The renovation of the two toilets with “diplomatic embassy standards” and Japanese or German class fittings, should cost between Rs2 and Rs4 lakh in Delhi
The toilet controversies appears to be rocking the headlines in the print media and breaking news on television, and no less than the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission had to issue clarifications and press notes on the subject.
But one simple fact appears to have gone past unchallenged. Was the cost within rational levels, and if so, how much is our CPWD (Central Public Works Department), tasked with this job, spending on refurbishing toilets?
Based on quick television video grabs and media photos, I went on a walkabout in one of South Delhi's major “sanitary goods” market and the showroom of one of Indian’s most famous sanitary goods and bathroom boutiques. All are within two kilometres of where I live, and I have known some of the shopkeepers for about 30-40 years.
1) An estimate of renewing the bathrooms, including civil works, to what they refer as “diplomatic embassy standards”, was placed at between Rs2 and Rs4 lakh. This includes Japanese or German fittings, where required, or Indian equivalent. This is, as they say, for work done “with receipt”, which means they satisfy all mandatory and statutory requirements—except bribes. It is a considered opinion that the bribes involved through a chain of contractors and subcontractors would have been between 300% and 400% People smile at even higher numbers charged during the Commonwealth Games, and say, so what, nothing will happen.
2) A decent smart card reader configuration for 3-5 doors would cost between Rs30,000-Rs80,000, depending on configurations, and that would include 100 smart cards. And as we are all aware, a replacement smart card even for the Delhi Metro has a cash value of Rs50, while the actual cost when bought in bulk is in single digit Indian rupees.
Whether a building is 50 years old or almost new, rejuvenating a toilet which does not even have a shower cubicle from all appearances cannot cost so much money.
The bigger question to the Planning Commission, then, is this—would they like to use this as an opportunity to analyse how much a toilet should cost, whether it is for the exalted asses or ordinary human beings?
At Rs35 lakh, another friend who is senior enough in the hotel industry, could not help but say that it sounds like toilet humour —except that, it is we, the tax payers, who are paying for this joke.
(Veeresh Malik had a long career in the Merchant Navy, which he left in 1983. He has qualifications in ship-broking and chartering, loves to travel, and has been in print and electronic media for over two decades. After starting and selling a couple of companies, is now back to his first love-writing.)
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This is in the regard of the grievance which I have got from HCG cancer hospital. My father was just 62 years old and he was 90kg in weight and healthy. We got a report that my father might be suffering from gallbladder cancer.I contacted Dr. Basant Mahadevappa and his team and they did test on my father for around 3 days which costed my 60,000 rupees and they said that we have come on a very right time and they did operation on my father. within 2 days of the operation my father was on ventilator and he died because of the operation. They took 6 lacs rupees from us and that was also over charged by 30,000. My father was the main pillar of our 11 people family and the Dr. Basant Mahadevappa and his team did operation for just money which they were seeking from us. These people are one of the worst They even did not let us go with our father while he was dead until and unless we paid full amount which was charged extra by 30000 thousands rupees. At that time they said that their software is on up gradation and they will refund any amount which would be extra. After a month when I was mentally little stable I called HCG hospital and the keep on delaying the extra money which they took from us. Please be aware of these fake people who only loot poor people like us. Our only hope was to live with our father for few more months but Dr Basant Mahadevappa from HCG Cancer hospital took that hope from us and our father is no more with us.
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Hi All
This is in the regard of the grievance which I have got from HCG cancer hospital. My father was just 62 years old and he was 90kg in weight and healthy. We got a report that my father might be suffering from gallbladder cancer.I contacted Dr. Basant Mahadevappa and his team and they did test on my father for around 3 days which costed my 60,000 rupees and they said that we have come on a very right time and they did operation on my father. within 2 days of the operation my father was on ventilator and he died because of the operation. They took 6 lacs rupees from us and that was also over charged by 30,000. My father was the main pillar of our 11 people family and the Dr. Basant Mahadevappa and his team did operation for just money which they were seeking from us. These people are one of the worst They even did not let us go with our father while he was dead until and unless we paid full amount which was charged extra by 30000 thousands rupees. At that time they said that their software is on up gradation and they will refund any amount which would be extra. After a month when I was mentally little stable I called HCG hospital and the keep on delaying the extra money which they took from us. Please be aware of these fake people who only loot poor people like us. Our only hope was to live with our father for few more months but Dr Basant Mahadevappa from HCG Cancer hospital took that hope from us and our father is no more with us.
Please don't go to this hospital if you want to live little longer than expected.
Any body feel free to contact me #8910941541 if you guys have any doubts I'll show the report as well. My father's name was Mr. Janardan Pandey.
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