Pune: Citizens’ group Sajag Nagrik Manch has said that a public toilet built at a high cost was damaged allegedly because of it poor quality and has sought a probe into the construction of the facility near Mhatre Bridge by the civic solid waste management department (main).Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch said, “We demand that Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) conduct an inquiry, forfeit the security deposit of the concerned contractor and blacklist them. Furthermore, action should be taken against those responsible for inflating the estimate and causing financial loss to the civic body. Immediate steps should be taken to carry out the necessary repairs.” Citizens said there is severe leakage in a slab inside the toilet.Meanwhile, payment was made at the rate of Rs7,300 per sqft for construction of the 360 sqft toilet. PMC’s engineers had prepared an estimate at the rate of Rs10,000 per sqft and the contractor was awarded the work since he submitted a tender 25% below the rate, sources said.The Manch has submitted a letter to PMC and said even if one was to consider construction from the foundation, the cost does not exceed Rs2,000 per sqft in the city, at present. If the contractor’s profit is taken as 25%, the rate cannot exceed Rs2,500 per sqft.“Despite PMC paying an exorbitant rate of Rs7,300 per sqft, the contractor has done such sub-standard work. The work was completed in 2024, but it was kept unused for around one and half years. Six months ago, the department decided that an upper floor should be added to the toilet,” the letter added.The letter further said the additional room was to be used for the caretaker, incurring an extra expenditure of Rs10 lakh to build accommodation for them.A senior official of the solid waste management department said, “The administration has received a complaint about the works. Staff members will visit the spot and check the ground reality. Future course of action will be decided thereafter.”
