Design ready for high-tech toilets

The ministry had reportedly mandated the department in 2012 to design environment-friendly and aesthetic toilets for public use. Sources said while the department had readied and put out its first prototype in June this year, the three other prototypes weren’t receiving enough vendors to implement the project in its first phase.

However, a senior DUAC official said that soon after Modi’s campaign for a clean city, 13 vendors approached the department expressing their eagerness to construct the prototypes. “Last week, we issued letters of intent to three vendors. The prototypes should be out in the next three months,” said a senior DUAC official.

The first bio-digesting toilet was installed in June this year by Mohan Rail Components (MNC) Kapurthala outside the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. The toilet uses aluminum sandwiched honeycomb panels with stainless steel veneering for durability. The prototype has a bio-digestive tank which converts the bacteria into clean water.

The tank is placed in an underground chamber where the process of conversion into water takes place over three days. Officials said the water can either be recycled again or used for the purpose of horticulture.

They said the toilets, meant for twin sharing for both male and female, costs Rs 2.3 lakh to construct as a prototype. Once ordered in bulk, the cost can come down to Rs 1 lakh each. Officials said the first prototype has generated a good response with 7,000 users so far.

“We received feedback that the toilet could do with more natural light and so, the three new prototypes to be installed have more provision for light. The toilets are sensor-based and can be easily cleaned,” said the official.

Meanwhile, sources said various government departments including the DDA and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation have expressed interest in using the technical expertise of the department. Officials said once the vendors are finalised for the projects, the vendors themselves can liaison with the concerned government departments who can mass-produce such toilets across the city.

However, DUAC will add conditions to the agreement including using the DUAC logo at each of the toilets and will have a copyright on its design.