Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) [SBM-G]Phase II, faecal sludge and greywater generated from the households in rural areas are treated separately. Management of greywater is promoted through the onsite systems near the source through soak pits/leach pits/magic pits, wherever possible at Household or at Community level. However, on a larger scale or at the village level specialized technologies viz., Waste Stabilization Ponds, Constructed Wetlands, etc., can be used as per the feasibility. The treated wastewater is reused for non-potable uses like irrigation.For disposal of human excreta, use of safe and onsite sanitation technologies such as twin leach pit toilets arepromoted in the country in the rural areas.This technology converts the faecal sludge into manure in a period of 1-2 years, which is good manure for agriculture. However, in case of septic tank-based toilets, the faecal sludge is managed through mechanized desludging and treatment through urban-rural convergence in Sewage /Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants.

In so far as urban areas are concerned, under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), so far, 1437 MLD capacity have been developed for the sewage reuse/recycle purpose. Of this, 848 MLD is currently being reused.864 sewerage & septage management projects worth ₹33,985 crorehave been grounded. So far, Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) capacity of 2,840 MLD have been created and 3,468 MLD is in progress. Further, Government has launched AMRUT 2.0 on 1st October 2021 with target of making cities water secure and providing functional water tap connections to all households in all statutory towns/cities. It also targets universal coverage of sewerage & septage management in 500 AMRUT cities.So far, AMRUT 2.0 Mission has approved 4,830 projects worth ₹93,381 crore (including of O&M cost). Of this, 331 sewerage & septage management projects are worth ₹ 26,076 crore. These projects target to provide around 20 lakh sewer connections and 1,665 MLDs capacity through development of new STPs and augmentation of existing STPs.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a  written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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AS