BHEL begins construction of biodigester toilets along Ganga

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 18

As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited has begun construction of biodigester toilet clusters in Haridwar.

Besides, BHEL is constructing drinking water units along the Ganga banks.

A biodigester toilet is a new concept in the country, which will be of immense help in reducing sewage drain.

As major pollutants besides industrial filth, and affluents are that of domestic sewer, these bio digester toilets will contribute to cleaning the Ganga. The biodigester technology is a pollution free way of cleaning sewerage as human faeces gets decomposed by the use of bacteria. The only byproducts water and methane gas will be used for irrigation and as bio-fuel, respectively.

Director (Human Resource), BHEL, R Krishnan says initially these two pilot biodigester toilets are being constructed and these succeed, we will surely construct more units at other parts of the city.

Prakash Chand, Executive Director, BHEL, says though twin pilgrim cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh remain overcrowded with pilgrims and tourists, the standard of sanitation here is not up to the mark.

“We have thought of contributing through Corporate Social Responsibility to the Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat and Swachh Nirmal Ganga schemes. By opting for biodigester toilets along the Ganga in Haridwar and Rishikesh, we want to bring in newer techniques to clean the holy river and the two cities. We will be making 24 such toilet clusters in near future and the number may rise depending on the success and impact of these two initial digesters,” said Prakash Chand.