A dispute over charges at Haridwar’s public toilets has widened after former councillor Ashok Sharma alleged that an employee collected 10 rupees from him for using a urinal near Shivmurti. Councillor Sunil Kumar, who accompanied Sharma, recorded a video during the encounter.
The incident has renewed questions about how public and Sulabh toilets in the pilgrcity are operated, particularly whether visitors are being clearly told which facilities carry a fee. The allegation comes a day after action was reportedly taken in a similar matter at Rodi Belwala.
What happened near Shivmurti
Sharma and Kumar visited the Shivmurti-area toilet posing as travellers, according to the account presented by Sharma. Sharma said he used the urinal and was then asked to pay 10 rupees by staff present at the facility.
Kumar filmed the exchange. The video circulating online shows him arguing with an employee about the payment. It does not, by itself, establish the full circumstances of the collection or determine whether the employee acted under an authorised fee arrangement.
The operator of the toilet and the municipal corporation had not issued a separate response to the allegation in the available material. The status of the employee’s role and the exact basis for the charge therefore remain subject to official verification.
Earlier action at Rodi Belwala
The latest allegation follows an inspection by municipal corporation officials at a public toilet in Rodi Belwala. During that inspection, officials reportedly found that users were being asked to pay for urinal use. The facility was subsequently reported to have been sealed.
The appearance of a similar allegation at another location the following day has placed the city’s supervision and operating arrangements under fresh scrutiny. The available information does not establish whether the 2 incidents involved the same operator, staff members or contractual arrangement.
Sharma seeks clearer fee information
Sharma, a senior Congress leader and former councillor, said public toilets were built to discourage open defecation and provide facilities for travellers. He maintained that although the municipal corporation has set user charges for toilet services, urinal use should not attract a fee.
He alleged that the stated rules were being ignored and that people using urinals were also being charged. These are allegations made by Sharma; an official determination has not been reported.
Sharma has called for boards displaying the approved charges to be installed at all public and Sulabh toilets in Haridwar. His stated argument is that visitors should be able to see the applicable rate before using a facility and should have clearer grounds to object to any unauthorised demand.
Why the issue matters before Kumbh
Haridwar receives pilgrims and travellers from across India. Sharma said the city should prepare its public toilets ahead of the upcoming Kumbh fair, when large numbers of devotees are expected to arrive.
He also urged regular oversight of cleanliness, fee collection and staff conduct. Publicly displayed rates could help visitors understand the official arrangement, while inspections could clarify whether employees are following the authorised rules.
No confirmed decision on the Shivmurti allegation has been provided in the available material. Any conclusion about the charge or the employee’s conduct will require a response from the operator or municipal authorities and, if undertaken, an official inquiry.
Conclusion
The Shivmurti incident has brought Haridwar’s public-toilet fee system back into focus after the Rodi Belwala case. The immediate verified next step is official clarification of the applicable charges and the circumstances behind the alleged 10-rupee collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the allegation at the Shivmurti public toilet?
Sharma alleges that he was charged 10 rupees after using a urinal at the facility.
Q. Who recorded the incident?
Councillor Sunil Kumar recorded a video showing a confrontation with an employee.
Q. Has the charge been officially confirmed?
No. a separate response from the toilet operator or the municipal corporation is not yet available.
Q. What happened at Rodi Belwala?
Municipal corporation officials reportedly found that users were being charged for urinal use during an inspection, after which the toilet was reported to have been sealed.
Q. What has Ashok Sharma demanded?
He has sought boards at Haridwar’s public and Sulabh toilets showing the approved charges clearly.
Q. Why has Sharma mentioned the Kumbh fair?
He says Haridwar needs better toilet arrangements before the expected arrival of large numbers of pilgrims and travellers.
