What are Biotoilets?
- The environment-friendly bio-toilets for passenger coaches were developed jointly by Indian Railways and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- In the bio-toilet fitted coaches, human waste is collected in bio digester tanks below the toilets and is decomposed by a consortium of anaerobic bacteria.
- By the process of hydrolysis, acetogenesis, acidogenesis and methanogenesis, the anaerobic bacteria converts human faecal matter into water and small amount of gases (including methane).
Why in news?
- Indian railways aims to install human waste discharge free biotoilets in all its coaches and the same would be completed by September 2019.
- It will help in proving cleanliness and hygiene besides preventing
- corrosion of the tracks.
- It is part of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
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