Delhi Chief Secretary Deepak Mohan Spolia was in for a shock during the inspection of Players Building on Monday. It appears that the Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan launched by the Prime Minister has not caught up with the babus of Delhi Government secretariat. Files were lying scattered in an unorganised manner, middle rung officials were caught napping and toilets were stinking. Even senior officials were found gossiping in their offices.
In the Environment Department, staff was not found in their seats and busy chinwagging. Furious at the cavalier attitude of the officials, Spolia gave them a tongue-lashing and asked for a detailed report from the Principal Secretaries. The Chief Secretary also expressed annoyance over Special Secretary (GAD) PC Jain, whose responsibility was to ensure that the washrooms in Players Building were neat and clean on all the floors. He has also directed PWD Secretary to shift the unnecessary files in the record rooms.
According to Spolia, he has decided to visit 6th and 7th floor of the Players to inspect toilets and gallery and found that toilet were stinking and dirty. Empty lunch packets, files, unused and condemned typewriters are found in the almost three departments’ office where he inspected. The stench from the toilet blocks was unbearable and water was flowing in every nook and cranny. The galleries were found full of unusable files; dirty racks were lying in the gallery. Strangely, department’s have no staff to clean these racks and files. Interestingly, Principal Secretary (Services) Shakuntala Gamlin was found chatting with two officials in her room.
After inspecting the toilet block, Spolia went to her room and directed to ensure cleanliness of toilet. Spolia also personally inspected three common toilets and a toilet exclusively meant for the bureaucrats. They were too stinking and dirty. The Chief Secretary also called Special Secretary (GAD) PC Jain and pulled him up for poor upkeep of toilet block and galleries of departments. While Jain was trying to explain that thing would be rectified by Tuesday, Spolia shouted at Jain and said, “Do not justify and put things in the right place.”
The files were dusty and unused typewriters and software junk was found in the services department’s gallery. He also asked the staff of services department that why software junk was lying in the gallery and whether there is a staff to clean these files and racks. He was also unhappy when he found a broken typewriter kept at prominent place at Services Department. He directed Gamlin to condemn it and remove it. After visiting Services Department, Spolia went to Tourism Department on the 7th floor and was upset as toilets were dirty.
The Chief Secretary also inspected Environment Department and found that no one was sitting in their designated place and empty food packets were strewn around. Spolia and senior officials also found a staff sleeping on his chair. At one point of time, SS Yadav, Secretary (Tourism) forced to say, “ab toh jag jao bhai”. The entire clerical staff of the Environment Department was found gossiping during working hours. Upset over the seeing the staff, senior officials of the Environment Department directed all of all staff to be in their chair/seat. Racks, almirahs and files were found in open in environment gallery.
A pizza box was found on the floor of the pantry room. SD Singh of Delhi Parks & Garden Society was taken by surprise and was one point of time had to remove leftover food. lambasting Special Secretary (GAD) over the poor upkeep of Players Building, Spolia stated that GDA officials are focusing on only fifth floor and third floor to keep it spanking clean.
