Congress rejects 'public toilet units' proposal of SDMC

NEW DELHI: Opposition Congress today rejected the South Delhi Municipal Corporation's proposal to construct public toilets under the public private partnership mode, saying essential works should be done by the civic body itself and not be outsourced.

The matter came up during the meeting of the SDMC House today, where Congress councillor and Leader of the Opposition, Farhad Suri opposed the idea.

"I strongly express my dissent for this project, because works like building toilets should be done by municipal bodies and not be outsourced to private companies," Suri said.

SDMC is planning to build public toilet units (PTUs) on PWD roads at various locations under its jurisdiction on a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) basis.

Congress councillors have also not warmed up to the idea, some even alleging the planning was uneven.

"In Defence Colony, a toilet block already exists but the corporation wants to build another one. We don't want it in our ward," Andrews Ganj councillor, Abhishek Dutt said.

Congress has been opposing it ever since the matter came up during the meeting of the civic body's Standing Committee earlier.

"The proposal talks about giving tender to private companies, ranging from one to all of the four wards. Public money and a place for public cannot be used like this," Suri said.

According to SDMC, 94 sites have been identified in various zones for setting up of PTUs, 23 in West Zone, 13 in Najafgarh Zone, 22 in Central Zone and and 36 in South Zone.

As per the proposal, the PTUs shall have two toilets for ladies, one for gents and another for handicapped persons, in addition to urinals for gents.

Meanwhile Suri, also expressed his apprehension for the e-toilets pilot projects in schools, saying a model that works in one state, may not work in another.

"The model that has come from Kerala may not necessarily be applied to Delhi, as both places have different education levels and sanitation habits," he said.

Earlier, BJP and Congress sparred over issues like dengue, drains and garbage disposal.