Govt schools to have solar-powered e-toilets

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, November 15

Keeping in view the poor state of toilets in government schools, the ‘Karnal Vikas Nidhi’, a corpus made on the call of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for the development of the district by the citizens, has decided to install solar powered e-toilets in 22 government schools in the district to improve sanitation and hygiene in schools.

The step is being considered as the response to the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to set up toilets in the government schools for girls under the Swachh Bharat campaign.

Apart from installing e-toilets, they would renovate the existing toilets in the government schools to make them functional, said Deputy Commissioner J Ganesan, who is also patron of the Karnal Vikas Nidhi.

“Toilet in school is a basic need, but it came to light that the toilets in several schools are not in good condition, due to which girl students have to face a lot of problems,” the DC maintained.

“Payment of Rs24.42 lakh has been made by the authorities to Eram Scientific, manufacturers of e-toilets,” said Pankaj Bharti, managing trustee, Karnal Vikas Nidhi.

Twenty schools in which toilets will be installed have been identified. They include Daha GSSS, Sheikhpura Sohana GHS, Nagla Megha GHS, Kachhwa GPS, Newal GMS, Sangoha GSSS, Prem Nagar GPS, Railway Road GGSSS in the city, Baldi GHS, Nalvi Kalan GPS, Nalvi Kalan GMS, Nalvipar GPS, Nalvipar GHS, Dabarki Kalan GMS, Mohiuddinpur GHS, Rawar GPS, Sector 6 GPS, Model Town GSSS and Model Town GPS, while the remaining two schools would be identified soon, he added.

He said these fully automatic e-toilets would be run with solar power and would be connected with the office of Karnal Vikas Nidhi through GPS through which they could check the uses of these toilets, besides keeping a vigil on water wastage, sanitation problem and cleanliness.

He said there was no need to insert a coin in it. The door would open automatically, following which light would be switched on. It would have an automatic flush facility which would work before and after use, automatic floor wash and sensor-controlled water usage. It would eliminate the need for manual cleaners in schools. It would also have a recorded message facility about sanitation and hygiene.

The present problem of sanitation in schools is not because of dearth of toilets, but due to lack of maintenance, he asserted.