The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in co-operation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) jointly organized the National Conference on “Common Effluent Treatment Plants in India: Issues, Challenges, Opportunities & Way Forward” at New Delhi.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Manju Raina, Director (Scientific), Ministry of Environment, Forest (MoEF), Govt. of India, made a strong plea for another phase of evolution of CETP in the country embracing an integrated approach of performance. She also highlighted the various issues plaguing the efficacy of CETP due to lack of proper planning mechanism. At this juncture, she felt setting up pilot CETPs can go a long way in addressing the concerns of small scale industry towards the emergence of a feasible and tested mechanism towards waste water management in a holistic manner.
Dr Dieter Mutz, Director, Indo German Environment Partnership (IGEP), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (India) reckoned waste water as a resource for the future due to increasing pressure from various sectors on limited freshwater. Acknowledging, industrial waste water treatment as a complex process, he mentioned the need for trained personnel, which is imperative for the efficient performance of CETPs. Dr Mutz urged the stakeholders to consider replicating the efforts of MoEFCC towards addressing the issue of waste water being discharged into the River Ganga. In limited parts of the country wastewater management has been successful, but a structured framework to ensure efficient management of waste water by the States is yet to be mooted, quipped the speaker.
Mr Nazimuddin, Senior Environmental Engineer mentioned that some of the main reasons for sub- optimal performance of CETPs was due to the inadequate design due to change in quality or quantity of effluent and improper operation and maintenance of CETPs
In the context of looming water challenge, waste water management is crucial for the SSI for their sustainability and growth, said Mr Nikhil Sawhney, Member, Advisory Board, CII-Triveni Water Institute and Director, Triveni Engineering & Industries Pvt. Ltd. He informed the gathering that CII-Triveni Water Institute is in the process of publishing a reference document for successful operation & maintenance of existing CETPs and speedy replication of successful CETP models across the country. Dr Kapil Narula , CEO and Executive Dircetor, CII - Triveni Water institute reiterated the need for pilot testing before full scale implementation of CETPs, performance audit of CETPs through a third party system and also mentioned about CII-Triveni Water Institute's joint programme with GIZ on development of "Certificate Programme" for training waste-water operators of CETPs and ETPs in India, to be rolled out in 2015.
Discussions at the Conference focused on various facets relating to CETPs in the country such as technology and interventions required, management issues, business environment and effective business models for successful implementation of CETPs.
The Panel Discussion on Policy Framework for Common Effluent Treatment Plants witnessed intense deliberations amongst all the stakeholders .Mr Raghu Babu Nukala, Senior Technical Advisor & Programme Coordinator, GIZ – IGEP shared some key policy interventions as given below for promoting sustainable CETPs across the country:
· Promoting energy efficiency in CETPs
· Market development for CETPs
· Promotion of Research and Development in the area of CETPs
· Facilitation of development of skilled manpower in CETP sector
· Grant subsidy for promotion of CETPs
· Promotion of Zero liquid Discharge in CETPs
· Promotion of recycled and reuse of treated waste-water
The Conference was attended by over 180 delegates comprising industry from the National Capital region ,CETP Operators, State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporations, State Pollution Control Boards, Central Pollution Control Board, Ministries in the Central Government and Industry associations.
New Delhi