Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, February 7

Welcome to Kathmandu, where only 33 public toilets exist to cater to a population of close to a million and the daily inflow of around 50,000 more people from the surrounding suburbs. Incidentally, four of these 33 toilets don’t work. Hence, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has decided to trigger a ‘toilet revolution’ in order to uplift sanitation scenario in the capital.

Kathmandu Mayor Keshav Sthapit, addressing a KMC board meeting, said, "Let the rest of the world go for any other revolution, what Kathmandu really needs is a toilet revolution. This alone will make Kathmandu a real capital where people from the world over can come and enjoy themselves."

Sthapit has asked ward chairmen to submit plans for construction of public toilets in their respective wards. Private parties will be invited to build the toilets. Ward offices will provide only the land while private parties handle the construction part.

The mayor plans to establish around 70 toilets, two in each ward. He added that several private parties had evinced interest in the scheme, on condition that they get a share of the profit pie. "We will encourage private parties to construct toilets in public places," Sthapit said.

Chief of Urban Environment Section, Robin Man Shrestha, said KMC is finalising a deal to be made with the Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) for an experimental urinal in an area of historical interest to tourists. Hanumandhoka in New Road is likely to chosen as the spot.

He added, “After that, we will go for making toilet complexes in different wards. Each will have shops and an information centre.”

Ten months ago, a report published by the Nepal Water for Health, an NGO working for water and sanitation, said Kathmandu has only 33 public toilets for its over 720,000 population and the thousands more trooping in daily from surrounding suburbs.

The report said only five toilets have access to piped water, and that too, from the dirty Bagmati river. Each toilet is used by an average minimum of 250 persons daily.