The public urinal units installed across Rewa city under the Swachh Bharat Mission and Swachh Survekshan campaign have largely fallen into disrepair, leaving residents with limited sanitation facilities and forcing many to resort to open urination.

Installed at a cost of several lakh rupees to improve public hygiene, most of the temporary plastic urinal boxes have either disappeared from the city's streets or become unusable due to years of poor maintenance, raising questions over the upkeep of civic infrastructure.

Sanitation Initiative Loses Momentum

A few years ago, the Rewa Municipal Corporation installed public urinal boxes at major intersections and public places to discourage open urination and improve cleanliness across the city.

Initially, the facilities were used by the public. However, civic officials allegedly failed to ensure regular cleaning, water supply and maintenance. Over time, accumulated filth and unhygienic conditions discouraged people from using them, leading to their gradual abandonment.

Today, several locations that once had public urinal units no longer have any facility, while the remaining structures are reportedly in a damaged and unusable condition.

Damaged Units Lying in Municipal Depot

Several discarded urinal boxes can now be seen lying unused in the municipal corporation's storage yard, highlighting what residents describe as a waste of public funds.

The deteriorating condition is not limited to urinal units. Garbage bins installed for wet and dry waste segregation have also suffered from neglect, with many missing lids, damaged structures and limited usability due to inadequate maintenance.

Temporary Solution Replaced Permanent Infrastructure

Residents have repeatedly demanded permanent public toilets across the city. However, instead of constructing permanent sanitation facilities, the municipal corporation opted for temporary plastic urinal units.

Officials say the absence of sustained maintenance caused the system to collapse within a few years. No alternative public sanitation facilities have been developed at several locations where the urinal boxes once existed, creating inconvenience for commuters and visitors.

Over 65 Units Installed

According to available records, around 65 public urinal boxes were installed in Rewa during the Swachh Survekshan campaign. Each unit reportedly cost more than ₹80,000, resulting in an expenditure of several lakh rupees.

Within nearly three years, however, most of the units had either become damaged or disappeared from public spaces, while no replacement infrastructure was introduced.

Mayor Blames Lack of Maintenance

Rewa Mayor Ajay Mishra acknowledged that the facilities deteriorated due to the absence of timely maintenance.

He said the issue extends beyond urinal units, noting that several other public assets, including garbage bins and bus shelters, are also in poor condition. The mayor stressed the need for better upkeep of civic infrastructure to ensure public facilities remain functional and useful for residents.

The condition of the abandoned sanitation infrastructure has once again drawn attention to the challenges of maintaining public assets after their installation, even as cities continue to invest in cleanliness and urban development initiatives.