DRDO developed bio-digester toilets will be installed in villages

The Minister for Rural Development and Drinking Water and Sanitation Shri Jairam Ramesh said that his Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for implementation of bio-digester based toilets in Gram Panchayats in a phased manner. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, he said the MoU has provision for DRDO to adapt the technology suitably for use in villages. He, however admitted that there is no data existing regarding dry latrines in the rural areas of the country.

Earlier, the Minister informed in a function in the Capital last month that one lakh bio-toilets will be installed in about 300 backward Gram Pachayats of the country in the next two years to make them open defecation free. He said, the project will entail a cost of 150 crore rupees in the first phase. He was speaking after the signing of an MoU between DRDO and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation for Bio-Digester based Eco-friendly toilets developed by DRDO. Shri Ramesh said, his Ministry has also offered to install with DRDO built bio-toilets in all new railways coaches and to share half the cost of retrofitting all existing 50,000 coaches in the next four to five years. He informed that the whole project will cost about 500 crore rupees and offered to share the burden on a 50-50 basis with the Railways. He said, the measure will not only prevent the corrosion of tracks but will also provide odourless toilets to passengers.