Trains soon to be equipped with DRDO’s bio-digesters

• DRDO will soon equip around 1,000 passenger trains with bio-digesters to solve human waste disposal problem.
• The technology developed by the premier defence research organisation was used to decompose biological waste generated by soldiers deployed in high-altitude regions such as Siachen and Ladakh.
• "The pilot project to install bio-digesters in trains has been completed successfully. Necessary modifications have been made as per Railways requirement and soon the technology will be implemented on a mass scale
• Keeping in mind the specific requirements of passenger trains, Railways and DRDO signed a MoU to co-develop these bio-digesters to keep railway tracks clean.
• Gwalior-based lab, Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), has developed this technology wherein a special form of bacteria is used to treat human waste in zero discharge toilets.
• The DRDE deals with micro-organisms and hazardous material. Besides developing technologies for soldiers, it is also working on other concentrations of bacteria and zero discharge toilets for various projects.
• "In future, bacteria for charging of bio-toilets will be available in packets and pouches. In zero discharge toilets effluent will be recycled for flushing purpose," said Director, Life Sciences, G. Ilavazhagan.
• DRDO has also modified the technology to deal with the problem of people throwing all kind of waste materials in train toilets.
• The bacteria which is used in these bio-digesters is found in Antarctica and has been modified to suit the different projects of DRDO to make bio-digesters for different climatic regions.