Pune: PMC Rejects Rs 50 Crore Proposal for School Toilet Cleaning Amid Concerns Over Excessive Costs

Pune, 8th March 2025: A proposal worth ₹49.56 crore for the cleaning of toilets in municipal schools across Pune city has been rejected by the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Estimates Committee. The decision was made after officials questioned whether the proposal was aimed at cleaning the toilets or emptying the civic treasury.

There are approximately 280 municipal schools operating in 125 buildings across Pune, with around one lakh students enrolled. Despite receiving substantial funds for maintenance and repairs, the condition of these schools remains poor, affecting the educational environment.

Two years ago, PMC decided to clean about 1,200 school toilets using jetting machines. The tender for this initiative, valid for five years, costs around ₹5 crore annually. However, discussions about extending the use of jetting machines for cleaning entire school premises remained unofficial until a formal proposal was presented recently.

During a recent meeting of the Preliminary Calculation Committee, senior officials, including department heads, reviewed a new one-year tender proposed by the Solid Waste Management Department. The tender aimed to allocate ₹49.56 crore for the mechanical cleaning of municipal schools and school toilets across five zones. The proposal estimated a cost of ₹8 per square foot for cleaning, leading officials to question the necessity and affordability of such an expenditure.

Officials raised concerns that the calculated rates by the Solid Waste Management Department were excessively high and would place an undue financial burden on the corporation. Some officers argued that rather than benefiting schools, the project seemed more likely to drain the civic treasury. Following discussions, the proposal was unanimously rejected.

The rejection of proposals in the Preliminary Assessment Committee is uncommon, as most projects receive approval with minor modifications. In a scenario where municipal administration is controlled by appointed officials rather than elected representatives, the rejection of a ₹50 crore proposal is considered a significant decision.