Kathmandu, December 4:

UN-Habitat today organised a discussion on raising awareness on use of ecological sanitation toilets (Ecosan toilets) in the Nepali context.

Dr Johannes Heeb, president of International Ecological Engineering Society, from Switzerland stressed the need for capacity building training to expand the use of Ecosan toilets and change people’s behaviour.

“Courses on philosophy, practice and benefit will help increase the use of Ecosan toilets. We

cannot assure of effective implementation of the technology unless the trainers are qualified,” Dr Heeb said.

Construction of the Ecosan toilets itself is not the end and a strong follow-up mechanism should be developed in the target area, he said.

Dr Roshan Raj Shrestha, chief technical adviser to UN-Habitat Water for Asian Cities Programmes, said that the construction of Ecosan toilets in Nepal has not been very effective because the working agencies as well as local users’ groups lack coordination.

“We can’t go in large scale because we lack coordination and a mechanism of learning by one another. We need to develop Ecosan Club with wide coverage,” he said.

A dozen of organisations are supporting locals at different districts to install Ecosan toilets, which does not flush the excreta and urine but use them as manure and fertilisers for agriculture purposes.

The toilet is considered very useful for farmer families in the rural areas.