Shimla, Feb 23 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh has set up two waste-to-energy plants in the state, an official said on Sunday. One of them is of 1.75 MW with an outlay of Rs 42 crore in Shimla, while another is of 1 MW in Manali.

Also, 5,633 individual households, 1,198 public and 370 community toilets have been set up. They all have been commissioned under Swachh Bharat Mission in two years to ensure hygiene, waste management and sanitation.

The main objective of the mission is to eliminate the practice of open defecation by providing toilet facilities to the citizens of the state, converting dry toilets into flash toilets, ending the practice of manual scavenging and ensuring management of solid waste in modern and scientific manner.

The state government is also organising various awareness activities for behaviour change and public participation in the state, a statement said.

It said plants for waste manure are being set up in 40 urban bodies. A memorandum of understanding has been signed with cement companies to use waste collected from urban bodies as fuel.