Solution Exchange discussion: Developing City Sanitation Plans: Experiences; Plans

Sanitation was an issue with a scheduled tribe locality near Dehra Dun. To address this, CDI demonstrated the usefulness of ecosan toilets here, with proper training and awareness. The residents were briefed about the method and use of the toilet but after about 20 days they complained of foul odour in the toilet.  It was found that due to their old habits some residents used water instead of ash, rendering the ecosan toilets unsuitable.

Related Resources 

Recommended Documentation

Zero Discharge Toilets 

Article; by Vinod Tare; IIT Kanpur; Kanupur;

Available at http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/environment/cr/res12030901.pdf (PDF; 2.69MB)

Describes the zero discharge toilets developed by IIT Kanpur, suitable for urban areas. A demonstration model for this has also been set up in the IIT campus

Excel’s Initiatives on Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management 

Project Note; by Excel Industries Limited; Mumbai; April 2009;

Available at http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/environment/cr/res-25030901.doc (DOC; 400KB)

Describes Excel Industries' decentralised solid waste management concept, involving stakeholders’ participation in the implementation of decentralised waste management

JNNURM Project and Capital Investment Plan: Chapter 19 

Chapter; by; IL&FS Ecosmart Limited; Department of Urban Development, Government of India; New Delhi;

Available at http://www.ccsindia.org/ccsindia/pdf/Ch19_Project%2520and%2520Capital%2520Investment%2520Plan.pdf (PDF; 688KB)

Explains the capital investment plans that have been prepared for specific sectors including water supply, sewerage and sanitation, storm water drainage, etc,

Recommended Contacts and Experts  

Vinod Tare, IIT Kanpur, Kanpur 

Nankari, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh; Tel: 91-512-2597674, 91-9956711335; Fax: 91-512-2590465; vinod@iitk.ac.in; http://www.iitk.ac.in/dofa/DOFA/currentfaculty.htm

IIT Kanpur professor who developed a zero discharge toilet model, suitable for urban areas, a demonstration unit for which has been set up in the campus

Recommended Organizations and Programmes

IIT Kanpur , Uttar Pradesh 

Nankari, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh; Tel: 91-512-2597674; Fax: 91-512-2590465;

doaa@iitk.ac.in; http://www.iitk.ac.in/bsbe/; Contact Vinod Tare; Professor; Tel: 91-9956711335; vinod@iitk.ac.in

A pioneering science and engineering institute located in Kanpur, which has developed a model for zero discharge toilets

From Jasveen Jairath, Water Sector Professional, Hyderabad ; response 1

UN HABITAT, Tamil Nadu

UN-HABITAT Information Office, 5th Floor (East Wing), Thalamuthu Natarajan Building, (CMDA Building), Egmore, Chennai 600008, Tamil Nadu; Tel: 91-44-28411302; Fax: 91-44-28516273;

unchssp@md2.vsnl.net.in; http://www.unhabitat.org/categories.asp?catid=270

Water and sanitation is a priority area of work for the UN HABITAT, and at Gwalior it initiated the concept of community toilets based on the principle of pay and use

WaterAid, Madhya Pradesh

E-7/846, Arera Colony, Bhopal 462016, Madhya Pradesh; Tel: 91-674-2531266;

wairoe@wateraid.org; http://www.wateraid.org/india/about_us/default.asp

An independent organisation, which enables the world’s poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education and began working in India in 1986

From Sejuti Sarkar De, Society for Natural Resource Management and Community Development (SNRMCD), Ghaziabad , Uttar Pradesh

CARE, New Delhi

27 Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi 110016; Tel: 91-11-26566060; Fax: 91-11-26564081;

info@careindia.in; http://careindia.org/ManageProgramKey/VisitKeyFocusFeature.aspx

Focuses on social development and humanitarian response programme across ten states in India, and implemented a solid waste management programme in Maharashtra

ACDI/VOCA, Rajasthan

D-45, Janpath, Shyamnagar, Jaipur 302019, Rajasthan; Tel: 91-141-2297403;

dmtaylor@gmedindia.org; http://www.acdivoca.org/852571DC00681414/ID/ourwork_india

Promotes economic opportunities for communities through application of sound business practice and implemented a solid waste management model in Latur Municipality

Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission

Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, Nirman Bhawan, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi 110011; Tel: 91-11- 23061287; Fax: 91-11-3793672; www.jnnurm.nic.in

