A Telengana startup has spread its wings to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) after abrogation of Article 370 by Parliament. The Loo Cafe .
(public washroom) concept in city will now dot the scenic Dal Lake in Srinagar and the first one will be inaugurated on Gandhi Jayanthi (October 2). This is the first startup from Telangana to set up shop in J&K.
In all, 21 free public washrooms are being built in Jammu and Kashmir and three would be around Dal Lake. The startup has built washrooms in tune with needs of locals. An area for ‘wazu’ (ablution) has also been built and they ensured even directions of the infrastructure inside the washrooms are as per local preferences.
The startup headed to Srinagar after J&K officials were impressed by Telangana’s Loo Cafe showcased it at a summit in Delhi in February.
The first washroom would be inaugurated at Nishat Bagh (a Mughal garden near Dal Lake). The washroom is a recyclable public toilet, which does not require a sewage system. A napkin vending machine, ATM and a mini café are also part of it.
“Girish Chandra Murmu, former lt-governor of Jammu and Kashmir and current comptroller and auditor general encouraged us,” said Abhishek Nath, founder, Loo Cafe.
J&K government officials also gave us a warm welcome. When we started construction, passersby lauded the initiative, putting an end to all the negative speculations and worries,” said Nath who also thanked IT and MAUD minster KT Rama Rao for giving him a chance in Telangana.
Residents of Srinagar lauded the move. “Lack of washrooms is a hurdle for workers as well as tourists, especially the poor, as using washrooms in coffee shops and hotels was never an option for them,” Raouf Nazeer, a resident of Srinagar.
Another Srinagar resident, Irfan Hyder, appreciated the Telangana startup for respecting religious sentiments. “I was happy to see a place for wazu. While Nazeer added, “These washrooms will stop open defecation in my city.” ( TOI )
