Modern toilets for fisherfolk colonies

Modern toilets for fisherfolk colonies
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Highlights

Fisherfolk will soon have modern toilets in Bhimili mandal. One toilet was constructed at Doddi Chepalauppada village under pilot project. The expandable polystyrene toilets will not be affected by sea erosion or salinity in the groundwater.

Visakhapatnam: Fisherfolk will soon have modern toilets in Bhimili mandal. One toilet was constructed at Doddi Chepalauppada village under pilot project. The expandable polystyrene toilets will not be affected by sea erosion or salinity in the groundwater.

Highlights:

  • Expandable polystyrene toilets will not be affected by sea erosion or salinity in the groundwater
  • This technology has been approved by the Council for Science and Industrial Research (CSIR)
  • Under this technology pre-fabricated sheets can built into a toilet in just two to three hours. After fixing this unit, house holder can immediately put into use

This technology has been approved by the Council for Science and Industrial Research (CSIR) under this technology pre-fabricated sheets can built into a toilet in just two to three hours. After fixing this unit, house holder can immediately put into use.

Mandal development officer K Hariprasad Rao recently started this technology at Doddi Chepalauppada village and fixed one model toilet as a pilot project.

One of the critical aspects of rural sanitation is to build toilets by considering climate, water, space and most importantly culture.

Majority of villages under Bhimili mandal are located on the shores of Bay of Bengal. Around 10 villages have banned to building leach pit model toilets due to geographical conditions which include erosion and saline content in water. The groundwater depth is very minimal.

According to reports, 21 panchayats in this mandal are affected by the sea erosion and salinity. The problem is acute in Mangamaripeta, Nagarampalem, Kapuluppada, Moola Kuddu, PedaNagayyapalem, China Nagayyapalem,
Tatithuru, T,Nagarampalem and Jejjavalasa villages located close to Gosthani river.

The other reason for the villagers not willing to construct individual toilets is the high cost which is more than government sanctioned amount.

Due to these reasons, the villagers are still defecating in the open, defeating the Prime Minister’s pet scheme Swacch Bharat. The Central government has been sanctioning Rs 12, 000 per each toilet unit which is not enough to build regular leach type toilet. The state government added another Rs 3,000 to the scheme yet the villagers were finding it complete the construction.

Bhimili officers approached the CTPSL Company for better technology. This hi-tech readymade toilet can be fixed anywhere with the support of crane. Divis Pharmaceutical Company came forward and offered Rs 3,000 for each unit, MP Dr K Haribabu sanctioned another Rs 3,000 from his MPALAD funds.

The company priced each unit at Rs 25,000 but agreed to slash it to Rs 22,000. All funds pooled together came to Rs 21,000 and each beneficiary was asked to dole out Rs 1,000.
“Once these prefabricated toilets are fixed, the mandal will become ODF,’’ Hariprasada Rao said.

By Jatlee Dontala

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