50 pc government aid for setting up e-toilets

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government will provide 50 percent financial assistance for setting up  e-toilets at public places in the state, said Industries and Urban Affairs Minister P K Kunhalikutty. Septage treatment plants will come up in  Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts as part of the sewage treatment plants at the corporations. In other districts it will be implemented in PPP model.As part of proper solid waste treatment, an  assistant engineer (environment) will be appointed in all the corporations and 30 big municipalities. The subsidy for vermi compost and ring compost units in households will be increased to 75 percent from 50 percent.The government will also provide subsidy up to Rs 10 lakh for biogas plants at markets and  hotels which have the capacity to treat one to 10 tonnes of waste. There are also plans to constitute a bylaw by all the local bodies to ensure that waste is not dumped in public places.He pointed out that the building rules would be modified to ensure that treatment plants were installed at residential buildings with more than four storeys, commercial establishments, community halls and hotels.  The grama sabhas will discuss ways and methods to ensure cleanliness under each local body.The government is planning to provide cloth bags through sponsorship in all the schools. Self-help groups, with the support of the Agriculture Department, will train public to set up vegetable gardens in houses and segregate waste at the place of origin.It was also decided to award the local bodies which are effectively implementing the waste disposal projects.