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Pilgrimage or pollution? The waste crisis of Indian faith

According to a new report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India produces about 19,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day. Of this, 62 percent of plastic is used for packaging, compared to the global average of approximately 40 percent. Plastic packaging consumption is growing at an annual rate of 8 to 9 percent. If this trend continues, plastic packaging consumption, which stood at 1.1 crore tonnes in 2022, could rise to about 2 crore tonnes by 2030.

CSE Report Flags Rigid Power Contracts as Risk to Energy Transition

A new Centre for Science and Environment report warns that outdated thermal power contracts are hindering India's energy transition. These long-term agreements force consumers to pay fixed costs for coal plants even as solar energy use rises, creating financial inefficiencies. The findings highlight the urgent need for contract reforms to improve grid flexibility. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released a report on August 25, 2026, highlighting that outdated power purchase agreements (PPAs) are creating significant challenges for India's transition to renewable energy. These long-term contracts, which define the terms of electricity supply between generators and distribution companies, were created during a period of frequent power shortages and have not kept pace with the current shift toward solar and wind energy. The core issue identified is the rigidity of these contracts. Traditionally, thermal power plants were designed to provide 'baseload' power, meaning they ran constantly to meet a steady demand. Because of this, contracts included fixed payments to ensure the plants could recover their costs. However, as solar energy capacity has grown, the energy grid now requires power plants that can ramp up or down quickly depending on sunlight levels. When solar generation is high, coal plants are often asked to reduce their output. Despite running for fewer hours, these plants are still entitled to their full fixed payments under the old contract terms. This mismatch creates a financial burden. Consumers effectively end up paying higher prices because the fixed costs of coal capacity remain high, even when the actual electricity generated is lower. The CSE report examined data from eight states and found that 6.1 gigawatts (GW) of power capacity is tied to long-term contracts that extend to 2040 and beyond. This 'generational lock-in' restricts the ability of the power sector to adopt more flexible and potentially cheaper energy sources. Distribution companies (DISCOMs), which are responsible for purchasing and distributing power, continue to face financial pressure. These rigid contractual obligations limit their financial flexibility and can prevent them from optimizing their power procurement costs. The report suggests that because many of these assets and distribution companies are government-owned, there is an opportunity to negotiate changes to these agreements rather than relying on legal battles or waiting for the contracts to expire. The CSE study recommends updating the standard power purchase agreement model to incorporate requirements for operational flexibility and performance during different energy demand cycles. It also calls for state-level reviews to ensure that procurement portfolios are aligned with a modern, low-carbon energy system. For investors and energy stakeholders, the key monitorable will be potential regulatory changes or state-level policy updates that could trigger the renegotiation of these legacy contracts. Such reforms would be essential to reducing system-wide costs and improving the financial health of the power distribution sector.

Consultant for Sustainable Industrialization Programme, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India’s leading public policy research institution, is looking for candidates for its sustainable industrialization team. The team works on various agendas for improved industrialization like Industrial air pollution, Energy efficiency, Renewable energy, environmental governance and decarbonisation to develop industrial roadmaps and assist the stakeholders in the implementation of various developed strategies. The team is looking to expand their capacity and thus looking for candidates to join their group.

India must integrate renewable and coal-based power sectors for successful energy transition: CSE study

The study, Flex to Fix: Deciphering India's Coal Flexibilisation Challenge for RE Integration, said coal power flexibilisation could help create an additional 18-34 GW of renewable energy space and reduce power-sector emissions by 7.66-8.37 per cent, equivalent to 92-101 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. CSE released the report at a national dialogue on coal flexibilisation and reforms in thermal power purchase agreements (PPAs), attended by representatives of the Central Electricity Authority, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, GRID-India, BHEL, NTPC and Torrent Power, besides experts from think tanks, civil society and academia. CSE Director General Sunita Narain said India's power sector must work towards greater grid flexibility as renewable energy expands. "We are not talking about renewable vs coal here. We are talking about renewable and coal, and about how to integrate the two. The task is not to replace coal, but to displace it," she said. The study noted that India reached 50 per cent non-fossil-based installed power capacity in November 2025, five years ahead of its original 2030 target. However, rapid growth in renewable energy, particularly solar power, has altered the demandsupply balance and increased operational stress on conventional generation.

