Pvt companies to build toilets in New Delhi through CSR

Far-flung and less-developed areas in New Delhi Parliamentary constituency could soon have public toilet facilities built by private companies as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.
The initiative taken by New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi in her constituency under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan seeks to bring in public-private-partnership for building toilets in public places. Besides urban areas, it will benefit residents of rural and slum areas, JJ colonies and undeveloped bastis, among others.
"This is part of the Clean India campaign and we wanted to bring in this PPP (public-private-partnership) model of operation, whereby private companies could partner with the government in building toilets in the area," Lekhi told PTI.

She said that initially she had started with PSUs for building public conveniences in city area, but now the focus is more on the rural and far-off places.
"We are now focusing on getting such facilities in semi-urban and far-flung areas, slums and bastis where sanitation is an issue. Also in Delhi Cantonment areas, among others," she said.
Lekhi said her office had approached civic and urban bodies for getting NOC (no-objection certificate) for starting the project and the DDA had recently also issued a notification, allowing such projects to be carried out in areas under its administration.

"Yes, we have been approached by MLAs and MPs for issuing NOC for projects like building toilets in the city by public representatives in partnership with private companies as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)," DDA Vice-Chairman Balvinder Kumar said.

Lekhi said the project is "likely to be implemented after the Delhi Assembly elections only, as I am busy with other pressing engagements for the time being".
Adopting the Old Pillanji Village in her constituency as part of Centre's 'Adarsh gram Yojana' in September last year, she had promised to work on the sanitation, drainage and roads in order to develop it fully as a model village.
Lekhi, also a member of the New Delhi Municipal Council, the civic body under her constituency said, the council was working to make NDMC area a "solar city" with solar roof-tops panels on government buildings.