Date:12/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/12/stories/2008101259430300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Move to construct public comfort station draws flak

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The move to construct a public comfort station on a plot of land adjacent to the Sree Chithra enclave inside the Museum compound has drawn protest from prominent personalities in the city.

A petition to Minister for Culture M.A. Baby, signed by prominent persons including educationist N.A. Karim; litterateur B. Hridayakumari; freedom fighter K.E. Mammen; and filmmaker Lenin Rajendran, points out that five public comfort stations are already functioning on the Museum premises.

The construction of a toilet facility on 10 cents of land next to the enclave will hinder development activities at the Museum.

Apart from the fact that the land will be handed over to a private party for setting up the facility, locating the bathroom right next to the eastern entrance to the Museum compound will result in the whole area getting enveloped in a foul smell, the petition reads.

The move is totally unnecessary and will also be an insult to the memory of Chithira Thirunal. As such, the Minister should immediately direct that the proposed toilet facility be shifted to some other location, the petition adds.