Scorching summers intensify caste barriers to water in India's Bundelkhand

Carrying three empty plastic buckets, she walked several hundred metres to the nearest handpump in her village in Jalaun district, part of the drought-prone Bundelkhand region of northern India. Temperatures in parts of the region were already climbing above 40°C, reports the BBC. Mamta said taps installed under a government drinking water scheme had remained dry for two years, leaving around 1,000 villagers dependent on a small number of handpumps. It took her hours to collect enough water for her family of 11 and their livestock. But the heat was not her only challenge. Mamta is from the Valmiki community, a Dalit group that was historically considered "untouchable" under India's caste system and continues to face discrimination. She said she waited for members of dominant castes to finish using the handpump before collecting water herself. "If they are standing there, we cannot fill water. We have to wait until they leave," she said. She also said some upper-caste residents poured water over the pump afterwards to "cleanse" it, adding that the practice had continued for decades. Bundelkhand Bundelkhand, a semi-arid region covering districts in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, is known for severe water scarcity. The region experienced several major droughts between 2002 and 2016. Its rocky plateau has limited capacity to retain groundwater, while unpredictable rainfall and rising temperatures have made water access increasingly uncertain despite government and community conservation efforts. A study examining more than a century of weather records found temperatures had increased across almost the entire region. In recent summers, temperatures in parts of Bundelkhand have approached 48°C. Residents and researchers say the worsening heat and water stress are intensifying long-standing caste divisions. As more families compete for increasingly scarce water, Dalits, who have historically faced restrictions in accessing water, are encountering such inequalities more frequently. "Conflict over water is not new," said Mitashi Singh of the Centre for Science and Environment. What is changing, she said, is how hotter summers are making water scarcer and aggravating existing tensions. Local officials reject allegations of water shortages and caste discrimination at public water sources. Dominant-caste residents interviewed by the BBC also denied discriminating against others, though they acknowledged growing pressure on water supplies. Ram Gopal Singh, in his 50s, pointed to several abandoned village wells, saying they had been dry for nearly 20 years. Other water sources had either dried up or become polluted, while unreliable tap connections had driven more families towards handpumps, he added. According to Singh, everyone tries to collect water during cooler morning hours, resulting in disputes over turns and the amount each family could collect. But he denied that caste is a factor in these disputes. Dalit residents, however, described a different situation. They said there is no formal queue at the handpumps and that families instead try to collect water at different times to avoid confrontations. Mamta said she usually goes very early in the morning or late in the afternoon because she fears being targeted. About 50km away in Shahjahanpur, Shiv said members of his community similarly avoid approaching a handpump while dominant-caste families are using it. "No matter how hot it is, even if we have to wait for hours for one bucket of drinking water, we wait because we do not have a choice." His mother, Parmi Devi, alleged that she was assaulted three years ago after an argument with a dominant-caste resident at a village handpump. Devi filed a police complaint, but no arrests have been made. The Dalit Dignity and Justice Centre, a non-profit in Uttar Pradesh, said police registered 113 cases under India's law against caste-based atrocities in the area in 2025. The organisation said most complaints it tracked during May and June involved water, though it has not published a detailed breakdown. District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar Pandey's office rejected the allegations, saying there is no instance of caste discrimination over water access. Efforts to address water shortages include the government's Jal Jeevan Mission, restoration of ponds and groundwater recharge initiatives. Traditional water bodies have also been revived, while women-led Jal Saheli groups monitor supplies and promote conservation. Researcher Mukul Sharma said increasing water supplies alone will not resolve the problem. Climate change, he said, is "not the origin of these injustices, but a threat multiplier." Unless caste inequalities over water access are addressed, he said, more water will not solve the problem.

India’s cities aren’t just fighting the rain. They’re fighting their own infrastructure

The Centre for Science and Environment has previously documented how Chennai's natural drainage network was damaged by encroachment and construction. Its analysis noted that Pallikaranai, once around 5,000 hectares, had shrunk to roughly 600 hectares around 2010-11. The consequences are predictable. When wetlands, lakes and channels disappear, the water does not disappear with them. It simply has fewer places to go. A 2026 study on Pallikaranai similarly found that rapid urbanisation, expansion of impervious surfaces and wetland encroachment have altered the marsh's hydrological functions and increased flood risks.

LATIKA M BOURKE: Coal will get a boost from geopolitical shocks, International Energy Agency head says

Sunita Narain from the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment said the energy shocks could not be divorced from the effects of climate change which she said were experienced daily in India. “We have two wars happening, we have a physical war which we’re talking about, the Iran war, the Ukraine war, but we also have a war with nature, which is happening and they’re both happening together,” she said. “And the revenge of the war with nature is playing with the complete disruption that we are seeing on the energy system.”

