Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 10: The first ever e-toilets in Dakshina Kannada district will become operational in the city on Tuesday July 11. Five e-toilets set up at important junctions here will be inaugurated on Tuesday.

These toilets, made of stainless steel and mounted on concrete bases, have already been stationed at the pre-determined spots. Providing electricity, water and underground drainage connections is in final stages.

Two of these toilets, one for men and the other for women, have been stationed at Lalbagh bus stand. Two more are at Kadri Park, with the other one at Hampankatta. Such e-toilets are already functioning at cities like Bengaluru and Mysuru apart from several centres in Kerala.

Each of these toilets cost Rs 6.25 lac, and have been built under the sponsorship of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd under the corporate social responsibility fund. As these toilets are portable, they can be easily shifted elsewhere depending on the need. The toilets have GPS connection and hence in case of any problems, the central office of the company get information, after which engineers will be dispatched to attend to the problem. The toilets can be operated by placing coins in the slots provided and the mechanism is equipped with the capacity to identify fake coins. Automatic flushing is provided and the people have the facility to wash their hands outside.

Each of these toilets are provided with tanks that can hold water up to 300 litres. After ten persons use the toilet, the toilet automatically gets cleaned. The toilet uses 1.5 litres of water if people use it for up to three minutes, and 4.5 litres if the time taken is over three minutes.

More such toilets are planned to be set up near PVS Circle, Pumpwell, University College, Nanthur, Kadri Market, fish market near State Bank, and Forum Mall. Before stationing more e-toilets in the city, the city corporation wants to study the response of the people and their experience with the ones currently installed.