The unique toilets of Ladakh are important for water conservation as well as developing manure for healthy crops. By Lobzang Chorol
Dry toilets may seem like an anachronism but in climate-challenged terrains like Ladakh, the traditional practice of refuse management is helping offset the ecological cost of a booming tourist economy and ensure sustainable livelihoods.
It is all happening in the compost room (dry toilets) of Ladakh. The shovel which always rests on the heap of soil inside the dry toilets does the miracle. The human waste is made to pass through the hole in the floor and with the help of a shovel a bit of dry sand is thrown over the waste and the cycle of decomposition begins. The time and effort spent in the compost room is certainly not a waste of time.
The toilet systems are basically two-storeyed affairs. The toilet is on the top and the composting section below. After using the toilet one has to use the shovel to throw a bit of sand down the hole, not merely to cover the human waste but also to minimise odour. This also has the effect of helping in the composting process. With time, the waste is broken down and gets mixed homogenously with the sand.
With this, the finest manure is produced which is scattered around the fields and the farmer yields good crop and thus good food. These dry toilets are especially useful in winter months when temperatures drop to minus
30° C and water freezes.
The people of Ladakh have been using dry compost toilet for a long time. The main reason is that the availability of water is less as compared to other parts of India. Water for the locals is basically sourced from the melting glaciers. But unfortunately, with time and the increase in tourism, flush toilets have been introduced to cater to the the migrants and tourists — both foreigners and Indians. This has affected the ecosystem. As the flush toilets use a lot of water, bore wells have been pressed into service to extract ground water which is adversely affecting the ecological system of Ladakh.
Yangdol, who is in her late thirties, says that she prefers that foreigners stay at her Jig-Gyas Guest House, Changspa, Leh rather than Indians. She feels, “Foreigners are more nature-friendly and they use less water as compared to the Indian tourists who tend to waste water which is extremely precious in Ladakh”. When talking about the preference between dry compost latrine and flush toilets, she whole-heartedly sided with the old system and said, “Ladakhi traditional toilets are the best. But promoting our toilet is not easy.” Not surprisingly, she doesn’t want to have a dry compost toilet in her guest house for the foreigners as she doesn’t want to lose her livelihood.
And this is the dilemma that most of the residents face. Dorjee, a government employee says, “I prefer having both, a dry compost toilet as well as a flush toilet at my residence as I receive more non-local guests at my place. It became essential for me to build a flush toilet at my place for their convenience. I believe that delivering a service is also very important because as Indians we have a firm belief in the saying Atithi Devo Bhava (Guests are like God). Welcoming the guest warmly and making their stay memorable is our prime duty”.
Sonam Dolkar, a 40-year-old woman from Yarlung village, Zanskar, giggles and says, “I really don’t like the flush system toilet. When I go on pilgrimage outside Leh I don’t get a dry toilet so I am forced to use that (flush toilets). But I still don’t like that toilet system”.
So when you plan the next biking or driving trip across Ladakh, keep the dry toilets clean or when using the flush toilets, minimise the use of water — for it is essential for sustainability.
Courtesy: Charkha Features