(Top) Chhatrabazar public toilet, the overflowing septic tank and sewage from the tank enters the premises of Ganesh Jew temple. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Oct. 17: The Chhatrabazar public toilet is in a mess and authorities concerned have not taken steps to set things right.

In the absence of a proper drainage channel to release sewer water into the drain, the septic tank is overflowing and causing problems for local traders and others dependant on the toilet.

“Things have gone from bad to worse in the last couple of years. The septic tank is now overflowing because of the absence of a proper sewerage system,” said Kedarnath Lenka, 48, a wholesale vegetable trader.

Around 500 people including traders from other parts of the city and elsewhere coming to the Chhatrabazar, the largest vegetable market of the state, depend on the public toilet.

The toilet used to remain closed most of the time because of the lack of water and electricity. Following repeated complaints, efforts were recently initiated to restore water and electricity supply at the toilet that was built in 1990.

The overpowering stench is causing a lot of problems for the traders, said Lenka. Dirty water is now entering the premises of the nearby Ganesh Jew temple.

“Dirty water leaking from the septic tank of the toilet has been entering the temple premises for the last three years causing problems for devotees coming to the temple,” said Siba Prasad Sahu, temple treasurer.

Though efforts were made to stop the dirty water from leaking out, the tank has again started to overflow because it is not cleaned on time and no steps are taken to construct a proper drainage channel.

Sahu said the temple trust had to dump sand in the area to check the flow of dirty water on the temple premises during the past couple months. Sahu warned that the temple management would take legal action if the Cuttack Municipal Corporation did not initiate action to solve the problem.

Local councillor Laxmipriya Samantray admitted that there were a lot of problems concerning the public toilet. However, she assured that steps would be taken soon.

“We are aware of the problem and soon, steps will be taken for the construction of a proper drainage system of the public toilet at Chhatrabazar,” said Samantray.