North MCD toilets stink of corruption as 264 of 338 await maintenance

Despite tall claims to have taken adequate steps under Swachh Bharat Mission, the BJP-ruled Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCDs) have failed to serve the purpose. In a revelation, North MCD has accepted poor functioning of the majority of its waterless urinals owing to ill-maintenance of the community toilet complexes (CTCs). 

The Corporation has revealed that out of 338 waterless urinals in its area about 74 are properly maintained while the remaining are either in abandoned condition or not in use. Even a few toilets do not have a single urinal pot since their commencement.

The unified Corporation, during the Commonwealth Games, had constructed waterless urinals across the city. After the trifurcation, as many as 338 toilets came under the North MCD. The Corporation first authorised private players to run them. Instead of ensuring proper maintenance, the companies reportedly started minting money through advertisements. On complaints of ill-maintenance, the Corporation decided to maintain them from its own resources but it has  been a long time since and the toilets are in a bad condition.

Interestingly, the Corporation has claimed to have spent Rs 6.38 crore on maintenance of these urinals since 2010-11. Out of the 32 toilets falling under the City Zone area, no urinal pot has been installed in 9 toilets but the Corporation has shown an expenditure of Rs 2 crore on their maintenance. Similarly, Rs 1.13 crore has been spent on maintenance of 57 waterless urinals coming under the jurisdiction of Rohini Zone and Rs 1.94 crore on as many as 55 toilets in the SP Zone. On the other hand, the Corporation has claimed to have spent just Rs 22 lakh on 100 toilets coming under the jurisdiction of Civil Lines Zone since 2010-11.

“As we have come across the data, we have decided to improve the condition of toilets by ensuring proper maintenance. We have decided to purchase jetting machines for cleaning the toilets as there is no water pipeline in more than 75 per cent toilets. We have also decided to connect these toilet blocks with nearby sewer lines and with drainage too so that we can bring them in use. The concerned MCD departments have been given directions to chalk out a plan and to implement it accordingly,” said Pravesh Wahi, Chairman of Standing Committee.

The leader of Opposition Mukesh Goel, however, claimed that the BJP-ruled Corporation is least bothered about their much-talked Swachh Bharat Mission as no specific step has been initiated yet. “The ruling party, in order to mislead people, makes series of announcements but fails to implement them on ground. They have also failed to maintain toilets constructed by the previous government.