Locals living in Dhobi Talao area on Thursday protested an upcoming toilet inside a garden on Hamalvadi lane. They took to streets saying the toilet is eating up some area of an already small garden. Its close proximity to a Fire Temple, Bai Avabai Ardeshir Wadia (Idawalla) Agiary, was also a reason for dissent.

"We staged a protest in the morning. The authorities are constructing a toilet in a small garden that is meant for small children. Earlier, the space was used by senior citizens in the locality, who used to sit and read during leisure. Also, considering its close proximity to Agiary, we fear that it will pollute the water in the well situated in the temple premises," said Cyrus Irani, a resident.

"A toilet should not be constructed close to Fire Temple," said Mehrwan Dastur, a priest at the Fire Temple.

Following the protest, the BMC stopped the work on the proposed toilet. "They said that they are going to make an air-conditioned toilet if we want. But what is the use? This space is so small that there is hardly any space for people," said Vidyadhar Bane, a local MNS member in the area.

"They claim to have put a notice here before starting the work. However, there was no such notice seeking suggestion and objection from citizens. They started the work all of a sudden. Even if I missed the notice, at least one of the boys who come here every day for gym should have seen it and alerted us," said Sanjay Kadekar, a local Shiv Sena party member.