NEW DELHI: If you are in South Delhi hotels, restaurants and eateries then anyone willing to pay up to Rs 5 will get access to washrooms as they will turn into public toilets from next month.
Taking this decision, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) said the move would make more than 4,000 toilets accessible to the public. The civic body said it would enforce the rule by adding a provision to this effect in the health trade licences issued to these establishments.
SDMC commissioner Puneet Kumar Goel was quoted saying;
“The licence has a condition that the corporation can modify it any time. The move will be particularly beneficial for women who face problems due to lack of toilets in marketplaces,”
Restaurant managements, however, reacted with scepticism, with the trade association saying it was wrong to force the move on them. “This will violate our basic right to keep the rights of admission reserved. Besides, it will also raise issues regarding security,” said Riyaaz Amlani, president of the Restaurants Association of India.
Civic officials said lieutenant governor Anil Baijal had advised the SDMC to explore the possibility of opening up toilets in restaurants and hotels to the general public. Thereafter, the decision was taken after consultations.