2 wards in SoBo free of open-air defecation, earn state honour

MUMBAI: Open-air squatters have been a part of the landscape of your city, but now that seems to be changing slowly.
For the first time in the history of Mumbai, two of its civic wards—B and C, both in south Mumbai—have been declared as being free from open-air defecation. This honour was bestowed by the state government at an awards ceremony held at Sahyadri Guest House at Malabar Hill on Friday.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the awards.
The ceremony was part of the government’s campaign to give a pat on the back for vicinities which have achieved the ‘defecation-free’ status.
At the awards ceremony, Fadnavis also felicitated a few women, especially those from the hinterland, who were instrumental in having toilets built in and around their houses. Some of these women had taken great pains by selling out or depositing the gifts they had received at the time of their wedding in order to have a toilet constructed.
The B and C civic wards largely comprise localities like Mumbadevi, Kalbadevi and Zaveri Bazar and thereabout.
However, the award for the city’s two civic wards could well be a left-handed compliment for Mumbaikars. The flip side of this honour also means that there are 22 civic wards where squatters still dot the wayside to answer nature’s call.
Brihanumbai Municipal Corporation has plans to make the entire city free from defecation by 2017, said sources in the civic body.
Slums, squatters on footpaths and floating population are responsible for defecation on roads, said civic officials. “Giving community toilets, repairing old ones and increasing capacity of toilets for the floating population is what the civic body is doing,” said a senior official.
Despite the awards, a few residents from B and C wards said that defecation is still a reality in their neighbourhood.