: The Odisha government has asked all urban local bodies (ULB) to ensure that latrine waste is not directly discharged into open drains. It has also stated that households found releasing such waste should be penalised.
In a directive issued to all urban bodies, the Housing and Urban Development department said that discharging of septic tank waste water should not allowed in open drains, and ULBs must insist on domestic households having their own septic tanks with toilets.
“The public is to be advised not to release latrine waste or domestic sewage into open drains or rivers, which amounts to creation of public nuisance, and they may be dealt with as per criminal procedure,” the HUD department said.
“Under Swachh Bharat Mission, massive action programmes are being undertaken to achieve complete cleanliness, and for a clean environment in all ULBs for improving the health and sanitation status. It aims at making ULBs open defecation free by constructing individual household toilets, community toilets and public toilets; and scientific management of disposal of municipal solid wastes. ULBs are required to gear up for the implementation of the mission programme,” the department said.
Moreover, the public should be mobilised to construct septic tanks for individual household latrines, and community septic tanks could also be constructed in colonies.
The government also mooted a users’ fee from individual households for the recovery of the cost involved in the construction and maintenance of community septic tanks. Besides, covering of construction material and wastes has also been emphasised.
Urban local bodies should insist on domestic households having their own septic tanks with toilets
