Community toilets by Sulabh International poorly maintained: MCD

New Delhi, Mar 22 (UNI) Voicing serious concern over insanitory conditions of 1963 community toilets, maintained by Sulabh International, which it said could lead to outbreak of serious diseases, the Standing Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi today urged the MCD to remove the toilet complexes from the control of the company.

Responding to the serious resentment expressed by several members including BJP's Vijender Gupta, Mr Satbir Singh, Mr Kiran Wati, Mr Ashok Jain and others, over poor operation and maintenance of the CTCs by M/S Sulabh International, the committee called for removing the toilets from the company by invoking clause no 35 of MCD's agreement with it so that the corporation could maintain them on its own.

The resolution to withdraw the operation of the CTCs from Sulabh international was placed in form of a letter written by Additional Commissioner K D Akolia to the Municipal Secretary wherein it was stated that after Sulabh international took over the operation, maintenance and management of the CTCs in early 2005, it was found that these complexes had not been maintained properly.

''While many of such CTCs are non operational, some are functional but their services are not upto the mark. M/s Sulabh international has maintained only those CTCs which are situated on prime locations whereupon commercial advertisements have been displayed for high gains.'' ''Despite the matter being discussed at several forums with Sulabh international but it failed to show any improvement,'' the letter said.

The 1963 CTCs being maintained by the Sulabh International include the already existing 611 CTCs of the CSE department, 393 CTCs of the Slum and JJ Department and 959 CTCs constructed under the Yamuna Action Plan.

At today's meeting, the Standing Committee also passed an amendment to its earlier resolution allowing putting up of temporary shamianas in community halls during the wedding seasons. As per the amended resolution, the 'shamianas' (tentments) would be allowed to be put only for a particular wedding and would have to be removed after that.

UNI AR RL BD2006