The effect of Prime Minister’s Swach Bharat Abhiyan has started making its impact on the Ardh Kumbh Mela. To check the problem of open defecation during heavy pilgrim rush, mela officials have conceptualised construction of 7,500 toilets, urinals and bathrooms across the Mela zone at major parking locations on temporary basis. Nearly 400 such locations have been earmarked where the construction process is on.
Three kinds of toilets have been built for the Ardh Kumbh Mela – brick based, pre-fabricated and mobile. For the mobile toilets, water connections have been done and if all goes as per plans, the sewage waste disposal would not be an issue since it would be dropped in the sewer lines.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Mela Adhikari S A Murugesan said, “Around 7,500 toilet facilities on temporary basis are being made for the Ardh Kumbh Mela. Nearly 14,000 Government employees and sanitation workers shall be camping during the mela. We have made arrangements for Brick based, FRPs (Pre fabricated) and mobile toilets. We are trying to cover nearly 400 to 500 locations around major parking areas in the mela zone.”
Regarding the sewage disposal, the official said, “In the brick based constructed toilets, pucca soak pits are being made. Except the liquid, the solid waste shall be removed and disposed properly. For FRPs the sewage waste shall be trapped in big containers through suction machines and the entire waste shall be drained out in the nearest sewage manholes.”
With these kinds of toilets, the Mela officials claim that there would be zero delivery of the waste to the soil or the open ground. Based on the demand, the number of toilets may be increased, said the Mela Adhikari. Also as per plan, for every 50 toilets, 10 sanitation workers shall be deputed.