In Tumkur, a newly acquired ‘Sanchari’ toilet, purchased by the Municipal Corporation at a staggering ₹15 lakh, continues to sit idle without being made available for public use.
The decision to procure the ‘Sanchari’ toilet was made with the aim of providing essential facilities at key locations where they are most needed. However, after being exposed to rain for over a month, it has become damaged and is now at risk of rusting. The toilet stands locked and neglected in a corner, eliciting disappointment from citizens who expected the utilization of their tax money.
There are currently 13 public toilets and 10 community-operated facilities managed by the corporation in Tumkur. However, many remain locked due to lack of maintenance, while thousands of people visiting the city daily lack access to essential facilities.
Examples abound across various areas within Tumkur where valuable resources have been wasted on costly toilets that are not maintained or utilized effectively: doors have been left off four toilets constructed under Smart City initiatives; many existing public restrooms remain locked due to neglect; two smart toilets initiated four years ago near Siddhganga Women’s College now lie abandoned; and further objections arose when an expensive new mobile toilet was purchased instead of repairing existing ones.
Citizens express concerns about such wasteful spending, which appears aimed more at collecting commissions than providing real benefits. They call for greater accountability in ensuring that valuable resources are utilized effectively rather than being allowed to decay unused or non-functional.
As discussions continue regarding how best taxpayers’ money can be used efficiently by local officials, there is growing frustration among residents over what they perceive as ineffective governance leading to wastage rather than meaningful investment in crucial public infrastructure.