Waste Management Department has taken the initiative under the Swachh Survekshan 2018.
“Cities are being ranked every year by the Government of India through the Ministry of Urban Development based on various marking system mentioned in the Toolkit of Swachh Survekshan 2018. The Toolkit, in section 3.11 under sanitation, mentions that all fuel pump stations in cities should provide access to toilets for general public,” said an official.
“We have already instructed the dealers of fuel pump stations in Corporation limits that the toilet should be made available free of cost. But many dealers continue to violate the norms. Some keep the toilets locked. This is wrong,” the official pointed out.
