KMC mulls proposal on bio-toilets near important bus stands

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is considering a proposal to set up bio-toilets near important bus stands, Debashis Kumar, Member, Mayor-in-Council (Parks and Square) said on Monday.

Addressing a gathering, Kumar said the civic authorities are considering a proposal to allot space near important bus stands for setting up bio-toilets. Initially, 10 such toilets will come up as a pilot project.

With so many people suffering from diabetes, construction of such toilets near strategic points such as bus stands and Metro stations are important.

Arijit Banerjee, popularly known as the "Toilet Man of Bengal", said the higher version of bio-toilets known as e-toilets will come up soon as well. The users of these toilets can pay the money digitally.

These toilets have important features like they are washed automatically and there are smoke alarms which would prevent people from smoking inside the cubicles.

If a toilet is shut for a prolonged period then there is an alarm for preventing accidents inside the toilets.

Construction of pay-in toilets has reduced open defecation in the city. The toilets that have been constructed in areas surrounded by slums have changed the toilet habits of the slum dwellers, said a senior KMC official.

It may be mentioned that the state government had launched Mission Nirmal Bangla to stop open defecation in the villages much before Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

By March 31, all the districts in Bengal will be open defecation free much ahead of the deadline which is October 2, 2019.