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India Environmental Sludge Management

India is home to 1.31 billion people and has been undergoing rapid urbanization over the past two decades. Consequently, sewage generation in India’s cities has also grown, along with the infrastructure of sewerage networks and sewage treatment plants (STPs) designed to accommodate it. India faces significant challenges in managing sludge generated from various sources, including municipal wastewater treatment plants, industrial waste, and agriculture. Sludge treatment and management are crucial aspects of environmental sustainability, public health, and resource conservation. 

India is taking commendable steps toward managing sludge, building more than 800 STPs in the last six years and tightening discharge limits. Strict requirements for plant discharges were set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in April 2019 and were upheld by the Supreme Court of India in June 2021.

Sludge Treatment and Management in India: Policy and Business

According to a research report published by the Central Pollution Control Board (March 2021), India’s current water treatment capacity is 27.3% and the sewage treatment capacity is 18.6 % (with another 5.2 % capacity in development). Though India’s waste and sewage treatment capacity is higher than the global average of around 20%, considering the enormity of the problem, it is far from adequate.

Most of the sewage treatment plants established in India under the Ganga Action Plan and Yamuna Action Plan are not working, and out of the 33000 million liters per day (MLD) of waste generated, only 7000 MLD is collected and treated. The report further highlights that the National Policy on Fecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) was adopted under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) in 2017. 

Only a handful of states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh have adopted wastewater management policies. In the absence of a blanket central mandate and uniform laws across states to govern the untreated wastewater flowing into bodies of water, the efforts of a few states to deal with water pollution have little net effect.

Opportunity for Advanced Sludge Treatment Technologies in India

India is investing considerably in wastewater facilities and networks. In 2021, more than 50% of the sewage generated in urban centers was treated and India has plans to improve this share. With sustained rapid urbanization and the requirement to treat sewage from semi-urban and rural areas, the number of STPs needed to treat all the sewage generated in India is estimated to be 4500 or more. Both existing STPs that upgrade their operations and all greenfield STPs are required to incorporate advanced technologies to achieve the revised limits set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Such upgrades and greenfield projects present business opportunities for technology providers, contractors, and equipment suppliers within the field. 

Apart from the increase in sewage treatment plants, the Indian government has also adopted new financial mechanisms to fund these projects. For example, under the country’s water resources department, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) introduced the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) to structure bankable projects that attract private investment. 

Prominent sub-sectors in India’s Sludge Management

  • Municipal Wastewater Treatment
  • Industrial Wastewater Treatment
  • Agricultural Sludge Management
  • Sewer Cleaning and Desludging Services
  • Biogas Production
  • Sludge Dewatering and Drying
  • Sludge Incineration and Co-incineration
  • Sludge Composting

Trade Events
U.S. companies may consider the following local trade shows and U.S. Trade Missions to showcase their technologies and meet Indian companies:

The experienced U.S. Commercial Service team in India can help your market entry or expansion in the Indian subcontinent. For further information regarding opportunities in this sector, please reach out to your local U.S. office or contact the U.S. Commercial Service in India. 
 

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