Railways are planning to replace bio-toilets with vacuum bio-toilets

Railways are planning to replace bio-toilets with vacuum bio-toilets

Replacing bio toilets with vacuum bio toilets

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 31

ANSWERED ON 20.07.2018

Replacing bio toilets with vacuum bio toilets

31 Shri Majeed Memon

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-

(a) whether it is a fact that Railways are planning to replace bio-toilets with vacuum bio-toilets and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether it is also a fact that as of May, 2018, 1,36,965 bio-toilets have been fitted in 37,411 coaches at a cost of around Rs.1 lakh per-toilet and there is a plan to install bio-toilets in around 18,750 more coaches by March, 2019, costing around Rs.250 crores; and

(c) if so, how does the Government justify this replacement by vacuum bio-toilets costing at around Rs.2.5 lakh per-unit?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COAL, FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 31 BY SHRI MAJEED MEMON ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 20.07.2018 REGARDING REPLACING BIO-TOILETS WITH VACUUM BIO-TOILETS.

(a) No, Sir. Existing Bio-digester tanks popularly called Bio-toilets are being fitted with additional vacuum assisted flushing units on some coaches. This results in creation of hybrid toilet perhaps referred in the question as vacuum bio-toilets.

In the bio-toilet system being proliferated over Indian Railways, a bio-digester tank is fitted beneath each toilet of a coach for collection of human fecal matter. These bio-tanks are seeded with self-sustaining anaerobic bacteria that digest human waste and convert this waste into water and bio-gases (mainly Methane CH4 & Carbon Dioxide CO2). The gases escape into the atmosphere and waste water is discharged after disinfection. Human waste thus does not fall on the Railway tracks. This keeps the tracks/station premises clear from human waste.

Vacuum system is provided at the passenger interface. The interface of these toilets is similar to the toilets provided in aircraft. The objective of the vacuum assisted system is to bring about a significant reduction in the water used by the flushing system while bringing about improved flushing efficiencies. The objective of this initiative is to go green by reducing water consumption, a precious resource.

Vacuum toilets fitted in conjunction with existing toilets equipped with bio-tanks, create a hybrid toilet system, with each component serving a different and meaningful function. In this hybrid toilet system, the bio-digester tanks fitted in coaches will continue to work as before for on-board digestion and disposal of the fecal matter.

(b) The facts pertaining to the month of May 2018 are accurate. Indian Railways proposes to complete the work of installation of bio-toilets in balance coaches in 2019. An outlay of Rs.1220 crore has been provided for completion of this work.

(c) Does not arise.