Bengaluru, July 23 (IANS) Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the government over the condition of public toilets in Bengaluru, alleging that the state’s claims of building a “Brand Bengaluru” stand exposed by the city’s poor sanitation infrastructure.
Citing a survey conducted by the Bengaluru Political Action Committee (B.PAC), Ashoka claimed that Bengaluru has only one public toilet for every 30,000 people, calling it a reflection of the government’s failure to provide basic civic amenities in the country’s IT capital.
“The state government continues to speak about creating ‘Brand Bengaluru,’ but the reality on the ground tells a different story. It is shameful that Bengaluru, which enjoys global recognition as India’s IT-BT capital, is unable to provide even basic sanitation facilities to its residents,” Ashoka said in a statement.
Referring to findings from the B.PAC report, the BJP leader alleged that 58 per cent of public toilets in the city are unfit for use and have turned into garbage dumps and hubs for drug use and smoking.
He further claimed that 60 per cent of public toilets lack water facilities, while only six out of 142 toilets surveyed were found to be clean.
According to the report, Ashoka said, 94 per cent of the toilets are not accessible or suitable for women and persons with disabilities.
Ashoka accused the state government of being preoccupied with political battles while ignoring the daily hardships faced by lakhs of Bengalureans, office-goers, women, and sanitation workers.
“Where is the taxpayers’ money going? A government that cannot provide basic sanitation has no moral right to remain in office,” he said.
The Leader of the Opposition urged the government to immediately repair all closed public toilets and reopen them for public use. He also demanded that every public toilet be equipped with water, electricity, cleanliness, and adequate security measures.
Ashoka further asserted that Bengaluru’s voters would hold the government accountable in the upcoming Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections.
–IANS
mka/rad
