Shillong, June 20: Meghalaya is keen to put in place a system of bio-digester tanks, which is superior and cheaper than the septic tank model, across the state.

An anaerobic digester is a tool to convert waste products — anything that would rot — into bio-gas and fertiliser.

Chief minister Mukul Sangma convened a meeting of officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to discuss this issue in New Delhi today.

The meeting was co-ordinated by Centre for Innovation in Public Systems (CIPS), Hyderabad — an autonomous body under the Administrative Staff College of India that has taken an initiative to propagate the DRDO bio-digester technology.

Sangma was impressed by the presentation on bio-digester technology and advised the officials to come up with a proposal to implement the technology in the state.

The new system can be implemented through appropriate policy adoption, building bylaws and other necessary legislations.

The chief minister felt bio-digester technology was would provide a solution to sanitation problems.

It was also advised to integrate the earlier septic tanks with the bio-digester tanks. Sangma felt workshops in urban areas were required to create awareness.

To make the bio-toilet programme sustainable, the DRDO and FICCI team proposed to add drinking water machines to the bio-toilet installations.

Sangma also wanted a memorandum of understanding signed between his government, DRDO and CIPS — with FICCI as the implementing partner in the initial stage.