Proper treatment of wastewater could be channeled to irrigate an area of up to 3 million hectare
The Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) is empanelling list of companies that can provide solid waste processing solution to the urban local bodies and this process is expected to be over in next three months, Union urban development minister, Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu said at an Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) event.The current state of municipal solid waste (MSW) reflects huge potential for additional waste collection and treatment. If treated properly, there is potential for generation of 440 mega watt (MW) power solid waste through setting up of waste to energy plants, said Mr Naidu.
The biodegradable waste constituting 47 per cent of waste generation can be used to produce compost and switching over to compost can reduce consumption of chemical fertilizers by 30 per cent, said Mr Naidu who is also the Union minister for housing and urban poverty alleviation and Parliamentary Affairs.
He also said that solid waste management is one of the admissible components under the Centre's ambitious Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and the Government of India would contribute Rs 14,623 crores out of the total estimated investment of over Rs 62,000 crore.
Additional, under the programme, a provision of 20 per cent viable gap funding is available for implementation under the PPP (public private partnership) mode, said Mr Naidu.
On the issue of recycling of wastewater, the minister further said that if the 38,500 MLD (million liters per day) of sewage generated across class I and II cities in India could be treated and channeled to meet agriculture requirement, it would provide 14 billion cubic meter of irrigation water.
It means it can potentially irrigate an area ranging 1-3 million hectare depending upon type of crop cultivated.
High price sensitivity towards advanced wastewater treatment systems, negative perception about wastewater recycling, lack of technological awareness and skilled manpower, fragmented nature of market, weak enforcement of regulations and policies are certain factors limiting the use of wastewater recycling in India, the minister informed.
My ministry has formulated service level benchmarks for wastewater and each city shall at least recycle and reuse 20 per cent of wastewater generated from the city, said Mr Naidu.
He further said that the Central Government would provide financial assistance to states through various missions such as Swachh Bharat Mission, National Urban Development Mission and Mission for Smart and Heritage Cities for setting up sewerage treatment plants including recycling of wastewater facilities for non-potable applications.
He also encouraged the cities preparing their integrated city sanitation plans to adopt wastewater recycle and reuse as it would help them meet the operation and maintenance needs of sanitation infrastructure.
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