Berhampur: A faecal sludge and septage treatment plant is being constructed at Mahuda, 8km from here, to convert human waste into compost manure and treat waster water for reuse in irrigation.

"Septage is host to several disease-causing organisms and severely contaminated," said project consultant of Berhampur Municipal Corporation Bibhudatta Sahu.

"It's time to ponder on the treatment of the human waste and reuse it for the betterment of environment and a healthy life. Discharge from unsanitary latrines, sewage flowing into drains, effluent from septic tanks, septage and rampant open defecation are polluting the environment. Having proper disposal and a well-planned faecal sludge management is needed and should be given importance," said Sahu.

The treatment plant is being constructed on a 1.51-acre land with a capacity of faecal sludge and septage management of 40,000 litres a day.

"Though the capacity can meet the demands of a population for the next 20 years, we will start the plant with a initial supply of 1,500 litre human excreta a day. Faecal waste from the households stored in septic tanks will be collected through cesspool emptiers occasionally for disposal in places such as Berhampur, Gopalpur, Chatrapur, Hinjilicut, Chikiti and other places," he said.