Responding to the challenge given by the DRDO chief Dr Abdul Kalam to all the research laboratories in the country, the Pune-based Research & Development Establishment (Engineers) in association with the Gwalior based Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) has succeeded in solving what has become quite a tricky problem at the high altitudes.

In an achievement of a different kind, the premier DRDO laboratory has succeeded in coming up with a temperature controlled digestor as a solution to the problem of decomposition of human waste. Although this was not treated with much seriousness, this problem turned out to be quite serious when it began affecting the morale of the Indian troops.

The bio-degradation of waste does not take place in sub-zero temperatures as bacterial organisms are not active and do not multiply rapidly. Although chemical toilets have proved to be quite useful in high altitude region, they have not succeeded addressing the problems for large numbers.

This digestor has been designed to aid bio-degeneration of fecal matter in extreme cold climates, director Y P Pathak told The Indian Express. Elaborate experimentation has been carried out with such a culture in laboratory conditions and after several trials, R & DE has air-dropped three such bio-digestors in the Siachen region recently. What is unique about the system is the design, fabrication and testing of a digestor has been taken up using solar energy and electrical energy obtained from the generator using kerosene a fuel. If no solar energy is available, the average consumption of kerosene is around six litres a day.

The two research laboratories also sought the help of private firms to tackle the problem. According to Pathak, the digestor has been tested for maintenance of desired temperature upto ambient temperature of -40 degrees centigrade with water as a medium and was found to be satisfactory.

The equipment basically consists of three concentric cylinder chambers, Detailed trials were conducted at DRDE Gwalior at -20 degrees centigrade to ascertain the amount of heat produced in the mass by bacterial activity and its adequacy to maintain the desired temperature.

One of the scientists who worked on the project said that the chief objective was to study the anaerobic degradation of human waste at low temperatures for the reduction of solids and pathogens as well as biogas production and in the bargain to develop an integrated system for human waste treatment in cold hilly regions to reduce the atmospheric and water pollution.

Three ten seater systems have already been dispatched to the various stations located on the Glacier. The laboratory is now working on a 25 seater system to tackle the problem on a larger scale.