The Ganga Action Parivar (GAP) has taken primary steps towards constructing the first zero-waste, “bio-digester” toilet in Uttar Pradesh along the banks of the Ganga. The initiative is part of GAP’s drive to build 5,000 eco-friendly toilets in villages along the 2,500-km stretch of the Ganga and also integrates its “Green Kashi and Green Prayag” campaign. A special “brick puja” was performed by the organisers on the banks of the Ganga on Tuesday. The bricks will be used to construct the first bio-digester toilet complex here in Allahabad. “The site for the first toilet has been earmarked on Arail Ghat after discussions with the District Magistrate and we hope that the construction will start during this Maha Kumbh Mela,” said Ram Mahesh Mishra, Director of Parmarth Niketan Ashram. Around 200 toilets would be constructed in the first phase and the drive would be extended to other States once land is allotted, he added. The first of these toilets was inaugurated at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh on October 15 by Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, the force behind the save Ganga campaign and founder of GAP, said: “It hurts my heart and I feel that we are inflicting great physical and emotional violence against our Matri Shakti by not providing them (women) with safe, available places to go to toilet.” Stating that the lack of toilet facilities was a major source of fear among women living in villages along the river, Swami Chidanand said: “Lack of toilets is one of the main reasons for young girls dropping out of school, so we are committed to building toilets in schools so our young girls can continue their studies.” Uttar Pradesh PWD & Irrigation Minister Shivpal Yadav, who visited the GAP camp, said the State would provide all support to construct the eco-friendly toilets. The model of the toilets has been developed by GAP in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), also the designer. The specially designed toilets use no chemicals and require no electricity. According to GAP, the Ganga is deluged with nearly two billion litres of human waste a day while being the sole source of drinking water to a population approximating that of America, Canada and Russia combined.