Bhubaneswar, May 3: The state housing and urban development department has decided to install 6,000 hybrid toilet complexes across nine cities in the state in the next one year.
The hybrid toilet is unique as they need only 300ml of water to flush out slush as compared to 10 to 15 litres required in a standard loo. The maintenance cost is also minimal. Moreover, the toilet complex will have energy efficient LED lighting system.
The department has joined hands with Sulabh International, a social service organisation, for the execution of the project. The funds will be raised from the recently launched Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) scheme.
The pay-and-use hybrid toilet complex of five, seven and 10 seats will come up in Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Puri, Balasore, Bhadrak and Baripada.
"We had a meeting with the state government and decided to conduct a survey for installing hybrid toilets in the city. The government and our officials will decide on the number of toilets that can be installed in the city," said Binod Sharma, controller of state for Sulabh International.
Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said that nearly 100 such toilets would be constructed in Bhubaneswar for which the corporation would collaborate with Sulabh International to prepare a master plan. "The plan will be submitted to the state government by mid-May. Once finances for the project is approved, work on the toilets will begin," said Jena.
"Local slum dwellers will be issued monthly passes to use the toilets whereas the general public will have to pay. The revenue generated here will be used for maintenance, which will be done by Sulabh International," said Sharma.
Sources in the housing and urban development department said that although the estimate for the project was not finalised, it was expected that a 10-seat toilet complex would cost nearly Rs 25 lakh. The government will release the funds in phases.
In another development, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to expedite the construction of the public toilets under Project Samman. The civic body was supposed to construct 26 public toilets under the project. However, it has completed only one till now. The Telegraph had reported about the sorry state of the toilet project in January.
"Public toilets are rare in this city. Bhubaneswar has recently got the smart city tag. The administration should now wake up and start providing the basic amenities to the public. I hope the new hybrid toilet project will help to solve the problem of the state capital," said Bheemtangi resident Manoj Maharana.
App help
In a unique initiative, two former students of the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) - Avinash Panigrahi and Kamal Kumar Sahoo - have developed a smartphone application called "Where is the dustbin?" to guide the public on the location of existing toilets and dustbins in the city.
The app will guide a user with the information about their nearby dustbins as well as toilets. At present, the app is available only for the android users.
Developer of the app, Avinash Panigrahi, said that everyday there were new entrants to the city. Most of them are unaware about the location of dustbins and toilets, he said.
"This application will help them find nearby toilets and dustbin. The app's database also include information about the dustbins and toilets in Cuttack and Puri," said Panigrahi.