Programme for urban development, includes reforms in service delivery, including water and sanitation; and proposes cost recovery for urban services by Urban Local Bodies

Defense Research and Development Establishment, Madhya Pradesh 

Jhansi Road, Gwalior 474002, Madhya Pradesh; Tel: 91-751-2341550; Fax: 91-751-2341148;

director@desidoc.drdo.in; http://www.drdo.org/labs/drde/historical_background.html

A defence research institute, the technologies developed by DRDE are available for civil use as a spin off; it has developed a technology for disposal of human excreta

ITC Limited, West Bengal 

37 J. L. Nehru Road, Kolkata 700071, West Bengal; Tel: 91-33-22889371; Fax: 91-33-23454455;

Email; http://www.itcportal.com/sets/paperboards_frames.html; Contact S. N. Umakanth; Tel: 91-9989604190; snumakanth@yahoo.co.in

Has developed the Wealth Without Waste (WOW) Project in Andhra Pradesh, which involves communities for household segregation of waste that is later recycled

From A.V. Raghu Ram, Visakha Jilla Nava Nirmana Samithi, Narsipatnam, Visakhapatnam

Sulabh International Social Service Organization, New Delhi

Sulabh Gram, Mahavir Enclave Palam-Dabri Road , New Delhi -110045; Tel: 91-11-25031518; Fax: 91-11-25034014; sulabh1@nde.vsnl.net.in; http://www.sulabhinternational.org

Provides sanitation services across India, and has built 1.2 million Sulabh Shauchalayas, which are used by 6 million people

Visakha Jilla Nava Nirman Samithi, Andhra Pradesh

Sivaram Nilayam, Behind RTC Bus stop, Narsipatnam, Visakhapatnam 531116, Andhra Pradesh; Tel: 91-8924-235285; http://www.vjnns.org/water-hygiene-sanitation.html

Works for promoting hygiene care and sanitation for under-developed communities; inculcating health care among tribals is its priority programme

Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC)

Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Drinking Water, 247, A Wing, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi 110011; Tel: 91-11-23010207; jstm@water.nic.in; http://ddws.nic.in/tsc_index.htm

Programme aimed at increasing awareness regarding sanitation among rural people, and so far 5.6 crore household toilets have been constructed across rural India under TSC

From Ajit Seshadri, The Vigyan Vijay Foundation, New Delhi

United Nations Children's Education Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi

73 Lodhi Estate, New Delhi 110003; Tel: 91-11-24690401; Fax: 91-11-24627521;

newdelhi@unicef.org; http://www.unicef.org/india/children_2357.htm

UN agency working with the government to introduce sanitation and hygiene education in schools and has initiated projects to provide safe drinking water in schools

The Vigyan Vijay Foundation, New Delhi

H2, 2-5, Mahavir Enclave, Palam - Dabri Road, New Delhi 110045; Tel: 91-11-25058853;

ajit.seshadri@vigyanvijay.org; http://vigyanvijay.org/jaljagren.htm; Contact Ajit Seshadri; Head-Environmental Wing; Tel: 91-9810460049; ajit.seshadri@vigyanvijay.org

Works on issues of water conservation, sanitation and eco-literacy, and in partnership with UNICEF is developing waterless toilets

From Venkatesh P., Department of Community Medicine, Medical College, Bangalore

SCOPE, Kerala

P/17, 6th Cross, Ahmed Colony, Ramalinga Nagar, Woraiyur, Tiruchy 620003, Kerala; Tel: 91-431-2774144; scopeagency86@sify.com; http://www.scopetrichy.com/First_ECOSAN_Village.asp

Focuses on ecological sanitation and has constructed over 2,000 Ecosan toilets on the banks of the rivers Ganges and Cauveri and the coastal villages of Tamil Nadu

WASH Institute, Tamil Nadu

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Institute Secretariat, "Ashwat Nivas", 5-296, Anandhagiri, 7th Street, Kodaikanal 624101, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu; Tel: 91-4542-240881; Fax: 91-4542-240882; secretariat@washinstitute.org;

http://www.washinstitute.org/about_institute_interventions.php

Provides both short and long-term courses with a focus on water supply and harvesting, sanitation, hygiene, integrated water resource management, etc