ऊर्जा परिवर्तन पर CSE की रिपोर्ट: पुराने पावर कॉन्ट्रैक्ट्स बन रहे हैं बड़ी रुकावट

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की नई रिपोर्ट ने आगाह किया है कि भारत में पुराने थर्मल पावर कॉन्ट्रैक्ट्स रिन्यूएबल एनर्जी की ओर बढ़ने की राह में बाधा बन रहे हैं। इन लंबी अवधि के समझौतों के कारण, भले ही सौर ऊर्जा का इस्तेमाल बढ़ रहा है, उपभोक्ताओं को कोयला संयंत्रों के लिए फिक्स्ड कॉस्ट का भुगतान करना पड़ रहा है, जिससे वित्तीय नुकसान हो रहा है। यह रिपोर्ट ग्रिड की फ्लेक्सिबिलिटी (लचीलापन) को बेहतर बनाने के लिए कॉन्ट्रैक्ट सुधारों की तत्काल आवश्यकता पर जोर देती है। पुराने पावर परचेज एग्रीमेंट्स (PPAs) की कहानी सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) ने 25 अगस्त, 2026 को जारी अपनी रिपोर्ट में बताया है कि भारत के रिन्यूएबल एनर्जी की ओर बढ़ने की राह में पुराने पावर परचेज एग्रीमेंट्स (PPAs) बड़ी मुश्किलें पैदा कर रहे हैं। ये लंबी अवधि के कॉन्ट्रैक्ट, जो बिजली उत्पादकों और वितरण कंपनियों के बीच बिजली आपूर्ति की शर्तों को तय करते हैं, उस दौर में बनाए गए थे जब बिजली की भारी कमी हुआ करती थी। अब ये, सौर और पवन ऊर्जा की ओर बढ़ते मौजूदा रुझान के साथ तालमेल नहीं बिठा पा रहे हैं। कॉन्ट्रैक्ट्स की कड़ाई है मुख्य समस्या रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, इन कॉन्ट्रैक्ट्स की सबसे बड़ी समस्या इनकी कड़ाई है। पहले, थर्मल पावर प्लांट्स को 'बेसलोड' पावर प्रदान करने के लिए डिज़ाइन किया गया था, यानी वे लगातार एक निश्चित मांग को पूरा करने के लिए चलते थे। इसलिए, कॉन्ट्रैक्ट्स में यह सुनिश्चित करने के लिए फिक्स्ड पेमेंट (निश्चित भुगतान) शामिल थे कि प्लांट्स अपनी लागत वसूल सकें। लेकिन, जैसे-जैसे सौर ऊर्जा की क्षमता बढ़ी है, ग्रिड को ऐसी पावर प्लांट्स की जरूरत है जो धूप के स्तर के आधार पर जल्दी से उत्पादन बढ़ा या घटा सकें। जब सौर ऊर्जा का उत्पादन अधिक होता है, तो कोयला संयंत्रों को अक्सर अपना उत्पादन कम करने के लिए कहा जाता है। कम घंटों तक चलने के बावजूद, इन प्लांट्स को पुराने कॉन्ट्रैक्ट शर्तों के तहत पूरा फिक्स्ड पेमेंट पाने का अधिकार है। वित्तीय बोझ और 'जनरेशन लॉक-इन' यह असंतुलन एक वित्तीय बोझ पैदा करता है। उपभोक्ताओं को अंततः उच्च कीमतों का भुगतान करना पड़ता है क्योंकि कोयला क्षमता की फिक्स्ड कॉस्ट अधिक बनी रहती है, भले ही उत्पन्न वास्तविक बिजली कम हो। CSE की रिपोर्ट ने आठ राज्यों के डेटा का विश्लेषण किया और पाया कि 6.1 गीगावाट (GW) पावर क्षमता ऐसे दीर्घकालिक कॉन्ट्रैक्ट्स से बंधी है जो 2040 और उसके बाद तक चलते हैं। यह 'जनरेशन लॉक-इन' (पीढ़ीगत बंधन) पावर सेक्टर की अधिक लचीली और संभावित रूप से सस्ती ऊर्जा स्रोतों को अपनाने की क्षमता को सीमित करता है। DISCOMs पर वित्तीय दबाव वितरण कंपनियां (DISCOMs), जो बिजली खरीदने और वितरित करने के लिए जिम्मेदार हैं, वित्तीय दबाव का सामना करना जारी रखती हैं। ये सख्त कॉन्ट्रैक्टुअल दायित्व उनकी वित्तीय लचीलेपन को सीमित करते हैं और उन्हें अपनी बिजली खरीद लागत को अनुकूलित करने से रोक सकते हैं। रिपोर्ट का सुझाव है कि चूंकि ये अधिकांश संपत्ति और वितरण कंपनियाँ सरकार के स्वामित्व वाली हैं, इसलिए कॉन्ट्रैक्ट्स के समाप्त होने का इंतजार करने या कानूनी लड़ाई पर भरोसा करने के बजाय इन समझौतों में बदलाव पर बातचीत करने का अवसर है। आगे क्या? CSE का अध्ययन मानक पावर परचेज एग्रीमेंट मॉडल को अपडेट करने की सिफारिश करता है ताकि विभिन्न ऊर्जा मांग चक्रों के दौरान परिचालन लचीलेपन और प्रदर्शन के लिए आवश्यकताओं को शामिल किया जा सके। यह राज्य-स्तरीय समीक्षाओं का भी आह्वान करता है ताकि यह सुनिश्चित किया जा सके कि खरीद पोर्टफोलियो एक आधुनिक, कम-कार्बन ऊर्जा प्रणाली के साथ संरेखित हों। निवेशकों और ऊर्जा हितधारकों के लिए, मुख्य निगरानी योग्य बिंदु संभावित नियामक परिवर्तन या राज्य-स्तरीय नीति अपडेट होंगे जो इन पुराने कॉन्ट्रैक्ट्स पर फिर से बातचीत को ट्रिगर कर सकते हैं। इस तरह के सुधार सिस्टम-व्यापी लागत को कम करने और पावर वितरण क्षेत्र के वित्तीय स्वास्थ्य में सुधार के लिए आवश्यक होंगे।

