Dear Ajuyah,

Greetings from Nepal

Thank you very much for your questions, queries and comments. Our responses are as follows:

>Social concepts.
>(a)    Is the latrine restricted to 285 visitors? and what is the expected
>        capacity?.

The latrine is not restricted to 285 visitors. Originally, it was designed for about 500 people. But in the begining, even as many as 1,000 people used to visit the latrines especially during the market day (twice a week). Naturally, this had affected the retention or detention period of the digester.But slowly and gradually the number of latrine visitors got stabilized to around 300 people.

>(b)    What is the relationship between the 100,000 Bhutanese refuges in
>        Eastern Jhapa and Morang district of Nepal and the 285 people based
>        community latrine.

(b) Some areas close to the Bhutanese Refugee Camps are classifed as Refugee Affected areas. Therefore, in order to benefit the people living close to the refugee camps, UNHCR has been organizing some special programme. In this context, Ward No.1 of Pahari VDC located in Morang district close to the Refugee camps happens to be one of highly polluted areas in Nepal. Thus,this area was selected to launch environment and sanitation programme by installing pilot model latrine-cum-biodigester and educating the community members in health aspects.

>Cultural concept.
>(a)    Is there any sensitivity or inhibition to the concept in general as
>        a source of biofertilizer and biogas?.

Yes, from social and cultural point of view, there is still some degree of hesitation about the use of gas and biofertilizer produced from
night soil digester. However, this trend is decreasing as more than 40 percent of the family latrines are now attached with biogas plants fed with animal dung (cow dung).

Thank you very for your valuable comments. Have nice day.

Best  Regards
Amrit & Upendra