Kathmandu, September 24

The office of Kathmandu Metropolitan City announced a plan to build more public toilets in busy thoroughfares of the capital.

The metropolis said it has allocated Rs 20 million from the budget approved by the 28th municipal council on Thursday for the construction and maintenance of public toilets to improve sanitation, cleanliness and beauty of the city.

A study on public latrines in the Kathmandu in 2012 showed that people refrained from using public toilets due to poor hygiene and lack of cleanliness. Although four years have passed since the study was conducted the condition of public latrines still remains pathetically poor in Kathmandu.

There were a total of 68 public toilets in the Valley when the study was conducted. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has built additional 10 public latrines in the Valley since, but most people avoid using them.

According to KMC, it has identified 52 places to build additional public toilets.

According to the study, 19 per cent of people on the move did not want to use public toilets due poor to poor hygiene and lack of cleanliness. It was found that around 1,000 people used each public toilet a day.