Odisha Urban Conclave: Experts Call For ‘Treat, Reuse And Recover’ Model For Wastewater

Policy and planning issues related to wastewater reuse also featured prominently during the discussions. Dr Nitin Bassi of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) shared perspectives on policies for treated wastewater reuse, while Subrata Chakraborty of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) highlighted planning challenges associated with safe and effective reuse. The Technical Symposium on Used Water Management, held as part of the Odisha Urban Conclave 2026 at Lok Seva Bhawan here on Sunday, called for a shift from the conventional “treat-and-dispose” approach to a “treat, reuse and recover” model for sustainable urban water management. Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, who attended the symposium as the Chief Guest, stressed the need for safe, economical and sustainable management of treated wastewater and sludge. He said wastewater should increasingly be viewed as a resource rather than merely a waste stream. The Minister emphasised coordinated efforts among government agencies, technical institutions, practitioners and technology providers to address the growing challenges of wastewater management in rapidly urbanising areas. H&UD Department Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee called for moving beyond simply treating and disposing of wastewater and focusing on its planned and safe reuse. She urged technocrats and professionals to develop practical, sustainable and scalable solutions to promote the reuse of treated water. The symposium brought together government officials, engineers, policymakers, academics, technocrats and industry representatives to discuss wastewater treatment, reuse, sludge management, resource recovery and urban drainage. Dr V. K. Chaurasia of CPHEEO shared national perspectives on best practices, technologies and policy frameworks for used water management. Representing the Odisha government, Er Prasanta Kumar Mohapatra of the H&UD Department spoke about the State’s experience in implementing selected Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) projects and highlighted challenges in wastewater treatment infrastructure. Experts from leading institutions also discussed emerging technologies and solutions. Dr Guruprasad Talekar and his team from IIT Palakkad presented developments in STP/FSTP sludge management and biosolids standards, while Prof Bhaskar Jyoti Deka of IIT Roorkee spoke on innovative wastewater treatment processes aimed at reuse and resource recovery. Prof Rajesh Roshan Dash of IIT Bhubaneswar discussed emerging aerobic and anaerobic wastewater treatment technologies and their potential applications in urban areas. Policy and planning issues related to wastewater reuse also featured prominently during the discussions. Dr Nitin Bassi of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) shared perspectives on policies for treated wastewater reuse, while Subrata Chakraborty of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) highlighted planning challenges associated with safe and effective reuse.

