PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / Dehradun
Open urination continues to remain a common sight across Dehradun as the city grapples with public toilet shortage. From busy markets and roadside corners to empty plots and walls, people relieve themselves and complain that the lack of proper public toilet facilities is a perennial problem for the Doonites.
The additional municipal commissioner Praveen Kumar stated that the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) currently operates only 12 public toilets across the city. These include facilities at ISBT, Prem Nagar, Parade Ground and a few major market areas.
The residents say that the number is too low for a rapidly growing city like Dehradun, especially with increasing traffic, tourism and daily public movement.
A resident Rahul Goswami said that open urination has become common in crowded areas because public toilets are either unavailable or located too far away. “In many places, people simply do not have access to nearby toilets, so they end up using roadside corners or walls,” he said.
Another resident Abhishek Kashyap said that authorities should first improve public infrastructure before taking strict action against people. “Open urination cannot be stopped unless the authorities address and solve the acute toilet crunch,” he said. Notably, Kumar said that action might be taken against people found urinating in public places if complaints are received.
The issue has also become a major concern for women commuters and working professionals. A working professional Medha Chauhan said that women face greater difficulties because safe and clean public washrooms are limited in many areas. “Women often have to wait for long hours because proper public toilets are not easily available. It becomes especially difficult while travelling or working outside for long periods,” she said.