Hope Foundation, Tamil Nadu

First Floor, New No. 13, Old No. 7D, Sharath's Apartments, Nehru Nagar 1st Street, Adyar, Chennai 600020, Tamil Nadu; Tel: 91-44-24463394; hope_foundation@hopeww.org;

http://www.hopefoundation.org.in/visionandmission.aspx

Provides sustainable, capacity-building health and education programmes, and as part of its disaster relief work provides water and sanitation facilities

Ministry of Environment and Forest, New Delhi 

Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003; Tel: 91-11-24361669; Fax:

91-11-24363962; envisect@nic.in ; http://www.envfor.nic.in/

Nodal agency of the Central Government of India for the planning, promotion, co-ordination and overseeing the implementation of environmental and forestry programmes

Gramalaya, Tamil Nadu 

No.12, 4th Cross West, Thillainagar, Tiruchirappalli 620018, Tamil Nadu; Tel: 91-431-402156;gramalaya@airtelmail.in;http://www.gramalaya.in/community.php

Assisted in the construction of community toilets, along with local authorities in Tiruchi City Corporation, which are maintained by Sanitation and Hygiene Education teams

Recommended Portals and Information Bases

Excel Industries Limited, Maharashtra

www.excelind.co.in/cat.htm; Contact Harshad Gandhi; Consultant; Tel: 91-9829330187;

hvgandhi84@excelind.com

Describes the organic waste converter, which converts waste to compost, provided the organic waste is segregated at source

Related Consolidated Replies

Cost-effective and Financially Sustainable Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Services, from Tushaar Shah, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Gujarat (Comparative Experiences). Water Community, Solution Exchange India,

Issued 16 June 2005. Available at

Provides examples and experiences in context of cost-effective approaches for urban water supply and sanitation services

Solid Waste Management in Urban Settings, from Nidhi Prabha Tewari, Sanket Information and Research Agency, New Delhi (Advice). Water Community, Solution Exchange India,

Issued 16 August 2005. Available at

Highlights successes and failures of recycling and revenue generation potential of solid wastes through case studies

Ecological Sanitation, from S. Janakarajan, Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS), Chennai (Examples; Experiences). Water Community, Solution Exchange India,

Issued 30 June 2007. Available at

Details members’ experiences in promotion of ecosan across India, sharing their understanding, analysis of current problems and suggestions for scaling up the same

Responses in Full 

Johnson Rhenius Jeyaseelan, WaterAid , India , Lucknow 

IIT Kanpur has developed a zero-waste technology community toilet. In this the waste water and the faeces are processed, recycled and reused. The urine and water is recycled and reused. The faeces, through a certain process, is recycled and used as manure. They do have a prototype in their campus in Kanpur and have a demonstration unit in Aligarh too. It will be a good livelihood option as one family is needed for operation and maintenance of the same. Please do contact Professor Vinod Tare for more information about the same.

Jasveen Jairath, Water Sector Professional, Hyderabad 

I have limited experience of being involved in an urban Watsan governance project in Gwalior for a couple of years to establish a city based Jan Tantra Samvad Manch based on Mohalla Samittees - my comments are in that capacity. City Watsan plans are a very welcome step per se but who makes them and through what process (transparency /consultation of citizens, finally through what forms of accountability will they be implemented are very serious questions. Without clarity on these issues it will fail to excite us.

The Municipal Corporation of Gwalior was involved with UNH/Water Aid/ citizen's forums in the process of construction of community toilets on pay and use principle. They were specifically and repeatedly exhorted by citizen's forum NOT to make any common toilet unless water, drainage and flush systems were put in place as it has implications for efficient maintenance of toilets by safai karamcharis (sweepers/cleaners who are doing manual scavenging even today as part of their official GOVT duty). Despite persistent prior discussion and facilitation of proposals by local community, etc no flushes have been installed on the ground of "paani kahan se layengay?" If there is no provision of water then creation of public/community toilet leads to concentration of excreta in one place with serious health and other problems these are rampant in Gwalior as is apparent to any casual visitor. Secondly, this reinforces manual scavenging through recent developments so why does the GMC do this?? Will they listen to citizens through the sanitation plan or stubbornly continue their indifferent attitude and persist in creating problems in the name of solving them.