पर्यावरण संरक्षण के प्रति विद्यार्थि यों में जा गरूकता विकसित करने में स्कूलों की अहम भूमि का : डीईओ हरजिंदर

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के ग्रीन स्कूल प्रोग्राम के तहत जेम्स कैम्ब्रिज स्कूल, होशियारपुर में जिला शिक्षा अधिकारी (सेकेंडरी) हरजिंदर कौर के नेतृत्व में एक दिवसीय कार्यशाला का आयोजन किया गया। कार्यशाला का उद्देश्य स्कूलों में पर्यावरण अनुकूल गतिविधियों को बढ़ावा देना, अध्यापकों को पर्यावरण संरक्षण के प्रति जागरूक करना तथा विद्यालयों को पर्यावरणीय दृष्टि से अधिक टिकाऊ बनाने संबंधी जानकारी और व्यावहारिक समझ प्रदान करना था। कार्यशाला में जिला शिक्षा अधिकारी हरजिंदर कौर, उप जिला शिक्षा अधिकारी अमनदीप शर्मा, प्रिंसिपल शैलेंद्र ठाकुर, प्रिंसिपल तरलोचन सिंह, प्रिंसिपल रमनदीप कौर तथा जिला नोडल अधिकारी अमनप्रीत सहोता विशेष रूप से उपस्थित रहे। जिले के विभिन्न स्कूलों से लगभग एक हजार अध्यापकों ने इसमें भाग लिया। इस अवसर पर प्रीति शर्मा और आरती राणा ने रिसोर्स पर्सन तथा अमनप्रीत सहोता ने मंच संचालक की भूमिका निभाई।

India Ranks Second From Bottom in Environment Index

Meanwhile, Telangana has emerged as one of the worst‑performing states in the agriculture‑and‑land category of the State of India’s Environment 2026: In Figures report released earlier by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth. The report placed Goa, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Tripura and Odisha among the better‑performing states in the environment category. Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab and West Bengal were among the weakest performers. The assessment considered forests and biodiversity, climate, waste management and water resources.

Odisha Urban Conclave 2026: Experts Call for ‘Treat, Reuse and Recover’ Wastewater Mod

Experts at the Odisha Urban Conclave 2026 have called for a major shift in the way cities manage wastewater, advocating a “treat, reuse and recover” approach instead of the conventional practice of treating and disposing of used water. The call was made during the Technical Symposium on Used Water Management held at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. The event brought together government officials, engineers, policymakers, academics, technocrats and industry representatives to discuss sustainable solutions for urban wastewater management. Wastewater should be treated as a resource Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, who attended the symposium as chief guest, stressed the need for safe, economical and sustainable management of treated wastewater and sludge. He said wastewater should increasingly be viewed as a resource rather than merely a waste stream, particularly as rapid urbanisation puts greater pressure on existing water resources. The minister also emphasised greater coordination among government agencies, technical institutions, practitioners and technology providers to address the growing challenges of urban wastewater management. Focus on safe reuse of treated water H&UD Department Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee called for moving beyond simply treating wastewater and disposing of it. She stressed the importance of planned and safe reuse of treated water and urged technical experts and professionals to develop solutions that are practical, sustainable and scalable. The discussions focused on several aspects of used water management, including wastewater treatment, reuse, sludge management, resource recovery and urban drainage. Experts discuss new wastewater technologies Dr V.K. Chaurasia of the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) shared national perspectives on best practices, technologies and policy frameworks for used water management. Er Prasanta Kumar Mohapatra of the Odisha H&UD Department outlined the state’s experience with selected Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) projects and highlighted challenges related to wastewater treatment infrastructure. Researchers from leading IITs also presented emerging technologies and solutions. Dr Guruprasad Talekar and his team from IIT Palakkad discussed STP/FSTP sludge management and biosolids standards, while Prof Bhaskar Jyoti Deka of IIT Roorkee spoke about innovative wastewater treatment processes focused on reuse and resource recovery. Prof Rajesh Roshan Dash of IIT Bhubaneswar discussed emerging aerobic and anaerobic wastewater treatment technologies and their potential applications in urban areas. Policy and planning emerge as key concerns The symposium also examined the policy challenges surrounding treated wastewater reuse. Dr Nitin Bassi of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) shared perspectives on policies supporting treated wastewater reuse, while Subrata Chakraborty of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) highlighted planning challenges involved in ensuring safe and effective reuse. Er Abinash Roul, Engineer-in-Chief of Odisha’s Water Resources Department, discussed innovative city drainage systems and the need for integrated urban water infrastructure. Industry showcases wastewater solutions The event concluded with an Industry Showcase featuring technologies designed to improve urban wastewater management. Solutions presented included low-footprint STPs, decentralised wastewater treatment systems, wastewater conveyance solutions, ETP and STP technologies, aerated wetlands, in-situ lake and nala remediation, and mechanised sewer and sludge management. The discussions highlighted the need for stronger policy support, technological innovation and closer collaboration between the government, academia and industry. The overall focus was on strengthening Odisha’s urban water security while moving towards a more sustainable and circular approach to water management.

