Public toilets in city to switch from conventional to solar energy

Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to make all the public toilets solar energy-powered.According to BMC’s deputy commissioner N Ganesh Babu, each toilet will be equipped with solar panels capable of generating 3KW of power.

“Solar energy will substitute the electricity requirements of fans and lights in toilet facilities.

There will be no issue of power failure as solar power can conserve energy and run round-the-clock irrespective of power cuts,” he said.So far, solar panels have been installed in 10 of the city’s 111 public toilets, with work on the remaining facilities set to begin soon. Once completed, BMC also plans to extend the project to 77 toilets across Bhubaneswar.The city has seen a remarkable expansion in sanitation infrastructure over the past eight years. Public toilets have grown from just 14 in 2018 to 111 this year. Officials credit the addition of public toilets with eliminating open defecation in slum areas, a significant public health achievement. Placement of toilets has also improved, with facilities now available at bus stands, markets, hospitals, airports, auto-rickshaw stands, malls and food hubs.