HC asks civic bodies to come out with plan for public toilets

Expressing anguish over "serious dearth" of public toilets in the national capital and their bad condition, the Delhi High Court today asked civic bodies, including the NDMC and the Cantonment Board, to come out with a clear plan for providing better sanitation in the city.
A bench of Justice B D Ahmed and Justice S Mridul said that no one is worried over the "pathetic condition" of the city and even the officials concerned do not think of the poor ones.
It said the three corporations of Delhi (East Delhi Municipal Corporation, North Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corporation), NDMC and the Cantonment Board shall at least identify one zone in each area where they can build proper sanitation facility.

The judge said that the authorities should also deploy sufficient number of people to take care of the toilets and maintaining them on a regular basis.
"We note that there is a serious dearth of public toilets in Delhi and this needs to be addressed by all the above mentioned respondents. The respondents shall indicate in the affidavits their clear-cut future plan of action with regard to this.
"They will also indicate their plan of action with regard to public toilets for persons with disabilities. The said affidavit be filed within four weeks," the judge said, adding that the parties shall also give the details of time period within which they will implement the plan.

The court's direction came on a PIL filed by advocate Ashok Aggarwal alleging failure on the part of civic agencies to construct more number of toilets for women in the city.
The court has, meanwhile, directed Aggarwal to give his suggestion by November 10 with regard to the requirement of the toilets.
"He (Aggarwal) will also inform us where the work has been done and where it has not been done," the judge said.