'Road-wetters' photos to be posted online in Bangalore

Bangalore: With sky walks and underpasses turning into regular urinals in the city, members of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council have begun cracking the whip to warn that unzipping in public places can lead to embarrassment. Deputy Mayor S Harish, who of late has been dogged in controversy, has been applauded by all quarters for the move to photograph and film offenders and to put it up on a common website. The civic body plans to come down hard on those caught spitting in public as well, and believe the move will discourage offenders.

The move by the palike seems to be one of frustration caused by the flood of complaints regarding the maintenance of such infrastructure projects, which the corporation has spent over Rs 1,000 crores on.

Standing Committee Chairman Geetha Shashikumar supported this idea and encouraged strong enforcement along with penalties for unruly citizens caught urinating in public.
Citing the K R Market flyover and Majestic underpass, which have become synonymous as open public toilets, she said that the nuisance not only pollutes public property, but the unpleasant stench affects business in the area.

"It is sad to see that the educated folk of the city do not take this simple rule seriously. They urinate and spit in public and some even dump their garbage in public areas. First of all, the palike is finding it difficult to manage 198 wards and we would appreciate it if the public is aware about such a simple rule," said Shashikumar

PCB not convinced

Pollution Control Board (PCB) officials however do not seem too convinced with the grand plan. Taking a dig at the corporation, Ramesh Kumar, an official from the PCB said, "Section 133 under the Indian penal code, which covers Public Nuisance Act, has not been implemented properly. Moreover, increasing the number of public toilets under the corporation does not even seem to be in the pipeline as of now." The board has recorded an increase in these offences and plans to write to the BBMP highlighting the same.

Unimpressed

Resident Welfare Associations have heard many such hollow promises and do not seem to be impressed either.

"I don't step out of home after sunset as many of the street lights don't function and all the construction works going on pose a threat to residents. Besides, vehicles splash slush and urine on people walking by. Instead of beautifying the city, the corporation has made it uglier with flyovers and underpasses, which are nothing but open toilets," S Uma, member of the Malleshwaram RWA said.

Bharathinagar resident Aslam Khan on the other hand believes that photos and videos of offenders, if published, would do the job. "The BBMP should film and publish violations on their website. This will embarrass persons, who create a public nuisance. If this is not done, then our plan of making Bangalore a green and clean city will remain a distant dream."

BBMP to go strong

Meanwhile, Y M Ramchandramurthy, deputy commissioner (health department) of the BBMP, has retorted back to these claims saying, "The corporation cannot keep a watch on a population of over one crore people. We have submitted proposals to the commissioner to increase the number of public toilets in the required areas and we will begin a stronger awareness campaign this time."