MC official alleges scam in maintenance of toilets

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, November 21

Municipal Committee vice-chairman Parveen Garg has alleged a scam in the maintenance of mobile toilets kept in slum areas of the city. “A private agency is being paid Rs1.8 lakh per month for the maintenance of the toilets. But many of them are lying defunct, while others are in bad shape,” he said after inspecting the toilets.

He was accompanied by councillor Ghanshyam Gurjar, municipal engineer Vivek Beniwal, junior engineer Anil Kumar and sanitary inspector Anand Malik.

Garg interacted with slum-dwellers to get their feedback.

“A hefty amount is paid to the contractor every month. For what? The toilets are stinking and non-functional. I will write to Urban Local Bodies Minister Anil Vij for an investigation into the matter,” Garg told The Tribune.

Sources say the MC had bought 12 mobile toilets at the cost of Rs20 lakh around two years ago to check open defecation.

“As per the contract, the contractor is bound to provide water, soaps and towels in the toilets, besides ensuring cleanliness. But the contractor has failed to honour the pact,” Garg said.

He added, “The authorities had, on September 11, paid Rs7.94 lakh to the contractor. It’s a misuse of public funds and this need to be checked. Instead of taking action against the contractor, the authorities continue to pay the money.”