FCC

Mumbai Minister reverses BMC's Pre-Cast Toilet Decision

2023-08-11

One month after requesting the BMC to temporarily halt the Rs 4.88 billion tender for 14,000 traditional community toilets within the city's slum areas, and to instead install pre-cast restroom facilities at a minimum of 500 locations, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, the guardian minister of Mumbai suburban, has now advised the municipal authorities to proceed with the tender process.

In his most recent correspondence to the municipal commissioner, Iqbal Chahal, Lodha conveyed that discontinuing the tender process at its advanced stage and opting for pre-cast toilets would only lead to delays in constructing public restrooms, causing inconvenience to the citizens. He suggested, "Hence, I recommend that you continue with the ongoing tender process." Additionally, Lodha proposed initiating separate tenders specifically for constructing new or additional public toilets in collaboration with corporate companies. This approach would ensure that the construction begins concurrently. The letter also conveyed a willingness to embrace contributions from corporate entities interested in participating.

Subsequent to Lodha's letter on July 5, the BMC suspended the Rs 4.88 billion tender despite it being in the final stages. A civic official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated, "The decision was then made to procure pre-cast public toilets through corporate companies utilising CSR funds. Expressions of interest have been invited for these new toilets, while the existing tender has been temporarily halted."

Ravi Raja, a former Congress corporate and opposition leader within the BMC, criticised Lodha for his fluctuating stance and accused the BMC of being excessively responsive to his directives. Raja pointed out, "Soon after Lodha instructed the BMC to employ the pre-cast method for constructing 14,000 toilets in the slums, the administrators promptly altered their decision expert opinions were disregarded." Raja further noted, "It is evident that the municipal administrators lack autonomy in decision-making, as their actions seem contingent upon governmental instructions. Although toilet facilities are of utmost importance to the slum residents, the BMC's commitment to addressing this matter appears questionable."