## Policy Summary: Sanitation Infrastructure in Delhi
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' (MoHUA) response to a parliamentary question regarding sanitation infrastructure in Delhi, specifically in areas like Sadar Bazar and Fatehpuri.
**Key Points:**
* **Constitutional Responsibility:** Sanitation is primarily a state subject, with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) responsible for planning, designing, executing, and operating sanitation projects.
* **MoHUA's Role:** MoHUA supplements state efforts through policy direction, financial and technical support, and by providing manuals, standards of procedures (SoPs) on Solid Waste Management (SWM) and Used Water Management (UWM), and issuing advisories and guidelines.
* **Swachh Bharat Mission Urban (SBMU):** The Government of India launched SBMU on October 2, 2014, with the objective of Open Defecation Free (ODF) cities. Funds are released to States/Union Territories (UTs) based on their approved action plans.
* **SBMU Phase I in Delhi:** The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) claimed the entire mission allocation of ₹5.15 crores under the Community Toilets/Public Toilets (CT/PTs) component.
* **Construction Progress (SBMU Phase I):** GNCTD reported constructing 28,256 Community Toilets/Public Toilets (CT/PTs) seats against a mission target of 11,138 CT/PTs.
* **SBMU 2.0 Allocation:** Under SBMU 2.0, GNCTD has been allocated ₹10 crores for toilet construction.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for policies, programs and regulations related to housing and urban development.
Sadar Bazar: A locality in Delhi, India, mentioned in the context of sanitation infrastructure shortage.
Fatehpuri: A locality in Delhi, India, mentioned in the context of sanitation infrastructure shortage.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, which includes provisions related to the distribution of powers between the Union and the States, including sanitation as a State subject.
Urban Local Bodies ULBs: Local government institutions in urban areas responsible for providing basic services, including water and sanitation.
Swachh Bharat Mission Urban SBMU: A Government of India initiative launched on October 2, 2014, with the objective of making cities Open Defecation Free (ODF).
Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi GNCTD: The government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, responsible for implementing urban development and sanitation programs.
Delhi: The National Capital Territory of Delhi, India. It is a union territory and a state.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3182
TO BE ANSWERED ON AUGUST 7, 2025
SANITATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN DELHI
NO. 3182. SHRI PRAVEEN KHANDELWAL:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the acute shortage of
functional public toilets and waste disposal systems in areas like
Sadar Bazar and Fatehpuri of Delhi and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any urban sanitation upgrade plan has been proposed for
these zones and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure regular maintenance
and public-private partnerships for such sanitation infrastructure?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a) to (c) : Sanitation is a State subject under 7th schedule of the
Constitution and by the 74th amendment of the Constitution of India the
devolution of power has been made to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for
water and sanitation services. It is the responsibility of State/ULBs to
plan, design, execute and operate sanitation projects in the urban areas
of the country. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) supplements
the efforts of States/UTs by providing policy directions, financial and
technical support by sharing Manuals/Standard of Procedures (SoPs) on
Solid Waste Management (SWM) & Used Water Management (UWM) and
issue various Advisories & Guidelines time to time for choosing
appropriate technologies to manage solid and liquid waste.
Government of India launched the Swachh Bharat Mission -Urban
(SBM-U) on October 2, 2014 with the objective of Open Defecation Free
(ODF) cities. Under SBM-U, funds are released by Government of India to
the States/UTs on the basis of their action plan duly approved by State
Level Technical Committee (SLTC).
…2/--2-
Under phase I of SBM-U, the entire mission allocation of ₹5.15 crores
under Community Toilets/Public Toilets (CT/PTs) component was claimed
by Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). As reported
by GNCTD, a total of 28,256 Community Toilets/Public Toilets (CT/PTs)
seats have been constructed against the mission target of 11,138 CT/PTs.
Under SBM-U 2.0, GNCTD have been allocated ₹10 crores for toilet
construction.
*****