Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal directed the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) CEO Shurbir Singh to take immediate steps to improve the situation of community toilets. The directive was issued after the Chief Minister conducted an emergency meeting following complaints related to water and power supply in community toilets.
Kejriwal also directed the CEO to visit the toilets himself during peak usage time every day till 17 February. Sources said the CEO was asked to submit his report within seven days; a copy of which should reach all members of the board by noon on 20 February. It was learnt that the Chief Minister sought video recordings of all toilets to be submitted along with the CEO report to get a vivid account of cleanliness, availability of water and electricity.
During the meeting, DUSIB members and MLAs Akhilesh Pati Tripathi, Sahi Ram, and Hazari Lal expressed displeasure over the alleged inaction of DUSIB officials. The members also said that the issues cropped up after the government decided to make the use of toilets free of charge and open for 24 hours.
“The CEO will be accompanied by representatives of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). These will be surprise visits. Locations of toilets will be decided by DCW every day,” a senior official said. The official said that the CEO will personally visit five toilets at 6 AM every day, starting Sunday for one week.
The official said that the DUSIB CEO will have videos made of each toilet and have them promptly sent to all DUSIB members from the sites itself. A representative of the Delhi Commission for Women will accompany the DUSIB CEO along with a local MLA and board members who wish to go on the surprise checks, an official statement said.
DUSIB members Bipin Rai and AK Gupta would monitor the preparation of the report, sources said.