The Planning Commission spent Rs35 lakh just to renovate two toilets that would be used by only 60 smart card holders. Is it the new austerity of the affluent?

While the Planning Commission continues to debate over its poverty line estimation, it is not stopping it from spending over Rs35 lakh for renovating two toilets with door access control system for its office at Yojana Bhawan, as revealed under a Right to Information (RTI) application. Critics point at the cost is equivalent to buying a flat. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has provided 60 smart cards for accessing these toilets to users including senior advisors, advisors, directors, personal secretaries, etc.  

In a reply to the RTI filed of Delhi-based activist, Subhash Agrawal, the Planning Commission replied that, "Cost of installation of Door Access Control System is Rs5,19,426 for two toilets. Cost of renovation of two toilets where door access control system is installed is Rs30,00,305."

In an internal note by the Commission, which was furnished in the RTI reply, it was revealed that toilets situated at 1st, 2nd and 5th floor at the Yojana Bhawan on RBI side were renovated by CPWD with approval from the competent authority after it was noticed that the newly-built toilets were sabotaged. "Things like disturbing/breaking of sanitary appliances are taking place frequently. It may not be out of place to mention that very high dignitaries visit Yojana Bhawan in connection with official work. In addition to this, non-official members of committees visit Yojana Bhawan for attending meetings, etc. Disturbing of sanitary fittings or non-functional sanitary fittings portray a very untidy picture of Planning Commission to the visiting dignitaries."

Another document also given in the RTI reply noted that, "With the approval of JS (admn), CPWD(E) was requested to submit estimates for SITC for door access control system and CCTV cameras. However, the executive engineer CPWD(E) has forwarded estimates for installation of door access control system in two toilets (one each on first and second floor) RBI side, Yojana Bhawan."

The RTI application also said, "It was  also  decided  to  renovate  the  said  toilets  in  line  with  the  toilets, functional  at  IGI (Indira Gandhi International)  airport,  New  Delhi.  These two toilets were to be renovated as a pilot project and after execution of the work; decision on renovation of other toilets was to be taken."

Last month, the column "The austerity of the affluent"  by P Sainath published in The Hindu, based on the RTI replies criticised the Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia whose foreign travel, between May and October 2011, incurred an expense of Rs2.02 lakh per day to the exchequer.
Mr Ahluwalia refuted the allegation saying that "Foreign travel is expensive but necessary for the discharge of official duties" .