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International columnist, political analyst and senior journalist Ahmed Mohiuddin Siddiqui’s articles are published across Asia, Africa and Europe. He writes for The Moroccan Times, The Tunis Times, India Tomorrow, Kohram News, The Etemaad Urdu Daily and for news papers published from Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. You can follow him on Twitter at: @journopolana[/symple_box]
The German city of Hamburg has caught the imagination of the world with its latest invention to deter those who urinate in public. Though there are laws and fines to deter the culprits, they are rarely enforced. The answer to the nuisance is the hydrophobic paint, which acts as a reflector. Some walls in St Pauli, the night-club district known worldwide for its brothel houses are now painted with the hydrophobic paint. St. Pauli attracts some 20 million visitors a year. Public urination is annoying and a health hazard for the merchants and residents of the area who have to put up with the stench and stains of urine on a daily basis. There are sign boards in some places but not in all the places. Those who think of unzipping in public will think twice as the walls throw back the urine on the person and dirty his clothes. It is a repellant as the treated surface or walls become a shoe-wetting and trouser-soaking experience.
The Australian law makers are already discussing the invention to import it to Australia. The problem of public urination is rampant in India too. The Government of India has launched a clean campaign drive recently – ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan’ and has pumped in millions of dollars towards this. It costs about $700 to cover six meters with the repellant paint. It is not a viable option on an extensive basis for a developing country like India. It can surely be tried at least on a limited basis to break the habit of public urinators.
The urine-repelling paint was originally developed by Nissan to keep the cars clean from dirt as it acts as a water-repellant. The paint therapy may not work in areas near bars and pubs as men who consume liquor lose their sense of balance. The drunkards may not realize the ‘pant wetting experience’ when wine dances in their stomachs. By the time they come back to senses, it will be too late. It does not serve the purpose. A less expensive deterrant experience will be to take snaps of the public urinators and send the photos to their family members to shame them. For repeat offenders, their snaps can be published in newspapers and splashed across television channels at the cost borne by the pissers.
Public urination not only defaces walls but effects the environment too. Those who indulge in this are at health risk too. There is a danger of catching urinary tract infection (UTI). Sometimes, it is very severe and does not go away for a long time requiring extensive use of antibiotics. The Public mind set needs to change. It is said cleanliness is next to Godliness. Why do the Germans not realize this?
Islam attaches great importance to public behavior and cleanliness. A tradition of the Holy Prophet of Islam says that – Cleanliness is half of faith. When people realize the significance of cleanliness and paint their souls with the pledge of it, there will not be any need for the hydrophobic paint.
