‘Rs 30 lakh toilets not wasteful expenditure’
7 Jun 2012 1:46 AM GMT
The Planning Commission, after facing criticism from all quarters for an expenditure of Rs 35 lakh on two toilets in Yojna Bhavan, has said it is routine maintenance and upgradation work and that it was ‘unfortunate’ to call it a wasteful expenditure. Millennium Post had reported the story in its edition dated 6 June.
‘While the amount of Rs 30 lakh is indeed correct, an impression is being created that this has been spent on two toilets. This is totally false because these toilet blocks have multiple seats in addition to separate facility for the differently-abled. Each of these blocks can be simultaneously used by approximately ten people,’ a statement from the Commission said.
It said that because there have been instances of pilferages in the newly constructed toilets, ‘an access-control system was initially tried but not found feasible in practise’.
‘It is unfortunate that what is routine maintenance and upgradation is being projected as wasteful expenditure,’ the Commission said.
An RTI reply said the smart card based access control system had cost over Rs five lakh for two toilets which were renovated at an additional cost of Rs 30 lakh.
The Commission said the toilets being repaired or renovated are public toilet blocks and not private toilets for senior officials or members.
‘A common complaint over the years was the poor quality of the toilets in the building. A complaint made not just by the ministers and foreign dignitaries who visit, but also by the staff and the journalists,’ the statement said.
It said during renovation it was found that old plumbing and sewerage systems had deteriorated, and needed almost complete replacement and fire control systems also had to be added, in accordance with the regulatory requirements.
This was revealed in an RTI information obtained by Subhash Chandra Agrawal by Planning Commission. He had sought reply from the commission about these two privileged toilets, asking names of the persons entitled to use these smart card enabled toilets. The reply had, however, given vague answer on who uses theses two toilets.
It simply said at present these toilets are being used by the occupants of the floor on which these toilets are located. ‘Users of these toilets belong to different posts such as Sr. Adviser, Advisers, Director, PS, PA, Assistant, UDC, MTS, etc.’
As per the documents, the idea of installing Door Access Control Based system to restrict entry came from the CPWD. A document in this regard says that ‘It has been noticed that there are instances of sabotage in the newly renovated toilets. Things like disturbing/breaking of sanitary appliances are taking place frequently. It may not be out of place to mention that very high dignitaries visit Yojna Bhavan in connection with official works. In addition to this, non-official members of different committees visit Yojna Bhavan for attending meetings etc. Disturbing of sanitary fittings or non-functional sanitary fittings portray a very untidy picture of planning commission to the visiting dignitaries.’
The noting further reads ‘In this regard, JS (Admn) took a meeting with CPWD officers and concerned officers of General Administration. It was suggested by the CPWD to install Door Access Control Based system to restrict entry in the toilets so that the toilets remain tidy and nothing is disturbed. In addition to the above, it was also decided to install CCTV cameras in the corridors to avoid sabotage.’
Another noting proposing the upgradation of toilets last year shows that these two toilets were to be renovated as a pilot project and after execution of work, decision on renovation of other toilets would be taken. According to the note, it was desired that three other toilets of the Planning Commission may also be renovated on the same lines.
BJP HITS OUT AT COMMISSION FOR COSTLY TOILETS
BJP today hit out at the Planning Commission, saying the body headed by the Prime Minister has spent Rs 35 lakh on renovation of two toilets at a time when the government is emphasising on austerity.
‘The Planning Commission says those earning above Rs 32 per day are rich. And it has gone ahead and spent Rs 35 lakh on two toilets. The Prime Minister heads the Planning Commission which is today filled with people who have only read about poverty in textbooks,’ BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.
BJP wanted to know what happened to all the announcements made by the government to its ministers to engage in cost-cutting and austerity as the GDP growth has hit a nine-year low of 5.3 per cent. ‘In a country where farmers are committing suicides due to debts, such wasteful expenditure should stop,’ Hussain said.
