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| Jan 25, 2006 5:32 am |
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Public toilets in Chennai |
SOEB FATEHI
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YES Kanchana.
We have many such Sulabh Sochalaya schemes successfully running in Mumbai where one can 'pay n pee' etc.
I understand your anxiety when you falied to elicit response from the local bodies. Did you remember to first tell them that you are here to invite them to inaugurate the scheme and the first toilet before asking for the land? No - this is not sarcasm. In any transaction the good news if presented first always adds to the purchasing power you command. And there is no conflict of ethics here either because who else can inaugurate the scheme better than a benefactor?
My knowledge of Chennai specific rules is incomplete.
As a country wide generalisation I do know that land and city survey administration does not belong to the Municipal Corporation. It is a State Govt function. Once allocated then building rules and permissions including commencement and occupancy certificates are in the scope of a Municipality or relevant LSG body.
Therefore the urban land allotment is in the domain of duty of the Home Ministry and you will do well to approach the Collectorate to first study the city survey and development plan maps. All lands earmarked for public utilities including toilets is marked therein. Once you spot open land earmarked for the purpose but unutilised you can them seek development permission from the city Collector. The land thus alloted cannot be conveyed in title but will be given either on lease for operation or on development contract where the ownership of the toilet will remain with the Municipality and the land will be owned by the State.
Additionally it will do good to research exact locations which are being used as open pissing spots for want of a toilet. Find out who is the owner of the immediately adjoining plot which is most affected. If it a privately owned property then explain to the owners that they are suffering inconvenience and a health hazard is presented too. Tell them that they will benefit by allowing a toilet
to be constructed at no cost to them. Tell them also that
they will continue to own the land and the toilet block but will incur no cost since YES will do the needfull. You will be pleasantly surprised soemtimes because a philantrophic soul will emerge amongst such owners who will want to participate in the cost too.
Let me know if you want the architectural, structural, hydraulic, and electrical design done - complimentary service at no professional fees for the first ten toilets which you build - ENCODE will do it for Chennai.
- Soeb
Private Reply to SOEB FATEHI (new win) |
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