eco-friendly green toilets

UDHAGAMANDALAM: To curb open defecation in the Nilgiris district, Rural Development Organisation (RDO), an NGO in the Nilgiris, on Wednesday launched cost effective, eco-friendly green toilets to mark World Environment Day. Launching the pre- fabricated toilets, N K Perumal, Honorary Chairman, RDO said, "The RDO has been actively working to eradicate open defecation in the Nilgiris. We have a tie-up with various banks which give a loan of Rs 20,000 each to SHG members to procure the pre-fabricated toilets".

The RDO has successfully assisted 5550 families in constructing household toilets in various villages in the Nilgiris at an estimated cost of Rs 11.10 crore.

"The cost of material and labour has gone up. To make it easier for households to procure the toilets, the RDO has come up with a new cost-effective and eco-friendly design which will be launched on World Environment Day," said Perumal. The unit is very light and could be installed in any suitable place in the household. The salient features of the pre-fabricated toilet include its easy cleaning, its resistance to dust, it does not require foundation and it economizes use of water. "The biggest advantage of the pre-fabricated toilet is that a common septic tank may be set up in labour quarters, schools, hotels and tourist spots. Consequently, the cost of septic tank could be reduced".

The portable toilet costing around Rs.16700 is made of zinc sheet gladding.