BJP has been targeting the government on the sensitive issues of price rise, hike in petrol prices and corruption. It had also criticised the Planning Commission for stating that those having a daily income of Rs 32 and above in urban areas and Rs 28 and above in rural areas would be above the Poverty Line.
‘While the amount of Rs 30 lakh is indeed correct, an impression is being created that this has been spent on two toilets. This is totally false because these toilet blocks have multiple seats in addition to separate facility for the differently-abled. Each of these blocks can be simultaneously used by approximately ten people,’ a statement from the Commission said.
It said that because there have been instances of pilferages in the newly constructed toilets, ‘an access-control system was initially tried but not found feasible in practise’.
‘It is unfortunate that what is routine maintenance and upgradation is being projected as wasteful expenditure,’ the Commission said.
An RTI reply said the smart card based access control system had cost over Rs five lakh for two toilets which were renovated at an additional cost of Rs 30 lakh.
The Commission said the toilets being repaired or renovated are public toilet blocks and not private toilets for senior officials or members.
‘A common complaint over the years was the poor quality of the toilets in the building. A complaint made not just by the ministers and foreign dignitaries who visit, but also by the staff and the journalists,’ the statement said.
It said during renovation it was found that old plumbing and sewerage systems had deteriorated, and needed almost complete replacement and fire control systems also had to be added, in accordance with the regulatory requirements.
This was revealed in an RTI information obtained by Subhash Chandra Agrawal by Planning Commission. He had sought reply from the commission about these two privileged toilets, asking names of the persons entitled to use these smart card enabled toilets. The reply had, however, given vague answer on who uses theses two toilets.
It simply said at present these toilets are being used by the occupants of the floor on which these toilets are located. ‘Users of these toilets belong to different posts such as Sr. Adviser, Advisers, Director, PS, PA, Assistant, UDC, MTS, etc.’
As per the documents, the idea of installing Door Access Control Based system to restrict entry came from the CPWD. A document in this regard says that ‘It has been noticed that there are instances of sabotage in the newly renovated toilets. Things like disturbing/breaking of sanitary appliances are taking place frequently. It may not be out of place to mention that very high dignitaries visit Yojna Bhavan in connection with official works. In addition to this, non-official members of different committees visit Yojna Bhavan for attending meetings etc. Disturbing of sanitary fittings or non-functional sanitary fittings portray a very untidy picture of planning commission to the visiting dignitaries.’
The noting further reads ‘In this regard, JS (Admn) took a meeting with CPWD officers and concerned officers of General Administration. It was suggested by the CPWD to install Door Access Control Based system to restrict entry in the toilets so that the toilets remain tidy and nothing is disturbed. In addition to the above, it was also decided to install CCTV cameras in the corridors to avoid sabotage.’
Another noting proposing the upgradation of toilets last year shows that these two toilets were to be renovated as a pilot project and after execution of work, decision on renovation of other toilets would be taken. According to the note, it was desired that three other toilets of the Planning Commission may also be renovated on the same lines.
BJP HITS OUT AT COMMISSION FOR COSTLY TOILETS
BJP today hit out at the Planning Commission, saying the body headed by the Prime Minister has spent Rs 35 lakh on renovation of two toilets at a time when the government is emphasising on austerity.
‘The Planning Commission says those earning above Rs 32 per day are rich. And it has gone ahead and spent Rs 35 lakh on two toilets. The Prime Minister heads the Planning Commission which is today filled with people who have only read about poverty in textbooks,’ BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.
BJP wanted to know what happened to all the announcements made by the government to its ministers to engage in cost-cutting and austerity as the GDP growth has hit a nine-year low of 5.3 per cent. ‘In a country where farmers are committing suicides due to debts, such wasteful expenditure should stop,’ Hussain said.
BJP has been targeting the government on the sensitive issues of price rise, hike in petrol prices and corruption. It had also criticised the Planning Commission for stating that those having a daily income of Rs 32 and above in urban areas and Rs 28 and above in rural areas would be above the Poverty Line.
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