RTI Happenings: Planning Commission renovates 2 toilets at Rs. 35 Lakh

[ganpat1956]

Planning Commission, which is mired in a controversy over what constitutes the poverty line, has spent a whopping Rs35 lakh for renovation of two toilets here, an RTI reply has revealed.

The commission, which came up with a controversial poverty line figure of Rs28 per day for an individual, has spent Rs30 lakh for the renovation of the toilets on the lines of Indira Gandhi International Airport.

An additional Rs5.19 lakh was spent on installing door access control system for the toilets at Yojana Bhawan.
The access control system will mean only those people who have been provided smart cards can use these swanky toilets.

"Cost of installation of Door Access Control System is Rs5,19,426 for two toilets. Cost of renovation of two toilets where door access control system is installed is Rs30,00,305," the reply to activist Subhash Agrawal said.

According to the RTI reply, 60 smart cards have been issued to the officials of the Planning Commission which have to be used to get access to the toilets.

The commission had also decided to install CCTV cameras in the corridors leading to these toilets as the officials said there were instances of pilferage in the toilets. Estimates have been sought from the CPWD.

Apart from the poverty line estimates issue, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had come under criticism after a newspaper, based on RTI reply, reported that foreign travel expense incurred by him between May and October, 2011 was a staggering Rs2.02 lakh per day.

Another report said that he undertook 42 official trips (between June 2004-January 2011) of 274 days at a cost of Rs2.34 crore.

Refuting the inferences drawn in the later editorials, Ahluwalia had said that foreign travels are necessary for discharge of official duties.

The commission officials, in a note on renovation, had observed, "With the approval of JS (admn), CPWD(E) was requested to submit estimates for SITC for door access control system and CCTV cameras. However Executive Engineer CPWD(E) has forwarded estimates for installation of door access control system in two toilets (one each on first and second floor) RBI side, Yojana Bhawan."

"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 Yojana Bhawan in connection with official work in addition to this non-official members of different committees visit Yojana Bhawan for attending meetings," the officials said in another note.
Disturbing of sanitary fittings or non-functional sanitary fittings portray a very untidy picture of Planning Commission to the visiting dignitaries, it said.

Another noting proposing the upgradation of toilets last year shows that the two toilets 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.

Source: Planning Commission renovates 2 toilets at Rs35 Lakh - India - DNA

[ambrish.p]

Sponsorer

As reported in Dainik Jagran on 06/06/12

Source: http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/epaper/ar...42268775479736

योजना आयोग ने दो शौचालयों पर फूंके 35 लाख

नई दिल्ली, प्रेट्र : गरीबी की परिभाषा तय कर विवादों में फंसे योजना आयोग की फिजूलखर्ची का नमूना सामने आया है। एक आरटीआइ अर्जी के जवाब में पता चला है कि आयोग ने दो शौचालयों की मरम्मत पर 35 लाख रुपये फूंक डाले। गरीबी की परिभाषा तय करते हुए योजना आयोग ने कहा था कि रोजाना 28 रुपये से ज्यादा खर्च करने वाला व्यक्ति गरीब नहीं है। इसी आयोग ने अपने यहां इंदिरा गांधी अंतरराष्ट्रीय हवाई अड्डे के जैसे शौचालय बनाने के लिए इनके मरम्मत पर 30 लाख रुपये खर्च कर दिए। साथ ही दोनों शौचालयों में एक्सेस कंट्रोल सिस्टम लगवाने के लिए 5.19 लाख रुपये खर्च किए। इस सिस्टम के लगने के बाद केवल वही लोग इसका इस्तेमाल कर सकेंगे, जिनको योजना भवन की ओर से स्मार्ट कार्ड मुहैया कराया गया है। सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता सुभाष अग्रवाल के आवेदन के जवाब में आयोग ने बताया कि शौचालयों में कंट्रोल सिस्टम लगाने पर पांच लाख 19 हजार 426 रुपये का खर्च आया। जबकि अन्य मरम्मत पर 30 लाख 305 रुपये खर्च किए गए। योजना भवन के शौचालयों का इस्तेमाल करने के लिए 60 अधिकारियों को स्मार्ट कार्ड जारी किए गए हैं। इन शौचालयों की ओर जाने वाले गलियारे में सीसीटीवी लगाने का फैसला भी किया गया है। योजना भवन के अधिकारियों का कहना था कि शौचालय में कई बार चोरी-तोड़फोड़ हो चुकी है।

[SATISH CHANDER GUPTA]

If it is correct a poor country can ill afford the same.
Since the expenditure has been incurred it can not be retrieved.
The authorities empowered to allow such expenses must take note and issue directions for future guidance. It is more important than the expenditure having been incurred.

[karira]

As reported by PTI in hindustantimes.com on 06 June 2012:
Montek defends expenditure of Rs. 35 lakh for toilet renovation - Hindustan Times

Montek defends expenditure of Rs. 35 lakh for toilet renovation

Facing flak over expenditure of Rs. 35 lakh on toilets, the Planning Commission on Wednesday termed it as routine maintenance and upgradation work and said it was "unfortunate" to call it a wasteful expenditure.

"While the amount of Rs. 30 lakh being mentioned is 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.The Commission came under criticism after it was reported on the basis of an RTI reply that it has spent a whopping Rs. 35 lakh for renovation of two toilets.

"It is unfortunate that what is routine maintenance and upgradation is being projected as wasteful expenditure," the Commission said.
It said 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".

The smart card based access control system had cost over Rs. 5 lakh for two toilets which were renovated at an additional cost of Rs. 30 lakh, the RTI reply has said.

The Commission said that 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.

When questioned on the controversy, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia told reporters that expenditure of Rs. 35 lakh is not on two toilets but it is really a "major modernisation of toilet blocks in the Planning Commission which is a 50 year old building".

"When we needed to renovate it, we were told that both plumbing and pipes, not of individual toilet, but entire toilet block needed to be replaced... electricty work had to be replaced," he said.

Ahluwalia said this is part of the Planning Commission's renovation and upgradation program in which renovation of all the public toilets has to be done in two years.

On the issue of access control system in the toilets, Ahluwalia said, it was for the ladies toilets because of security issues but later it was felt that it was not right and the project was dropped.

However, in the RTI reply, the Planning Commission had said "cost of installation of Door Access Control System is Rs. 5,19,426 for two toilets. Cost of renovation of two toilets where the Door Access Control System is installed is Rs. 30,00,350".

Ahluwalia said funds spent on the project are budgeted and tendering process is done by CPWD.

He said decision are taken by the administrative department and not by him.

[karira]

As reported by PTI in news.outlookindia.com on 06 June 2012:
Govt Money Should be Spent Carefully: Cong | news.outlookindia.com

Govt Money Should be Spent Carefully: Cong

Notwithstanding the explanation by Planning Commission on expenditure of Rs 35 lakh on toilets, the Congress today sought to disapprove of any wastage of public money.

"Government funds needed to be spent carefully as it is public money. As far as the question of the two toilets, we do not have information. You better ask the Planning Commission", party spokesman Rashid Alvi told reporters, while replying to queries on the controversy.

The plan panel has been facing flak after it was reported on the basis of an RTI reply that it has spent a whopping Rs 35 lakh for renovation of two toilets.

The Commission has termed the expenditure as routine maintenance and upgradation work and said it was "unfortunate" to call it a wasteful expenditure.

"While the amount of Rs 30 lakh being mentioned is 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.