Thai institute keen to promote water-less toilets in India

Kolkata, March 16 (IANS) A leading educational institute in Bangkok is keen to share its technology of water-less toilets with Indian collaborators, an official said on Monday.

Developed by a Thai professor, the water-less toilets convert fecal matter into manure and a liquid that can be used for irrigation purposes, said Nitin Kumar Tripathi, professor at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).

"We want the technology to be introduced and implemented in various parts of India where sanitation is big issue and with the stress on sanitation by the Narendra Modi-led government, there is a big scope," Tripathi told IANS here.

AIT inked a deal with the JIS Group's educational initiatives, West Bengal, for student exchanges and technology co-operation among the two establishments.

Tripathi said the technology has been rolled out as an experiment in certain areas in Maharashtra.

Apart from this, AIT is also interested in sharing know-how on building low-cost residences in Indian villages.

"These USD-1000 house concept developed in AIT involves the villagers in the construction process and is a sustainable concept which can also be used in India to boost living conditions in rural areas," said Tripathi, who is also the director, Special Degree Programme at the Asian Institute of Technology, said.

The institute is also mulling a project in Kolkata where indicators of quality of life can be mapped to improve living conditions in urban areas, said the official.