Suraj V S

UM4050

PUM21362

This research project on Maximising Capacity Utilisation of Waste Management Practices focusses on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management in cities of Odisha, India, especially in the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) where Urban-Rural Convergence model have been piloted. This strategy aimed to achieve economies of scale by extending the rural-urban horizon and optimising the capacity of treatment facilities. However, the study identified potential gaps and threats to the value chain in the Urban-Rural Convergence model and examined factors contributing to the underutilisation of Fecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs). The study also explored the role of technology in increasing the efficiency of resources involved in the value chain. The study used a formative research approach, including focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders involved in Fecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) practices in urban India. The study involved five stages: a literature review and framework development, site visits and data analysis, and concluding with recommendations and an action plan. This approach provides valuable insights into FSSM practices in the identified cities and lays the groundwork for future effective waste management strategies. The research revealed that most of the FSTPs in the cities are utilised less than 55% of their actual operational capacity. It also identified reasons for utilisations which were caused due to multiple factors, including a lack of awareness among households in the Gram Panchayats (GPs), a lack of transparency and accountability on Desludging Service Operators operators involved in operations, and an absence of ULB-specific bylaws for FSSM. The study also explores how existing structures, such as social capital and social networks, can be leveraged to mobilise sensitisation programs inventorying septic tanks that would increase capacity utilisation. The initiatives proposed could be scaled across all the 115 ULBs and their tagged Gram Panchayats within the state. Despite its limitations, such as the reliance on Focus Group Discussions and In-Depth Interviews, the study concludes that the framework developed as part of the research can be replicable and scalable as it has identified parameters that could identify the obstacles hindering optimisation in the existing FSSM ecosystem and identifying solutions that can be implemented across all ULBs in the state. The study's policy recommendations provide a way forward for the capacity maximisation of FSTPs in its ULBs, enabling safe waste management practices and developing a comprehensive FSSM action plan. The study's findings have significant implications for improving waste management practices and promoting safe sanitation practices in the identified cities and beyond.


Report Content

Post 2021, with the pilot’s success in the Urban-Rural convergence model in Balasore municipality, similar convergence is facilitated across the state. The district collectors were required to tag the Gram Panchayats within approx. 20km distance from ULB and categorise them into three groups of the areas falling under 10/15/20 km to notify fixed tariff slabs. The interested rural households were allowed to send their septage/faecal sludge to the FSTPs of the tagged ULB on payment of announced service charges. These Gram Panchayats were also encouraged to utilise the entire value chain of the FSM, starting from availing the cesspool vehicles to FSTP of the respective ULBs, and the cost of services where fixed by the collector based on the capacity of the cesspool emptier vehicles as mandated by the state. According to the mandate, the households of these rural areas could avail of the desludging services through the helpline number, the voice call recording service, and Ama Sahara

Six cities were chosen based on demographics (Municipal Corporation, Municipality, Notified Area Council), geographical characteristics of the city (cities with higher water table levels, cities in districts that are bordered with neighbouring states), current resource utilisation characteristics, etc., in a purposive sampling method to arrive at comprehensive recommendations to maximise capacity utilisation in faecal sludge and septage management in Odisha.

The city of Rourkela, located in Odisha, consists of 40 wards and has a total of 78,289 households. Out of these, 41,464 households (which accounts for 53% of the total households) reside in slum areas. The city has a Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) with a capacity of 40KLD, which has been operational since 2018. Currently, the city has achieved the ODF++ status, which indicates that it is open defecation-free and also maintains sustainable sanitation practices. The city follows various FSSM models, which includes ULB-owned and ULB-operated, ULB-owned and privately operated, and annuity models. The Rourkela Urban Rural Convergence program has tagged 9 Gram Panchayats (GPs) to improve the sanitation infrastructure in rural areas. These GPs consist of 12,671 households, and they receive an average of 4-5 requests per month related to sanitation services.

Balasore is a city in the state of Odisha that has made significant progress in the area of faecal sludge and septage management (FSSM). With 31 wards and a total of 25,713 households, of which 50% are slum households, the city has a FSTP capacity of 60KLD, operational since 2018 and has achieved the status of ODF. The city has adopted multiple models of FSSM such as ULB owned and ULB operated, ULB owned and privately operated, ULB owned and SHG operated, and Annuity model. The city has also taken steps towards urban-rural convergence by tagging 88 GPs under Balasore Urban Rural Convergence, covering 1,39,465 households. The average number of requests from GPs tagged under Balasore Urban Rural Convergence is 2-3 per day, indicating the need for an efficient and effective FSSM system.

