Cuttack, Jan. 1: A year after a Rs 7.65-crore plan to construct 32 community and public toilets at various places in the city was formally conceptualised by the municipal corporation, no work has been done because of the lack of technical sanction.

The state government had given administrative approval for the project. But the detailed project report was submitted for technical sanction of the engineer-in-chief of the public health engineering department less than a month ago. In the absence of a technical sanction, a deadline is yet to be fixed for start or completion of work.

Mayor Saumendra Ghose said: “Tender bids for execution of the project will be invited after receipt of technical sanction.”

The idea is to construct 32 community toilets at important market and public places of the city in addition to the 43 existing Sulabha Sauchalayas.

“The project is estimated to cost Rs 7.65 crore and will be executed with financial assistance from Bill and Belinda Gates Foundation, funds from Japan International Co-operation Agency-assisted integrated sanitation project and the state government,” municipal commissioner Pratap Das said.

Official sources said, the Gates foundation had provided Rs 2.25 crore. Another Rs 2.5 crore had been allocated from the Japan International Co-operation Agency project. The state government will provide the remaining funds.

Forty-three Sulabha Sauchalayas are functional in the city now. Of them, 22 are in the pay-and-use category.