AAP calls NDMC’s ODF claim hollow

New Delhi, Jan. 9: The opposition AAP in the BJP- led NDMC on Tuesday alleged that the civic body declaring all its wards open defecation-free ( ODF) was a “hollow claim” and said it should instead focus on improving sanitation infrastructure keeping the needy in mind.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation ( NDMC) on January 1 had announced that all its 104 wards were now ODF from December 31, 2017.

On the one hand, there is so much noise about the preparations being made for the ASEAN summit and on the other hand, the NDMC declaring its wards ODF has proven to be a “hollow claim”, Leader of the Opposition in the NDMC Rakesh Kumar said.

The AAP leader, in a statement on Tuesday said, “If the wards are to be made ODF in the truest sense, first the public toilet facilities run by the private companies should be be made free of cost.”

“Secondly, the sanitation-level of toilets have to be stepped up and the toilets should be built in rural and slum areas, keeping in mind the needs of the people in the area,” he said.

Mr Kumar said the councillor of Ward No. 72- N has said in the Wazirpur Industrial Area there was a population of 70,000 in JJ colonies, but “there is only one toilet of the corporation in the said area” and there are 14 blocks of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board toilets that have 650 seats.

“It is impossible for people to be accommodated and so they are forced to relieve themselves by the canal. Also, because of improper lighting facility and faulty doors, many women are forced to go out and relieve in the open,” Mr Kumar claimed.

He said that the mayor, while announcing the wards ODF, said that the facilities at petrol refuelling stations, restaurants and other places can be availed by people, but it has been found that the “poor are generally not allowed to use them” because there are no penal provisions, if they are not permitted.

◗ Sanitation- level of toilets must be stepped up and they must be built in rural and slum areas, keeping in view the needs of people, Kumar said

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