SDMC to install mobile toilets at public places

To make the sanitation facilities accessible to maximum number of people in south Delhi and discourage them from defecating in open, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation

To make the sanitation facilities accessible to maximum number of people in south Delhi and discourage them from defecating in open, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) plans to install mobile toilets, multi-purpose dustbins and green waste shredders at public places in large numbers. The initiative is in conjunction with the Prime Minister’s ambitious project Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.

The mobile toilets are made of fibre, eco-friendly and inexpensive. (S Burmaula / HT Photo)

Recently, south Delhi mayor Shyam Sharma, Shailender Singh, chairman, standing committee, and Subhash Arya, leader of the House visited Waste & Sani Tech India Exhibition held at Pragati Maidan to take a look of sanitation equipment displayed there. After the visit, they toyed with the idea to install them in south Delhi.

“We liked the mobile toilet made up of fibre having five cabins or units. Each unit will cost Rs15,000-20,000 and the number of units can be increased based on the requirement,” said Sharma.

SDMC installed ‘Namma’ toilets under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme in April 2016. Each toilet costs around Rs14 lakh. The SDMC has now asked the manufacturing company to send the presentation in this regard. “If we found the terms and condition of manufacture satisfying then we will install two to three such mobile toilets as a pilot project in busy markets, roadsides, parks, market complex, or schools,” said Arya.

The civic agency launched the project at different places to promote the Swachh Bharat Mission. The SDMC decided to install 100 such toilet complexes, each consisting of five units. It has been successful in installing 28 units and process of installing 16 others is in pipeline. But the project to install rest of the toilet complexes has been put on hold considering the huge cost involved in project.

“The Namma toilet, which is equipped with solar lighting, was developed in Tamil Nadu,” said an SDMC official.

Apart from mobile toilets, SDMC leaders also expressed keenness to purchase the green waste shredder exhibited at the exhibition.

“The machine converts green and domestic waste into compost in 72 hours. As of now, we have 12 shredders in three zones (four each in south, west and centre) but they are huge and expensive also. Comparatively the shredders, we saw at the exhibition are small in size and inexpensive,” said Subhash Arya, leader of House. The SDMC is planning to install them in each residential area, to develop an effective waste disposal system.

Also, there were multi-purpose dustbins which grabbed the attention of SDMC officials. “These cart shaped dustbins can be used as trolleys to lift garbage. By putting up good looking dustbins/shredders in the parks and along the roads, the corporation will be able to change the habit of throwing waste by the citizens,” said Arya.

The mayor said that the agency is already running short of funds and these low-cost facilities or equipment will help save money.