Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation revised development plan: No quota for toilets for women, disabled in draft plan, says former standing panel chief
In her objections sent to PCMC, Sawale emphasised that this 'critical blunder' profoundly undermines public health, gender equity as well as the dignity and accessibility needs of women, persons with disabilities and senior citizens. The draft DP has also failed to comply with crucial national and global sanitation mandates.
As per the draft development plan, PCMC's population is projected to soar from an estimated 27 lakh in 2021 to 42.45 lakh by 2031 and a staggering 61 lakh by 2041. The absence of any dedicated plot for public sanitation in the Revised Draft Development Plan is a critical oversight. Despite extensive reservations for amenities like schools and parks across 173.12 sq.km, this essential public health infrastructure has been conspicuously ignored, Sawale said.
'The absence of public toilets encourages open urination and defecation, contributing to the spread of diseases like cholera, dysentery, hepatitis, and typhoid. The proximity of PCMC to rivers such as Pavana, Indrayani, and Mula too heightens the risk of water contamination from unmanaged human waste. This pollution affects drains and public spaces, undermining urban hygiene and conflicting with PCMC's sustainable development objectives,' Sawale said.
Sawale said the absence of accessible and appropriate sanitation facilities disproportionately affects women, adolescent girls, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
Sawale said that pregnant as well as women undergoing menstruation face severe hygiene challenges and increased health risks such as urinary tract infections due to the lack of safe and adequate toilets. 'For persons with disabilities and senior citizens, the complete absence of accessible toilets severely restricts their participation in public life,' she said.
The draft DP directly disregards the Swachh Bharat Mission's (SBM) mandate for universal public sanitation, which recommends one public toilet seat per 200-250 users. It also ignores the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines recommending public toilets every 500–1,000 metres along arterial roads. Furthermore, the DP fails to align with the National Urban Sanitation Policy and Sustainable Development Goals for Clean Water and Sanitation, which targets adequate sanitation by 2030, Sawale alleged.
Sawale has urged the PCMC to reserve land for public toilets and urinals at regular intervals along arterial and sub-arterial roads, bus stands, metro stations, and marketplaces, ensuring these facilities are gender-segregated, accessible for persons with disabilities, and suitable for the elderly.
Additionally, she calls for a citywide toilet masterplan to ensure sustainable sanitation infrastructure. PCMC has called for suggestions and objections from the public for the draft of the revised development plan. Sawale has urged citizens to file their suggestions/objections and raise the issue of reserving space for public toilets and urinals.
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