Eight of 30 smart biotoilet under GSCL projects yet to be opened

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Eight of the 30 smart bio toilets taken up in 2018 under a project of the Guwahati Smart City Ltd (GSCL) are yet to be completed. Among the 22 completed smart biotoilets also 20 are operational, but the other two aren't.

Among the eight yet to be opened projects, while four are ready for inauguration, one is under construction in the Zoo, the work of one is yet to stated, and the sites for the remaining two are yet to be selected. The scheduled dates for commissioning of all the 30 smart biotoilets were in 2018.

The contract for the construction of all the 30 smart biotoilets was given to Eram Scientific Solutions Pvt Ltd at as estimated cost of Rs 9.53 crore. The cost of each of the 30 biotoilets is over Rs 31 lakh.

The responsibility of maintenance of the biotoilets was with Eram Scientific Solutions for five years. However, there is a provision in the agreement to review the contract after every year. In the recent review meet it was decided to hand over all the 22 completed projects to the GMC (Guwahati Municipal Corporation).

According to official sources, there is no rule for GSCL to maintain any projects on its own. "Ours is only an implementing agency. After completion of any project, we need to hand it over to the beneficiary agency or department GMC for running it," a GSCL official said, and added, "The first smart biotoilet project in Assam was opened in September 2018 in the GMCH (Gauhati Medical College and Hospital)."

The locations of 28 of the 30 smart biotoilets are – one each at Judges Field, GMDA office, GMCH, Sonaram Field, Mahavir Uddyan at Fancy Bazar, Azara Civil Hospital, Assam Engineering Institute at Chandmari, Dispur Circle Office at Beltola, District Transport Office at Bethkuchi, Nabagraha Temple, Regional Science Centre at Khanapara, Sarusajai Stadium, Dharapur Bazar, Gorchuk Vegetable Market, Nehru Stadium, Tarun Ram Phukan Park at Bharalumukh, Food Villa on MG Road, Bethkuchi ISBT, Jalukbari, Basistha Temple, Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra and Cotton College. While B Baruah Cancer Institute has two units, the State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden has four units.

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