Aska, a town in Odisha, has 18 wards and 5,038 households. Its Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) has a capacity of 10KLD and has been operational since 2021, achieving the Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF+) status. The FSSM model in Aska follows a combination of government-owned and operated and annuity models. Aska Urban Rural Convergence has 28 Gram Panchayats (GPs) under its umbrella, which have a total of 35,922 households. On average, Aska Urban Rural Convergence receives 2-3 requests per day from these GPs.

The term "Operating model" in this report describes FSM approaches that the identified six ULBs deployed to deliver desludging public service. This includes their costs, the potential for generating revenue to cover costs, and partnerships and engagement with a variety of stakeholders (government, self-help groups (SHGs), and both empanelled and unpaneled Private Desludging Operators) Sanitation is traditionally a public good to maintain public health and is budgeted by cities, much like garbage management. (Piers Cross, 2013) Sanitation services shouldn't be viewed as a straightforward public good in market terms because different parties along the so-called "sanitation value chain" demand and supply services. Given external factors, inadequate data, the negative consequences of monopolistic structures, and detrimental competition among multiple parties, the sanitation value chain appears vulnerable to market failures despite the rise in companies providing emptying and transport

Over the past six decades in Odisha, there has been an increase in the urban population from 0.6% to 7% between 1951 and 2011. The district of Khurda, home to the state's capital city of Bhubaneshwar, has the highest level of urbanisation, with 48.11% of the total population living in urban areas. Jharsuguda has the second-highest level of urbanisation at 39.89%, followed by Sundergarh (which includes Rourkela) at 35.50%, Sambalpur at 29.81%, Cuttack at 27.94%, and Ganjam (which includes Aska and Surada NAC) at 21.78%. (Swami, 2017) This directly impacts the quality of living standards in this city. Rural-urban migration is a significant factor in the formation of slums, as people from rural areas move to cities for better job opportunities and a higher standard of living. However, many cannot afford proper housing and live in informal settlements or slums. This can lead to overcrowding, inadequate housing, and poor sanitation, exacerbating poverty and marginalisation. According to t

The importance of FSSM has increased due to the limited number of households in urban areas that have access to sewerage. Instead, most households have sanitation systems, such as septic tanks, pits, and large holes. Implementing an institutionalised system for emptying these systems can make effective wastewater management and eliminating open defecation easier. However, understanding the context in which these businesses operate is essential to fully grasp the collection and transportation of faecal sludge. The current system works on a need/demand basis, as the interval between successive desludging for an OSS is often years apart. Promoting this business is challenging due to the sensitive nature of the service, physical risks during emptying, and small profit margins. E&T is a critical service that defines FSM, but it must often be more appreciated. It is becoming increasingly urgent to spread the message about emptying services, especially in Gram Panchayats (GPs), where the stat

The faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs) in cities in Odisha adopt biological treatment processes to treat the sludge effectively. This process involves using a sludge thickening tank where the Desludging vehicles empty the collected sludge, and the content remains there for 8-10 days. This removes solids (Faecal sludge) from water through gravity. Further, the black water is sent to the anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), and the sludge is sent to the sludge drying bed. The ABR is a multi-chambered reactor that creates an environment with little to no oxygen, allowing the bacteria to break down the organic matter in the sludge. As the sludge moves through each chamber, the bacteria become more specialised, improving treatment efficiency. The ABR is particularly useful for treating high-strength organic wastewater, such as faecal sludge. On the other hand, this bed is designed to remove excess moisture from the sludge and dry it out, resulting in a more stable end product that can

Based on the data analysis, the findings suggest that the Urban-Rural Convergence Plan has not effectively maximised the capacity utilisation of Fecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs), contrary to previous assertions. Although there is a positive correlation between the service coverage area of FSTPs and their impact on capacity utilisation, several obstacles exist within the current Fecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) practices in the identified cities and their Gram Panchayats (GPs). Apparently, the operational capacity of FSTPs in Cuttack and Rourkela Municipal Corporation and Puri Municipality is utilized only at 50%, and Balasore Municipality has the lowest FSTP capacity utilisation at 42%. In contrast, FSTPs at NACs are utilized more efficiently than their Municipality and Municipal corporation counterparts. For example, the capacity utilisation of FSTP at Surada NAC is 60%, while Aska's FSTP has the highest utilisation rate at 80%. The quantitative data analysis gather