PROJECT NIRMALFECAL SLUDGE MANAGEMENT IN
TRANSITION – A CASE STUDY FROMDHENKANAL TOWN OF ODISHA, INDIAUZRA SULTANA
ARGHYAM, INDIAISSUESCensus 2011: 30 million urbanhouseholds (38%) in India have septictanks. USAID (2010)Septic tanks not designed properly
resulting in fecal contamination
In areas un-served by sewer systems,
there is dumping of sewage into
water bodies in and around cities.
Tankers employed for disposing thesewage usually dump the sewage at
the closest point from where it wascollected.
Uncontrolled disposal of septage
worse than open defection.

1,000,000+50,000 – 100,000

25,000 – 50,000INTRODUCTION | Demonstration of sustainable sanitation service delivery by implementing afaecal sludge treatment plant at Angul & Dhenkanal through enabling institutional and private
sector participation.

TECHNOLOGY● Sludge: Anaerobic digestion + sludge drying &Wastewater: DEWATS + Sand-Carbon Filter (Optional)● Low O&M, simple operation, minimal skills, no electricity.
But, land availability is a prerequisite

CAPACITY BUILDING
10 modules for capacity building programmes to be implemented across the State:
Sanitation and it’s relevance; National and state sanitation scenario; Institutional and policy
framework for wastewater management; Urban wastewater management systems; Faecal sludge
management; Containment and handling of faecal sludge; Treatment and reuse/disposal; Financialmanagement; Administration and Enforcement and FSM planning

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT● 3 cesspool trucks granted from the State Government to engage
private enterprises.
● The informal sweepers shall work with the private enterprises aspaid employee● Municipalities shall run the treatment facility after technical capacity
building and hand holding.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT

Cess pool purchased by theGovernment● “Demand emptying” will be established prior considering “Schedule emptying”● Profit from the “emptying & transportation” in demand driven service exists from thebeginning.
● Treatment and reuse functions are not financially viable for initial few years, requiringexternal financial assistance.
● Leasing-out the cesspool trucks to the private operation may be an option.

SOCIAL ASPECTS: PUBLIC AWARENESS, WOMEN’S
INVOLVEMENT A comprehensive Information, Education & Communication (IEC)and Behavior Change Communication (BCC) strategy developed
and will be launched by the State Government to:○ Ensure construction of appropriate toilets and timely
desludging of the septic tanks by the households○ Address negative behavior pattern among the service
providers○ Create understanding on end-use of treated faecal sludge

IEC activities

 Slum Sanitation Committees - 45; Ward Sanitation Committees –46 with a focus to build bridge between communities & ULBs
 Women participation in Slum Sanitation Committees is highrepresenting more than 50%.
Slum Sanitation Committee MeetingOUTCOMES & IMPACTS●●●●●

Technical capacity of the State and ULBs augmented by establishing Project ManagementUnits (PMU)
Small cities introduced to data-based GIS planning tools by mapping situational assessment
Community level demand generation for city- wide sustainable sanitation through IEC
strategy & Committees
Secretary, HUDD, Govt. ofUrban sanitation training programmes institutionalized in regular state training for urban
Odisha visiting IWK, Malaysia
cadre
The Government officials visit to Inda Water Konsortium (IWK), Malaysia resulted ininvesting on septage management at State level

CHALLENGES●Informal sweepers still dominating through manual emptying●

Lack of timely support from Government to implement the program●

Fragmented Political dynamics at the city level●

Lack of awareness at city and community level●

Change in Bureaucracy/transfers of Government officials and slow Bureaucratic
processes●

Allotment of land for FSTPs

GIS based data planningKEY MESSAGES
Without the following no progress possible:● Land availability and allotment. Process for land allotment to be started from thebeginning of project in view of lengthy governmental procedures● Appropriate engagement of stakeholders at various intervention period creates
better results● Mass awareness required to institutionalize the FSM concept at State level

FINANCING STRATEGY
Funding for capital cost: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation;
Operation of the plant: Implementing agency for one year with funding support;
Post one year: Transferred to the Municipality for regular O&M

Capacity

CAPEX

OPEX

27 cubic
meter/day

INR 25 Million
INR 375 /capita

INR 0.8 Million/year
INR 12 /capita/yearCONCLUSION● FSM - under-invested, huge need● Currently, only sewered networks seen as a solution
but this is just not feasible for smaller towns● Managing Rural – Urban Continuum (Challenges oftransition)● Need for:➔ Models for decentralized FSM management
based on data (financial, technical, institutional,and social) and scientific studies➔ Principle of subsidiarity➔ Local resources first➔ Accountable Government & engaged citizenry➔ Technology upgrades that can pay for itself➔ Closing the loop (Emphasize on reuse)