Finally such poorly conceptualized public toilets have very low utilization levels. Can local users give their evaluation on this rather than hired consultants? Two pit toilets leach type are still being encouraged in congested areas where ground water bores are a major source of domestic water and there is no regulation of spacing of such two pit toilet. Drainage provision does not include management of grey water even plans to handle this are not in place. As a result 6-7 major open "nallas" flow throw Gwalior that carry a slush of solid and liquid waste while GMC officials claim at conferences that 70-80% of the city is covered by sewerage systems! Will such blindness to ground reality be pre-empted through such planning process or will it be a run of the mill government exercise? Is the government willing to consult citizens through a public process and act on their suggestions? If that is the case please let it be known so that the government can begin the exercise by preparing a white paper on the history of developments in urban Watsan in the particular city, the present scenario and process of take off, a diagnostics of past mistakes in managing waste water should be accepted so as not to repeat it in future. There is a need for transparency about financial investments - so that there can be a public watch on "contract work".

Puran Singh Yadav, 

Haryana Institute of Rural Development, Karnal

I would like to know if the Zero Waste Community Toilet referred to by J. J. Jeyaseelan is also appropriate for use in rural areas. I would also like to know the contact address of Professor Vinod Tare for more information.

Pramod Dabrase, Urban Administration and Development Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal 

I am responding to the concerns raised by Jasveen Jairath. The process we are following in preparing the sanitation plans include: community consultation, involvement and consultation with NGOs, sanitary workers and business associations in the ULBs.  They are all part of the city sanitation committee that is formed where the process has initiated. The City Sanitation Plans would be prepared only if we have arrangements for implementation, thus it is not mere a planning exercise. In fact, the planning also includes planning for financial arrangements, through integration of various schemes and programme so that the various sources of funds (centre, state, ULBs, community, PPP, etc) can be capitalized and systematically utilized. Secondly, selection of the cities and towns is demand based; which means that, the cities that show willingness and pro-activeness would be given priority and meanwhile demand generation through IEC would be done in other ULBs.

About Gwalior example: I would like emphasize that I was part of the WaterAid programme and wherever WaterAid has promoted community toilets, it was done only after community agreements and only when individual toilets were not possible. In fact, Gwalior has demonstrated one the best community managed sanitation complexes in Laxmanpura, which has been scaled up in the city.

If there are any gaps, they may be looked into as a part of this programme. The programme however has seriously taken the issue of eradicating the practice of manual scavenging, if noticed and improving living conditions of the sanitary workers. Various activities including training, technological up-gradation, etc are already being considered.

Other issues Jairath raised may be discussed further, but I would like to convey that the sanitation situation in the state and country is grim and that is the reason we are all working to resolve the issue.  Government alone may not be successful until they get support form all the concerned stakeholders including community. Let's accept the challenge and try to fight the problem rather than criticizing it.

Sejuti Sarkar De, Society for Natural Resource Management and Community Development (SNRMCD), Ghaziabad , Uttar Pradesh

The initiative that you have planned is appreciative. Regarding the entrepreneurship model, I would like to mention the Solid Waste Management model, which we implemented in 15 municipalities while I was working for CARE-India and ACDI-VOCA programme. We encouraged the municipalities to outsource the works like door-to-door collection, clearing of roadside dump, night sweeping, etc. to private bodies specially the small private contractors and local NGOs. The NGOs and contractors, in turn, were employing rag-pickers and manual scavengers for the job. They were trained, given proper outfits and equipments. The programme helped in women empowerment and also the children who were formally rag-pickers were going to school. The programme was most successful at Latur Municipality in Maharashtra, which became a dustbin free city.

Similar model can be implemented for sanitation especially in small municipal towns of MP. The works like clearing of drain sewage, construction of low-cost sanitation pit, etc. can be outsourced to small contractors and local CBOs/NGOs who will employ the manual scavengers. This will ensure less expenditure and less manpower involvement for the municipalities and also rehabilitation for the scavengers.

We have done ‘Impact Assessment for Low-Cost Sanitation programme under JNNURM in 15 states and have observed that without proper sensitization and awareness programme; the sanitation models cannot be successful.

Johnson Rhenius Jeyaseelan, WaterAid , India , Lucknow 

I had visited IIT Kanpur and have seen the demonstration model. The model needs space and also a team of 2 to 3 people. It is better suited in urban areas than rural. I am attaching a PDF doc written by Dr. Vinod Tare, please visit http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/environment/cr/res12030901.pdf (PDF; Size: 2.69MB) for the same. I have also contacted him to contribute to the discussion. Dr. Vinod Tare Email is: vinod@iitk.ac.in and mobile number is 09956711335.

