Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 17: After the lockdown rules were relaxed, coastal districts including Dakshina Kannada have been witnessing a sudden spurt in coronavirus cases. As a precautionary measure against spread of coronavirus infection, use of toilets at the petrol bunks in coastal Karnataka has been barred temporarily.

As per the rules of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, a petrol bunk can be issued with licence only if it has toilet system for the convenience of the general public. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the ministry of urban development had issued a notification some years back, as per which toilets dedicated for the use of the public are mandatory at all the petrol bunks.

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Therefore, petrol bunks have been allowing use of toilets by the general public since the last several years. But a few days back, a person who travelled from Mumbai to Mandya in a lorry carrying dates, had used a toilet at Tekkatte in Kundapur taluk, Udupi district. After tests confirmed that the person concerned had coronavirus infection, the petrol bunk was sealed down for some time. After this incident, the petrol bunks are reluctant to allow use of toilets by others.

Secretary of Karnataka State Petroleum Federation, Anand Karnad, says that use of toilets by the public has been restricted because of coronavirus spread. He said that as per the petroleum and explosives safety guidelines, public toilets are not mandatory. He said that under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the petrol bunk owners had joined hands with the Prime Minister and allowed use of toilets by the general public.

Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District Petroleum Dealers Association president, P Vaman Pai, said that the coast has over 400 petrol bunks, many of which are on national highway. "People coming from other districts and states seek to use toilets at petrol bunks. The central government has clarified that it is not mandatory to allow petrol bunk use for general public, which is a good development. The question of safety is also is involved. In the past, a person who used toilet, had smoked a cigarette, and spark from the cigarette had burnt down the petrol bunk. Therefore, allowing use of the toilet by general public is not advisable," he felt.