India’s bio-digester technology a global solution for waste management: Kalam

Chennai:

The Bio-digester technology developed by Gwalior based Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) and Tezpur based Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) is global solution for waste management, according to former president of India A P J Abdul Kalam.

Delivering the inaugural address at the WATMAN 2013 - International Conference on 'Sustainable 3R Solutions on Water Management - Reduce, Recycle and Reuse', Kalam said the Bio-digester, named as ELOO (eco-friendly loo) is the perfect alternative to the current 'Flush and forget' toilets.

It is expected that bio-toilets can save billions of dollars for any government in waste management and to ensure good health for all. The innovation degrades and converts the human waste into usable water and gasses in an eco-friendly manner. The generated gas can be utilized for energy, cooking and water for irrigation purposes. The process involves the bacteria, which feed upon the fecal matter inside the tank, through anaerobic process which finally degrades the matter and releases methane gas that can be used for cooking, along with the treated water.

“The benefit of this technology can bring a major change in the quality of life and help to lead a healthy life across the world. The government has planned to implement 12,000 units for 10 islands in Lakshadweep and the Railways planned 10,000 Bio-toilets for trains to keep the tracks clean,” Kalam added.

                  

Kalam said the solutions for clean water must be assessed on the following parameters, which include core technology used and its efficacy in removing the organic, inorganic and microbes present, cost effectiveness, both in terms of fixed and operational costs, ease of use, mobility and adaptability, capacity of water cleaning and maintenance requirements, environmental impact and dependence of other aspects like availability of power and running source of water and the potential solutions.

Earlier Kalam inaugurated Water Today’s Water Expo 2013 in which 400 exhibitors from around the world are displaying various solutions for clean water and waste management. The three-day expo is considered to be South East Asia’s largest show.