GUWAHATI, Sept 20 - The Guwahati Development Department (GDD) Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya today inaugurated a smart bio-toilet and a water ATM set up under the Smart City project, at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital here today. The bio-toilet and water ATM are the first fruits of the much-awaited Smart City project for the people of Guwahati.
The Government of Assam, under the Smart City Mission, had initiated the proposal to install 20 water ATMs and 30 smart bio-toilets in various locations of Guwahati in 2017.
The project cost including operation and maintenance of the water ATM is Rs 2.09 crore and the project has been carried out by Swajal Water Pvt Ltd.
A statement issued by the Guwahati Smart City Limited (GSCL) said, �The operation and maintenance of those water ATMs will be done by the contractor for one year and it may be extended up to five years depending on the performance. The operation and maintenance includes replacement of cartridge filter and carbon filter every two months depending on the usage and replacement of reverse osmosis membrane every two years along with servicing of motor and chiller, etc.�
The raw water, which will be used in the water ATMs, will be supplied by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and the GSCL will carry out periodic testing of the dispensed water.
The smart bio-toilet project has been carried out by Eram Scientific Solutions Pvt Ltd at a cost of Rs 9.53 crore. The GSCL said the operation and maintenance of the bio-toilet will be done by the contractor for one year and it may be extended up to five years depending on the performance. The operation and maintenance includes provision of chlorine tablets, Inoculums bacteria, sanitary napkins, soap, etc.
The GSCL statement informed that the revenue to be generated from the water ATM and bio-toilet as applicable user charges and also from the commercial advertisement in the space available, will go to the GSCL�s account.
Inaugurating the project, Bhattacharya said, �With this initiative common people will get pure and chilled water at a very cheap rate. Now there will be no need to buy bottled drinking water at a high price. Moreover, the smart bio-toilet will also be a solution to keep the city neat and clean.�
Bhattacharya alleged that some retired State government engineers have been spreading some false information about this project through some articles in local newspapers. �I request those senior people not to mislead common people. We need constructive criticism,� the Minister added.
