Team Herald
PANJIM: Asserting that the absence of sewer lines won’t be a roadblock in the State government’s mission to make Goa open defecation free (ODF) by October 2, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday clarified that 72,000 toilets with bio-digester technology – an eco-friendly system to manage human waste – will be supplied to the households.
Herald in its edition dated February 5 had reported that non-availability of land, absence of sewer lines and no regular supply of water are some of the major challenges before the coalition government to achieve ODF target.
Speaking to Herald, Parrikar, admitted that land is the biggest problem before the government, and said that sewerage connections won’t be an issue since the government is adopting bio-digester toilet technology.
“The toilet will have a bio-digester tank. Installation and commissioning can be done in a day,” Parrikar said. The toilet will cost the government approximately Rs 40,000.
“We are committed to make Goa open defecation free by October 2. I will ensure that before October 2, every household has a toilet and there is complete eradication of open defecation from the State,” he said.
Bio-digester toilet technology has been perfected by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation). Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the system is being demonstrated across the country. In Goa, it is being used to construct toilets along Malim jetty by Fisheries Department.
The biggest advantage of the facility is that all faecal matter is converted into liquid, which is pathogen-free, unlike the pit system which can contaminate the ground water. This water can be allowed to either seep into the ground or be collected for gardening, acting as an effective liquid fertilizer.
