This is the wall near the Jyothi Circle, facing the Balmatta new road. Apart from being in the centre of the city, this wall is part of a landscape and includes, in close proximity to it, one of the leading hospitals – KMC, a government college, Jyothi talkies and several other prominent places, and residences of eminent citizens of Mangalore.
Sadly, instead of beautifying the area as it was meant to do, it serves as the local urinal, and sometimes a garbage dump. The stench, ironically attracts others keen to get rid of rubbish or body fluids.
It has been months since anyone walked on this footpath, and it is a real eyesore. It’s actually a fairly well-laid footpath which can be used by the public, if only people stopped urinating or throwing the garbage there.
School children are forced to walk through the filth, as it is usually a bustling road with heavy traffic, It is also used as a parking lot for two wheelers, which does not stop people from taking a quick leak, but prevents the public from walking freely.
Some do-gooders have tried to clean the area and the MCC has made several attempts, but to no avail. The muck has always made it back in a matter of days.
Sometimes, and perhaps to some extent, it is understandable, as there is a lack of public restrooms in the city, and especially in the area, and when one needs to go, they NEED to go. Guess, embarrassment is thrown out the window, as men are seen taking a leak on the nearest wall they can find and it seems to be no big deal, right?
In 2012, under the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC), by-laws, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike took an initiative to instill ‘civic sense’ among the citizenry, and decided to impose a fine of Rs 100 on whoever was found urinating in public. The MCC too followed its cue, but monitoring and enforcement is negligible and difficult.
Anguished by the lack of hygiene in this prominent area of the city, Newskarnataka spoke to Dr Anand – the medical superintendent at KMC, who said that several complaints have been made in the past but there has been no relief. He also said that, it not restricted to one area, but the entire city, state, nation, is facing the problem of public urination.
In his recent speech from the red fort, during the Independence Day celebrations, PM Narendra Modi called for a ‘Clean India’ mission. Quoting the same Dr. .Anand said, “we would like to see the drive for sanitization”.
He however concluded that it is due to lack of awareness and self realization that people behave in such a manner. He also informed Newskarntaka, that the MCC Corporator of the area – Vinayraj is aware of the situation, although there is not much heed paid to the issue.
The issue of public urination is not limited to one area, it is a very common thing around the city, and not considered to be a serious concern. The corporation does make an effort to clean up the mess, but it takes two hands to clap, and the public does not fulfill its civic duties, making a permanent cleanup a mirage.
A MCC official, who did not wish to be named, said that the corporation is trying to create awareness; however the people must act responsibly, he said
“Although Mangalore is a small city, it has a large population, and controlling this type of behavior is difficult, if there is a lack of civic sense. People must understand it first”, he concluded.
The public on the other hand, blames the corporation, for not building sufficient public toilets in the city, or claim that they do not have money to pay-n-pee.
Thus the saga continues, as men in that unmistakable, back-turned pose, are caught mid-stream on the streets.