Odisha emphasises sustainable reuse and resource recovery

The Technical Symposium on Used Water Management, organised as part of the Odisha Urban Conclave 2026, was held at the Lok Seva Bhawan here on Sunday. Senior government officials, engineers, policymakers, academicians, technocrats and industry representatives participated in the symposium and deliberated on sustainable, safe and economically viable approaches to wastewater treatment, reuse and resource recovery. Housing & Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra emphasised the growing importance of effective used water management in the rapidly urbanising landscape. Addressing the gathering, the Minister stressed the need for safe and economical management of treated wastewater and sludge through sustainable technologies. He also called for greater focus on solutions that can transform wastewater from a waste stream into a valuable resource. Dr Mahapatra highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts among government agencies, technical institutions, practitioners and technology providers to address the challenges of urban wastewater management. The deliberations reflected Odisha’s commitment to innovative and sustainable approaches for water security, environmental protection and resource recovery. Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, emphasised the need to move beyond merely treating and disposing of wastewater towards planned and safe reuse of treated wastewater. She called upon technocrats and professionals to develop practical, sustainable and scalable solutions that can facilitate the effective reuse of treated water. She stressed the importance of stronger technological and institutional interventions to make treated wastewater an integral part of sustainable urban water management. The symposium brought together national perspectives, State-level experience and technological expertise. Dr. V. K. Chaurasia, CPHEEO, shared insights on national best practices, technologies, policy perspectives and the future vision for used water management. Er. Prasanta Kumar Mohapatra, H&UD Department, shared the state’s experience in used water management, including the implementation of selected Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) projects. He highlighted the practical challenges and lessons emerging from wastewater treatment infrastructure in Odisha. A key session focused on sludge management and resource recovery. Dr. Guruprasad Talekar and his team from IIT Palakkad presented advances in STP/FSTP sludge management, including state-of-the-art technologies and developments relating to bio-solids standards in India. The session highlighted the potential for recovering valuable resources from sludge while reducing the environmental impact of conventional disposal practices. Prof. Bhaskar Jyoti Deka, Department of Hydrology, IIT Roorkee, spoke on innovative wastewater treatment processes for reuse and resource recovery. His presentation highlighted emerging approaches to improve treatment efficiency and create opportunities for safe reuse of treated wastewater and recovery of resources. The technical sessions were further enriched by Prof. Rajesh Roshan Dash, IIT Bhubaneswar, who discussed emerging aerobic and anaerobic wastewater treatment processes and their potential applications in meeting the changing requirements of urban wastewater management. The policy and planning aspects of wastewater reuse were also discussed. Dr. Nitin Bassi, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), shared perspectives on policies for reuse of treated wastewater, while Shri Subrata Chakraborty, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), spoke on the planning challenges involved in safe and effective reuse of treated water. The symposium also covered urban drainage and integrated water infrastructure. Er. Abinash Roul, Engineer-in-Chief, Department of Water Resources, Government of Odisha, presented on innovative city drainage systems and their role in sustainable urban water management. The technical deliberations were followed by an Industry Showcase (Technology Pitch), featuring innovative solutions in low-footprint STP technologies, decentralised wastewater treatment, wastewater conveyance, ETP and STP technologies, aerated wetlands, in-situ lake and nala remediation, and mechanised sewer and sludge management. The symposium provided an important platform for bringing together policy, technology, research and implementation perspectives on used water management. The deliberations emphasised that the future of urban water management lies not only in effective wastewater treatment but also in its safe reuse and resource recovery. The overarching message from the symposium was the need to move from a “treat-and-dispose” approach to a “treat, reuse and recover” model, supported by appropriate policies, innovative technologies, robust planning and collaboration among government, academia, industry and the technocrat community. Such an approach can significantly strengthen Odisha’s urban water security, environmental sustainability and transition towards a circular water economy.