The next time you plan to use a public toilet in Bangalore's south zone, make sure you carry a roll of tissue paper along, since the BWSSB has decided to disconnect waterlines for non-payment of bills. The public toilets in the city under the banner of Nirmala Sulabh Souchalaya has not paid bills since 2004 and the due amount has added up to Rs 5,20,017.To make matters worse, the contractors have abandoned the contract midway, as the revenue generated through these pay and use public toilets in wards like Hanumanthnagar, N R Colony, Basavangudi and DVG Road, does not fetch them enough profit. This turn of events has now put the ball in the BBMP's court.Activist Kiran Kumar filed an RTI following the allegation that these abandoned toilets are being used for immoral activities. "We don't know who the contractors are, but we were informed by the person collecting fees from the public that it is currently under the BBMP. However, the BBMP did not give any information about whom they have allotted the contract to. Ultimately, the public will suffer if the corporation decides to disconnect the water line for nonpayment. The BBMP should foot the bill and employ persons there to run operations instead allotting it on contract," Kumar said.

The nine Sulabh toilets, which have defaulted on payments, are located crucial points enroute to software parks along Bannerghatta Road and Kannakapura road. Executive Engineer Shashidhar said, "We have sent a strong message to the ward level juniors engineers and assistant engineers to go in for disconnection if payments are not made within the specific time given."Chief Engineer (south zone) said, "The toilet operators were issued notices earlier. We had cut the water line once, but the inconvenience to the public made us bend rules and resume supply. Now we have approached the higher authorities at BBMP, who are expected to take further step."