Bio toilets spend despite knowing it'll fail
Railways despite knowing Bio Toilets are going to fail went ahead and installed them. Suresh Prabhu must have wanted to show some accomplishment. See what Vinod Tare IIT prof had to say about it:
These toilets are no better than holding tanks. Very little biological treatment is happening. Claims that human excreta is broken up into gases (methane) and liquid by using a compound of bacterium obtained from Antarctica are not based on scientific data.
If, according to claims, methane is being produced, this is a problem–as methane is hazardous and inflammable material. If methane is not getting produced, it means that no biological treatment is happening in the toilet tanks, in any case. Both ways it is a problem.
Substantial spending has–and continues to be done–on installation of bio-toilets. But, my view is that on-board treatment of human excreta is difficult. Evacuation facilities and treatment plants–for compost or biogas–can be set up in the rail yards. As head of the bio-toilet committee of the Technology Mission of Railway Safety, I had suggested this in 2009. I also discussed the idea at a meeting with then railways minister Suresh Prabhu in 2015. more
These toilets are no better than holding tanks. Very little biological treatment is happening. Claims that human excreta is broken up into gases (methane) and liquid by using a compound of bacterium obtained from Antarctica are not based on scientific data.
If, according to claims, methane is being produced, this is a problem–as methane is hazardous and inflammable material. If methane is not getting produced, it means that no biological treatment is happening in the toilet tanks, in any case. Both ways it is a problem.
Substantial spending has–and continues to be done–on installation of bio-toilets. But, my view is that on-board treatment of human excreta is difficult. Evacuation facilities and treatment plants–for compost or biogas–can be set up in the rail yards. As head of the bio-toilet committee of the Technology Mission of Railway Safety, I had suggested this in 2009. I also discussed the idea at a meeting with then railways minister Suresh Prabhu in 2015. more
Viewed by 47
View all 31 comments Below 31 comments
It is non-digestible that the railways introduced bio-toilets in trains without carrying required researches by qualified researchers. As it was observed, these toilets frequently become choked because of our negligent passengers who do not bother for anything excepting their own belongings and family members. more
Jan 12
Condition is extremely bad now and earlier atleast sheets and pillow covers were provided in a cover and every thing is kept and dumped on the top berth.Recently on 11/1/18 in Netravati express from Tvm we saw a rat roaming and there were plenty of mosquiotos . more
Jan 20
Shri Shirish Shanbhag plz give your e mail i/d for sending write up on Bioshudh more
Jan 10
CAN U SEND WRITE UP TO ME, NAGARAJ ON nagarajg72@gmail.com more
Jan 17
Dear Ms. Manju, Regrettably Mr. Vinod Tare, alleged IIT professor has said what is attributed to him, it is off the cuff remark elicited through impromptu question without going into the `Nitty Gritty" of the toilets. To the best of my knowledge the bacteria implanted in the toilets is isolated and nurtured in very highly regarded laboratory/ies by Scientists, who are as qualified as any researcher and perhaps, they have even worked and isolated bacteria for coldest region in the country. If the bacteria is decimated and has not multiplied in the bio-digestor, it is due to misuse by passengers and nothing else. They should have certainly used chemical soaps or substances in spite of specific instructions. This can and does happen to your domestic septic tank. Bio-toilets are nothing but portable septic tanks, where the culture used survives vagaries of environmental changes. 2. At best we can say the country is not ready to adopt itself. But it is still worth a try than soiling the tracks with faecal matter all along the routes. Hopefully, some discipline will get inculcated in public at large. more
Jan 09
'Bioshudh' can resolve the issue without any change in the existing set up excepting to stop using bioculture. More details from bioshudh@gmail.com more
Jan 09
