The Odisha government on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding with Sulabh International Social Service Organisation (SISSO) for construction and maintenance of ‘hybrid toilet complexes’ in its nine cities.
The hybrid toilet complexes having 5,957 seats will come up in urban centres such as Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Baripada, Balasore, Bhadrak and Puri covered under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) yojna.
The State Cabinet had earlier given approval to partner with SISSO for setting up of toilet complexes.
As per the Housing and Urban Development department, the existing community and public toilet facilities in the ULBs of Odisha are seemingly inadequate to cater to the need of this deprived population alone.
To address this issue, the concept of hybrid toilet has been introduced in the State for use of both community as well as general public. The hybrid toilet will be promoted under the brand name ‘Amma Souchalaya’.
The department sources said SISSO will be responsible for design, built, operation, maintain and transfer of 5,957 seats of toilet complexes.
Bhubaneswar will have highest share in the Amma Souchalaya programme. As many as 1,691 toilet seats will be provided to capital city which will be followed by Sambalpur (871), Cuttack (863), Rourkela (814), Berhampur (505), Bhadrak and Puri (333), Baripada (290) and Balasore (257).
According to the HUD department, SISSO will prepare the design and estimate as per the current schedule of rates and lead of the particular places, which needs to be approved by the concerned urban local body.
The user fee will be decided by the respective ULBs and monthly pass with nominal user fee will be issued in favour of community households. The hybrid complexes comprising five, seven and 10 toilet seats with urinal will be maintained by SISSO for 10 years with a renewal provision for another 10 year.
