Background

In line with United Nations Millennium Development Goal 7: “Ensure Environmental Sustainability”, Public-Private Partnerships for Urban Environment (PPPUE) contributes positively to environmental sustainability by upholding urban sanitation and increasing the access of urban citizens to public toilet facilities. Apart from solid waste management, the provision and proper operation and upkeep of public toilets have the potential to have greater environmental impacts on the urban environment and urban sanitation in general. Several public toilet projects are successfully operating in partner municipalities of Bharatpur, Biratnagar, Hetauda and Kathmandu since PPPUE's inception.

The project has consistently supported the innovative Urban Service Centres(combines toilet services with shower rooms, locker area & shop spaces) of Kathmandu (under Build-Operate-TransferorBOTmodality) in identifying new locations and other facilitation assistance. City service centres are now being replicated in three other locations, Biratnagar, Siddharthanagar and Dharan with PPPUE support.

The Facility at Biratnagar

The city service centre at Morang District Court, Ward no. 10, Biratnagar, is designed with the objective to provide basic toilet facility to the people around the area and to improve the surrounding environment. Morang District Court is situated at the central part of Biratnagar and there are number of public offices situated around the area. There are no public toilets currently around the area; as a result the whole surrounding area is dirty and polluted. Therefore, this facility being constructed in the premises of the district court will also serve the visitors of the public offices there.

Rotary Club of Biratnagar Midtown is overseeing the construction and of the facility and will also take charge of operating it under public private partnership arrangement with Biratnagar Sub-metropolitan City. As stated above, the land for the toilet facility has been provided by the Morang District Court. PPPUE provided an initial seed grant to kick-start the project. A Construction Committee has been formed to supervise the construction of the toilet. A Management Committee, with representatives from the Rotary Club, District Court and the community, will be formed after the construction is complete for the proper operation of the facility.

The facility contains two toilets (water closet, WC), six urinals and one shower for ladies similarly two toilets (WC), six urinals and one shower for gents. Nominal fees will be collected from users (estimated 300 people daily) to pay towards the upkeep and maintenance of the toilet facility. The facility also contains one toilet with ramp for physically challenged persons who can use the toilet free of charge. There are also two rooms for shops, which will be rented out, and one additional room for sweeper/caretaker.

Income will be generated from the rental of the shops (book/magazine stall, barber shop or some similar use) for the long term sustainability of the project. The project was also formulated with due attention to pro-poor aspects. Poor, marginalised and vulnerable communities will be prioritised for employment in the project and renting of the spaces. The facility is currently under construction.