India’s Planning Commission spends $54,000 on two toilets
June 7th, 2012 - 10:12 pm ICT by Aishwarya BhattNew Delhi, June 7 (THAINDIAN NEWS) The individual toilets of two separate utility rooms for senior staff members at the headquarters of India’s Planning Commission in New Delhi have undergone a renovation costing Rs. 3 million (approximately 54,100 US dollars).
The planning commission is in charge of drawing up the country’s five-year economic plans.
The high cost of the toilets’ upgrade, which are only accessible to senior staff members them via an electronic card system, has generated increase controversy and outrage.
A local activist uncovered the scandal after he filed figure through a “Right To Information” request to find out more about the works to upgrade the toilets.
The commission defended itself by denying media reports that only two toilet blocks reserved for senior staff were upgraded. They insisted that the Rs3 million will be used to upgrade six public toilets multiple seats, each of which can each be used by 10 people.
The commission has justified the high renovation costs stating that the plumbing and sewerage systems of the toilet had deteriorated in a very considerable way because of its antiquity, and an almost complete replacement was required.
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Tags: activist, antiquity, controversy, economic plans, electronic card, India, New Delhi, outrage, planning commission, plumbing, public toilets, renovation costs, rs3, scandal, sewerage systems, staff members, toilet blocks, us dollars