Waterless loos soon in major places in Trichy

TRICHY: The Trichy Corporation has resolved to construct waterless toilets in Trichy in the near future. A brainchild of corporation commissioner Veeraragahav Rao, these waterless toilets would be built at important junctions such as the congested Gandhi Market, Chathram Bus Terminal and Central Bus Stand.
The construction of waterless toilets, the first-of-its-kind in the state, is part of the ‘State Government Open Defecation Eradication Scheme’, for which the corporation has been allotted Rs 7.18 crore.
The corporation has at present 360 toilets of all types and it is in the process of constructing 20 disabled-friendly toilets at a cost of Rs one crore. These toilets, Rao told TOI, would have slanting ramps and support bars and this could well be utilised by old and infirm people too.
The idea of waterless toilets struck Rao when he went on a tour to Delhi, and he is also contemplating the feasibility of introducing e-cleaning of toilets.
Rao said that the generally sterile liquid of urine emanated bad odour only when it mixed with water. Moreover, the plan had the potential to save millions of gallons of water at a time when the demand for the natural resources was draining aquifers dry. He said that the immediate urge is to tide over the water problem and to keep the toilets odour-free at important junctions.
Rao said Trichy being at the centre of Tamil Nadu attracts about 2.5 lakh floating population a day and the menace of people urinating against the walls is a common sight.