Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Schoolgirl designs drainage disposal system for trains

R. Srikanth

It helps in keeping the tracks clean

DESIGNER: K. Masha Nazeem — Photo: Vino John

CHENNAI: K. Masha Nazeem, a Standard VIII student of Josephs' Convent Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil, has been receiving rave reviews for her `Hygienic Drainage Disposal System in Trains.'

The idea of redesigning the drainage system struck her when Railway Minister Lalu Prasad announced that those found littering Railway premises and relieving themselves on the tracks will be penalised.

The design is simple; the waste, instead of falling directly on the track, is collected in a storage tank fixed under the lavatory. The storage tanks are connected to a solenoid valve controlled by a switch in the engine.

When the train approaches a station, the driver will switch off the control valve preventing the jettisoning of toilet waste. Once the train passes out of the station, the driver will switch on the valve to empty the tank.

This system helps in keeping the tracks at railway stations clean. Also, this system could be better utilised in metropolitan cities with underground drainage system.

At just 12, Ms. Nazeem received the first prize for her device in the Southern India Science Fair, 2005, held at Secunderabad between January 18 and 22.

She also explained the device to R. Velu, Minister of State for Railways.

The Minister gave her a cash prize of Rs. 5,000 and asked the officials to study the device for adopting it for the Railways.

Daughter of N. Kaja Nazeemudeen, a District Treasury accountant, Ms. Nazeem has received a number of other awards as well.

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