Rs 6 crore spent, yet only 74 of 338 toilets work in north Delhi

NEW DELHI: Only 74 out of 338 waterless urinals built under the jurisdiction of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation are functional despite a Rs 6.38 crore been invested on their repair and maintenance.

Deputy chairman of the standing committee Rajesh Bhatia, who raised the issue in a meeting of the corporation , asked how can the corporation spend so much money and yet only one-fifth of the urinals are functional.

These urinals were built by a private company during the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and it was supposed to look after its maintenance. In return, they were allowed to put their advertisements there.

“The company did not maintain them properly. There were court cases and it was later decided that the corporation will maintain them,” said Bhatia.

In 2015, the corporation spent Rs 6.38 crore on its maintenance and decided to provide a water connection. However, only 74 of these urinals could be provided with water connection.

“The corporation purchased just two jetting machines for so many toilets and the remaining money was spent on construction work and purchase of acid and other cleaning materials,” he said.

Several new toilet blocks could have been built in the same amount. Where has all the money gone?” he added.

Standing committee chairman Pravesh Wahi said that now a total of 46 jetting machines will be purchased by the corporation for the maintenance of these toilets.

It was decided in the meeting that these new toilets will be once again transferred to private contractors for their maintenance and the corporation will earn revenue from their advertising rights.

“We are hopeful that the private company will now be able to handle them easily as they will be converted into water urinals,” an official said.