Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday announced to undertake installation of bio-toilets in at least 1,000 gram panchayats in the country with an investment of `400 crores.
Mr Ramesh, while attending the bio-toilet inaugural function organised by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) at Dhamra in Bhadrak district, said the newly-developed toilets would prove immensely beneficial for the civilians, mainly in rural areas, besides developing missiles.
“The benefit of this technology can bring a significant change in the quality of life of people, especially in rural areas, and help them lead a healthy life through proper sanitation,” he said.
The bio-toilet jointly developed by DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior, and Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), Tezpur, was inaugurated by Union minister of state for statistics and programme implementations, chemicals and fertilisers Srikant Jena.
Bio-toilet uses the bio-digester technology (BDT). The technology was first used to decompose biological waste generated by soldiers deployed in high-altitude regions such as Siachen and Ladakh.
Adapted for use in all terrains, the bio-toilets degrade and convert human waste into usable water and gasses in an eco-friendly manner.
The effluent coming out of these toilets is odourless and harmless and can be used for gardening and irrigation, they said.
“The DRDO, which had been focusing on developing missiles, aircraft and other weapon systems, has now come out with bio-toilets using a unique technology. My ministry is committed to improve sanitation facility in rural areas across the country by promoting the use of this bio-toilet system,” Union rural development minister Mr Ramesh said.