Jasveen Jairath, Water Sector Professional, Hyderabad 

I would like to clarify some points made by Pramod Dabrase. Community Toilets are required - no one can disagree. But they should have water provision, drainage and flush systems. Otherwise they create centres of excreta collection that is actually a health hazard.

Laxmanpura toilet is only one toilet that is working with a degree of success and please note, that it has a flush system. The 20 new community toilets installed with I think with UNH support, correct me if I am wrong, and are newly constructed ones with no flush system despite of local Samities asking for it, hence my skepticism that local government may not listen to voice of citizens. Very efficiently designed flush systems that use 3-4 litres of water for excreta flushing have been designed and are available - this is practically similar amount of water as that used by throwing of the bucket and that too by a Safai Karmchari. Manual scavenging is rampant in Gwalior – I challenge anyone to contest this at an independent public platform, that is independent of government and donor supported NGOS.

The effectiveness of interventions made for improving the lot of safai karamcharis is rather weak. We can show trainings conducted, etc but it is a drop in the ocean in terms of brining about structural change in government systems and also community attitudes - the gap remains too wide. That is why there is need for an 

independent

Since you have mentioned demand based sanitation plans exercise - please let us know how this demand can be communicated and may be the citizen’s platform that has been recognised by the Commissioner /local government can convey the same to you that as of now citizens group does not know about this very positive opportunity. We can publish this in their Newsletter for wider dissemination.

As of now the condition of Gwalior remains as dismal as that of most towns - this is not in any way a comment on Water Aid or any other donor - only to highlight the gravity of the situation. It is interlaced with 7-8 open nallas in which RAW sewerage, grey water and solid waste is carried. It also has remnants of an abandoned drainage project; crores worth of money received and not accounted for.

My plea is - let’s face the truth.

Subodh Kumar, Udyog Bharati, Ghaziabad 

Is it possible to use these IIT Kanpur toilets on a large scale in our country?  Is there a SWOT analysis possible of this technology? What is the average cost of a domestic toilet for a family of 6 toilet using members? What are the experiences of using biodegradation biomethanation digesters for human excreta/sewage disposal in India?

Ravi Nitesh, Mission Bhartiyam, Lucknow

In fact the model suggested is quite good. We have to also think about household waste from semi-urban and rural area. In fact we have not implemented procedures of waste collection in most of our cities. For this to happen, first we have to make sure that people are ready for change.

Subodh Kumar, Udyog Bharati, Ghaziabad 

The DRDE (Defense Research and Development Establishment) at Gwalior is reported to have developed a technology for disposal of human excreta. The Indian Railway is going in for trials in long distance train toilets. It is said that a number of private entrepreneurs have also been given licenses for commercial installations. Can anybody give an account of the performance and working of these systems?

IIT Kanpur model: What are the pathogen levels in the 'humanure' from the IITK installations? What are the recurring costs of bacteria replenishments? The pathogens in humanure have been a cause of concern and impose restrictions on use of this fertilizer.

Is there any system available in India for degradation of human waste in biodigesters, getting biogas as a byproduct and safe water and fertilizer out puts to operate unconnected with electric supplies, at best utilizing their own biogas?

S.N. Umakanth, ITC Limited, 

Secunderabad

I work with ITC Limited for the Andhra Pradesh Wealth without Waste (WOW) project. WOW is a solid waste management initiative concerned with dry recyclables. Under this project we have joined hands with ULBs and we support source segregation, door-to-door collection of dry recyclables, transportation and processing. We are providing IEC material to households to encourage source segregation and we are also providing woven bags to every household so that they can put dry recyclables such as paper, packing material, plastics material like covers, pet bottles, tooth paste tubes, etc. and metal items such as tins, lids, etc. This bag is used exclusively for dry recyclables and existing bin are used for wet waste. By this method wet and dry waste are source segregated. ITC collects the dry recyclables from door-to-door by paying price per kg to the households and this material is brought to the godown where we sort, handle and transport the materials to our mills where we recycle and manufacture paper board. Thereby, 40% load of the ULB’s garbage handling has come down.

The merits of WOW are:

·         The environment is protected

·         Many Trees will be saved

·         Valuable raw material for industries is recovered

·         Municipal Solid Waste Rules are adhered to

·         The city will be clean and green

·         40% burden of garbage handling will come down for ULBs.

·         The saved amount can be utilised for civil amenities by ULBs

·         ULBs can apply for ISO 14000.