After battling garbage and having ruthlessly been humiliated in many quarters, the city of Bangalore seems to now shift its focus on sanitation. With technology not been able to change the mindset of people towards garbage segregation, there is hope that tech can change the toilet experience for the public. And going by what B S Sathyanarayana, the mayor of the city, has to say, it may be soon that Bangalore will open itself to e-toilets.
"Yes, we are planning to set up e-toilets in Bangalore. Right now it will be a pilot project, and we plan to start with 100 e-toilets for which we are identifying locations in the city. Basically we need a place where a sanitary line runs. I have discussed the plan with the authorities concerned in different wards and have asked them to locate some places at the earliest. We might start this project in the next 10 days," he said.
While the concept has taken off to wide acceptance in Kerala and in a small manner in Delhi, Bangalore could use the concept because it has several benefits. "E-toilets will definitely help citizens as these can be used by both men and women. The e-toilet is a 4 / 8 sanitation infrastructure and can be used at the cost of Rs 1 or Rs 2. The toilet will be programmed to flush out 1.5 to 2 litres of water. Cauvery water will not be used for this. E-toilets is an eco-friendly product and will be maintained hygienically," said Sathyanarayana.
According to Bincy Baby, head, convergence business group, Eram Scientific Solutions Pvt Ltd, a Kerala-based company which has a patent pending e-toilet solution, the concept incorporates full cycle approach in sustainable sanitation by integrating convergence of electronics, mechanical, web-mobile technologies, thereby controlling entry, usage, cleaning, exit, and remote monitoring capabilities with multiple revenue options.
"The insertion of a coin opens the door of the e-toilet for the user, switches on a light - thus saving energy - and even directs the person with audio commands. The toilets are programmed to flush 1.5 liters of water after 3 minutes of usage or 4.5 liters if usage is longer. It can also be programmed to clean the platform with a complete wash down after every five or ten persons use the toilet," she said.
In Bangalore, the company has installed one e-toilet. "We have installed a toilet at Annapurna Service station. We have been getting quite a few enquiries from people as well as the municipal corporation and Bangalore is definitely high on our list of priority in terms of market," she said.
And according to Sathyanarayana, if the pilot projects is successful, they will install more e-toilets in other locations as well.
functionalities
Appealing aesthetics
Unmanned operation
Automated access control
Automated cleaning mechanism
Remote diagnosis and remote management
Customer support facility
Online mapping
Waste processing through STP
Portable Design
Durable
Easy to Clean
Key Features
Innovative design to fit busy Indian towns and cities
State-of-the-art technology to address public sanitation challenges
Modular, sleek and appealing aesthetics
Mild steel/ stainless steel built
Compact and user-Friendly access and interfaces
Hygienic and easy to maintain components