From Avanish Kumar, Toxics Link, New Delhi

Posted 31 October 2007

Rapid urbanization has put Third World cities in an urban crisis. Municipal authorities, in third world cities, have not been able to dispose off urban waste in a scientific and eco-friendly manner. Inappropriate waste disposal technologies have only intensified the problem. Composting has been promoted as an eco-friendly and sustainable solution to urban waste management. However, experiences of composting projects have not been very good.

From Poulomy Chakraborty, Feedback Ventures (P) Ltd, New Delhi

Posted 4 November 2008

I work for Feedback Ventures, an infrastructure consultancy based in New Delhi. We are involved in a sanitation project known as 'Community Led Total Sanitation' (CLTS) which is supported by the Water and Sanitation Programme – South Asia (WSP-SA) in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Sikkim.

Original Query: Nidhi Prabha Tewari, Sanket Information & Research Agency, New Delhi

Posted on: 6th July 2005

I am part of a professional group, which provides inputs on developmental issues to the Member of Parliament from East Delhi. This query is related to solid waste management in the constituency.

Original Query: K.A.S. Mani, APFAGMS, Hyderabad

Posted: 24 February 2006

I am Dr K A S Mani, working with Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems (APFAMGS) Project which is a network of over 650 villages working towards enabling the farmers to manage their groundwater systems in about 638 villages in seven drought prone districts of Andhra Pradesh. The development objective of the project is that farmers in Andhra Pradesh manage their groundwater systems based on annual recharge-draft conditions. Main activities include participatory hydrological monitoring, artificial recharge and sustainable agriculture inputs, capacity building and institutional development. One of the areas being explored by the communities is better management and treatment of waste water, so that it could be re-used for agricultural and other purposes.

Original Query: Gopal Sane, Samruddhi, New Delhi

Posted: 22 March 2006

I have been working with bio sanitizers used in septic tanks and wet kitchen waste treatment and I found that the odors and pests like mosquitoes and cockroaches disappeared. I want to take this idea to densely populated slums in cities like Delhi, where wet kitchen waste and open sewage creating odor and pests is a common problem, but I have found much resistance in getting ready acceptance from communities, even in spite of the obvious benefits.

Original Query: Dinesh Kumar, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Anand, Gujarat

Posted: 9 September 2005

I am Dinesh Kumar working at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Anand, Gujarat.

“Diarrheal disease: Solutions to Defeat a Global Killer”, the research study conducted by PATH to evaluate the global health funding and policy landscape found that diarrheal disease ranked last among a list of other global health issues. Public awareness of this issue is also low, making it difficult to mobilize commitments and resources. In donor countries such as the United States, many are unaware of the burden of diarrheal disease and the existing prevention and treatment options.

“Community Eco-Sanitation Toilets India” which have been developed and published in 2008 by the Wherever the Need (WTN) with support from the Industry’s Humanitarian Support Alliance (IHSAN), the case study seek to encourage self sustaining, ecological projects generated through the self empowerment of the people themselves.

The website of Composting Toilet World advocate for the use of composting toilets worldwide through educate, promote and facilitate the use of compost toilets.

It also looks at composting toilets catalog which provides the most advanced environmental & economical sanitation solution such as waterless self-contained, waterless remote, low water remote and Flushsmart VF vacuum flush  for cottage, cabin, home, RV, pool cabana, farm, yurt, basement, work shop, commercial application & more.

“Tackling the silent killer: The case for sanitation", written by Oliver Cumming, published by WaterAid in July 2008. This paper does not seek to privilege sanitation at the expense of other sectors but prioritise sanitation, alongside safe water, as part of an integrated approach to development.

This paper asserts that improved sanitation could bring the single greatest reduction in these deaths. The existing evidence points to poor sanitation being a major factor in approximately 2.4 million child deaths annually.