After the intervention of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has issued an order prohibiting use of acid for cleaning public toilets operated by it, the DCW said on Monday.

During an inspection of an MCD Female Toilet Opposite GB Pant Hospital Gate Number 8, Daryaganj on April 6, the Commission found a 50 litre canister containing acid kept in the open inside the toilet. Upon inquiring, the Commission was informed by a Safai Karamchari as well as a staff of the agency – Shri Ram Institute of Rural Development (which has been given the contract by MCD for maintaining and operating the toilet complex) –  that they purchase acid every month to clean the toilets.

“The Commission was shocked to find acid, in such a huge quantity, lying in the open in the MCD toilet. This is illegal and extremely dangerous as anyone could have accessed this acid and used it for causing an acid attack. The Commission ensured that the acid was immediately confiscated by the Delhi Police and issued summons to MCD officials to explain the presence of acid in toilets,” the DCW said in a statement.

Senior officers from the City Zone appeared before the Commission and provided a written reply which stated that no guidelines have been issued by the MCD to prevent usage of acid for cleaning public toilets.

They also informed that toilets are cleaned (by the agency) as per terms and conditions imposed upon them in the contract agreement by the MCD. Further, they provided a copy of the contract agreement between MCD and the agency (Shri Ram Institute of Rural Development) for maintaining and operating the toilet.

On perusal of the contract agreement, the Commission observed that the same was signed on July 17, 2017, and the upkeep of 40 toilet complexes was handed over to the agency. The reply of MCD submitted to the Commission also points to Rule 36 of the Terms and Conditions of the contract agreement (between the MCD and agency) which clearly states that incase Acid is not used by the agency to clean the toilets weekly, a penalty of Rs 1000 per day shall be imposed on the agency by MCD.

The Commission raised the matter with the MCD and issued notice to MCD Commissioner seeking explanation and an action taken report in the matter. Senior officials from MCD appeared before the Commission in the matter on May 16, 2023 and informed that presently 308 community toilets/public toilets have been outsourced to private agencies which are having the same contract with MCD which states that a penalty of Rs 1000 per day shall be imposed on the agency incase acid is not used to clean the toilets weekly. Upon enquiry, it was learnt that the contract document was approved by North MCD House in 2017 which clearly promoted the use of acid for cleaning of toilets.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal expressed displeasure over the state of affair where the MCD has illegally directed usage of acid to clean 308 public toilets.

MCD officials, on the direction of the Commission have issued an office order on May 18 which states that the said provision of the contract (which encourages use of acid) has been repealed and if any person is found using/storing acid in the toilets, then action shall be taken against the agency as per law.

The DCW chief stated, “We found acid in MCD toilet in huge quantity. Initially, we thought that it was an illegal act by the private agency operating the toilets on behalf of the MCD. However, our enquiry in the matter opened a Pandora’s box. Our investigation revealed that in 2017, the elected representatives of North MCD passed a resolution approving the contract with private agencies for operating 308 public toilets, which mandated them to use acid to clean toilets weekly else pay a hefty fine! How can MCD which is a Government body itself promote the usage of acid? This is shocking and illegal. After DCW intervention, MCD has finally taken corrective steps and the use of acid has been prohibited in its public toilets.”