Aimed at enhancing sanitation, particularly for women, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation will be constructing ‘only women’ toilet blocks. These facilities will be started in each its 104 wards.
With elections round the corner, the civic body has decided to expedite work, fearing the Model Code of Conduct will be in place soon. The toilet blocks are planned in marketplaces, some unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters that miserably lack in sanitary services.
In the first phase, 48 locations have been identified. Several other locations are also being identified by the department of environment management services (DEMS) of North Delhi Corporation.
“A survey has been conducted by the department across all the six administrative zones. A total of 48 locations have been identified as of now where women toilet blocks can be constructed. The details of the locations have been sent to the engineering department. They have been directed to initiate the process and complete the projects in a time-bound manner,” sad VP Pandey, Chairman of DEMS Committee in the Corporation.
Pandey held a meeting of DEMS department earlier this month and reviewed the sanitation related works in the limits of the corporation.
The officials said decision of constructing Mahila toilets has been taken in view of security of women as well.
Several cases of molestation are reported from slums and JJ clusters as still several women are forced to defecate in open due to lack of toilets in their homes, an official said. Officials have been directed to initiate tendering process at the earliest.
Officials said the work would be started before the model code of conduct for Delhi assembly polls sets in. "Fund for the project will not be a problem as provision for construction of toilets has been made in the budget proposals for the current financial year," said an official. Earlier, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation had also proposed to open state-of-the-art toilet complexes for women at market places across north Delhi.