अक्टूबर से फरवरी तक दिल्ली के फेफड़ों में जहरीली हवा ही जाती है. कभी कम तो कभी ज्यादा. लेकिन 14 दिसंबर से 17 दिसंबर के बीच ऐसा क्या हो गया कि हालात इत... दिल्ली के प्रदूषण की असली वजह क्या है? सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट की स्टडी के मुताबिक इस साल अक्टूबर से नवंबर तक दिल्ली में वायु प्रदूषण की असली..
Just 28 per cent of about 20,236 million liters per day urban wastewater generated in India undergoes treatment, leaving the remaining i.e. 72 per cent untreated and flowing into rivers, lakes, and land, a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed. The largest gap in wastewater treatment is seen in states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Haryana. The untreated water not only causes environmental damage but also presents an opportunity to tackle India’s growing urban water crisis due to rapid urbanization, industrial growth, population expansion, and climate change, says the report ‘Waste to Worth: Managing India’s urban water crisis through wastewater reuse.’ It was released recently at a national workshop organized jointly by CSE and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. Speaking on the occasion, Sunita Narain, director general, CSE said: “India faces significant water scarcity challenges due to rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, population expansion – and most importantly -- climate change. Wastewater reuse can be a key part of the strategy to address these concerns and promote water circularity and sustainability.” Rajiv Kumar Mital, director general, NMCG echoed similar views and said that “Using and disposing treated water, without harnessing its potential, means we are losing out on utilising an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful.” The Jal Shakti Ministry has mandated that cities must recycle and reuse at least 20 per cent of the water they consume. The report also highlights good examples -- cases of states that have introduced policies to encourage treated wastewater reuse.” Maharashtra, for instance, mandates industries in urban areas to use treated wastewater. Gujarat targets 100 per cent reuse with applications in agriculture and industry, and Tamil Nadu promotes reuse for industrial and urban greening projects. At the national level, the National Urban Sanitation Policy (NUSP) and the Namami Gange Programme emphasise wastewater management and reuse as key components of water security initiatives. Cities like Nagpur, Benguluru and Chennai have taken the lead in implementing wastewater reuse practices. Nagpur supplies treated wastewater to power plants, significantly reducing freshwater usage, while Benguluru utilises it for agriculture, lake revival and groundwater recharge. Chennai has adopted treated wastewater for industrial applications, urban landscaping and groundwater recharge. While advancements in decentralised and cost-effective treatment technologies can address infrastructure deficits, the report also calls for public-private partnerships that can help mobilise investments for scaling up reuse projects, and capacity-building initiatives to improve awareness and acceptance among urban managers and communities.
A mere 28 per cent of urban wastewater and sewage generated in India undergoes treatment, while the remainder is discharged untreated into rivers, lakes, and land, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The report, released on Monday, highlights the significant challenges India faces in managing its urban water resources. The report suggests that India’s urban water crisis could be alleviated if all wastewater were treated and reused effectively. Rajiv Kumar Mital, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), emphasised the importance of harnessing the potential of treated water. "Using and disposing of treated water without harnessing its potential means we are losing out on utilising an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful," he said. CSE Director General Sunita Narain attributed India’s water scarcity to rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, population expansion, and the effects of climate change. She highlighted the potential of wastewater reuse as a solution. "Wastewater reuse can be a key part of the strategy to address these concerns and promote water circularity and sustainability. In fact, there is an opportunity for turning wastewater into water again, and this is what our report's title — Waste to Worth — is referring to," Narain stated. The Jal Shakti Ministry has mandated that cities recycle and reuse at least 20 per cent of their consumed water. Subrata Chakraborty, senior programme manager of the CSE water programme, called this mandate an essential step toward a sustainable and climate-resilient future. "This is in line with the belief that promoting a circular economy is essential for managing the ever-growing demand for freshwater," Chakraborty explained.
Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) tipped into the “severe” zone on Monday evening for the first time in 23 days, snapping a period of relatively reprieve for the city and prompting central panel to reimpose a host of curbs on construction and vehicles in NCR as part of stages 3 and 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap). The Capital recorded a 24-hour average AQI of 379 at 4pm on Monday, with the number rising to 401 at 10pm, as pollution levels spiked dramatically in two days. Delhi clocked an AQI of 294 (poor) at 4pm on Sunday and 193 (moderate) at the same time on Saturday. This deterioration was largely due to a significant drop in wind speeds that allowed local pollutants to concentrate, said weather experts. While initially, Stage 3 was announced during the day, a steady increase in AQI prompted CAQM to hold an emergency meeting late in the evening, and invoking Stage 4 with immediate effect across NCR. Grap Stage 3 brings with it a ban on BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar, blanket curbs on private construction and demolitions, along with restrictions on the use of stone crushers, mining and associated activities. It also restricts Delhi-registered Diesel operated medium goods vehicles (MGVs) to BS-4 standards or below, in Delhi, along with BS-4 and lower diesel operated light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi from plying in Delhi. The only exception being vehicles carrying essential commodities or providing essential services. Further, as part of stages 3 and 4 of GRAP, all construction in NCR — both private and public projects are now halted. Other vehicular restrictions under Stage 4 include stopping entry of trucks into Delhi (except CNG, LNG, electric, BS-4 diesel or those involved in essential or emergency services) and a ban plying of BS-4 and lower heavy vehicles, unless they are involved in essential or emergency services. Further all classes in schools barring classes 10 and 12 in Delhi and its neighbouring districts will also have to shift to “hybrid” lessons, said the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in a notification issued on Monday. As part of Stage-3, an order was issued by the Delhi’s Directorate of Education (DoE) on Monday which moved primary classes to hybrid, however, an order for senior classes was yet to be shared till the time of filing this copy. Monday’s 4pm reading was Delhi’s highest AQI since 412 (“severe”) on November 23. Before Monday, Delhi recorded only one “very poor” air day this month – on December 8, when the AQI was 302. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies an AQI between 0-50 as “good”, between 51 and 100 as “satisfactory”, between 101 and 200 as “moderate”, between 201 and 300 as “poor”, between 301 and 400 as “very poor”, and over 400 as “severe”. “Strong surface northwesterly winds prevailed in Delhi-NCR till December 15. However, wind speeds dropped in the last 24 hours due to an approaching western disturbance. Winds, which were between 10-15 km/hr till Sunday, are now averaging less than 5km/hr. They are also becoming calm at night-time, further trapping local pollutants,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president at Skymet. Palawat said the winds may remain slow on Tuesday, before gathering speed from Wednesday. “We may see an improvement in AQI from Wednesday,” he said. Potent surface winds this year gave the Capital its cleanest first half of December ever since the AQI was launched in 2015. The average AQI from December 1 to 15 this year was 238, considerably better than the previous low of 301 in 2022. Delhi’s AQI typically nosedives in the second half of December when conditions once again become adverse, due to dipping temperatures and the return of dense fog. Data from last December showed the average AQI was 348, with three “severe” air days recorded — all in the second half of the month. The lowest AQI recorded last year’s December was 286, while the highest was 450 which came on December 23. Stage 3 and 4 measures under Grap have been implemented in Delhi after 11days. Stage 3 came into force on November 15, followed by Stage 4 measures on November 18. These were lifted on December 5, after a go-ahead from the Supreme Court. However, the apex court at the time said that Stage 3 should be imposed when the AQI crosses 350, instead of the original threshold of 400. It similarly asked for Stage 4 to be imposed at 400, instead of 450. “IMD and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) noted that the average AQI of Delhi has crossed the 350 mark and is showing an increasing trend owing to extremely calm wind conditions and buildup of an inversion layer also adversely affecting the vertical mixing height. Forecasts also indicate a likelihood of the average AQI of Delhi to fluctuate between the higher end of ‘Very Poor’ to ‘Severe’ category in the coming days owing to continued adverse meteorological conditions,” said CAQM in a statement, asking the NCR state pollution control boards to strictly implement stage-3 measures, in addition to the existing stage-1 and stage-2 measures in the region. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said the respite was primarily down to improved meteorological conditions such as strong winds and better ventilation. “The cold is once again returning, along with moisture, which is again trapping pollutants locally,” she said.
social 72% of Urban Wastewater in India Flows into Water Bodies, Land Untreated: Report A meagre 28 per cent of the urban wastewater and sewage generated in India undergoes treatment while the rest flows directly into rivers, lakes and land, according to a report by the think tank Centre for Science and Environment. India's urban water crisis could ease if all the wastewater is treated and reused, the report released here on Monday said. Rajiv Kumar Mital, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), said, "Using and disposing of treated water without harnessing its potential means we are losing out on utilising an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful." Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Director General Sunita Narain said India faces significant water scarcity challenges due to rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, population expansion and, most importantly, climate change. "Wastewater reuse can be a key part of the strategy to address these concerns and promote water circularity and sustainability." "In fact, there is an opportunity for turning wastewater into water again and this is what our report's title -- Waste to Worth -- is referring to," Narain added. The Jal Shakti Ministry has mandated that cities must recycle and reuse at least 20 per cent of the water they consume. Subrata Chakraborty, senior programme manager, water programme, CSE, said, "This is in line with the belief that promoting a circular economy is essential for achieving a sustainable and climate-resilient future and for managing the ever-growing demand for freshwater."
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2494 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17TH DECEMBER 2024 DEATHS DUE TO POOR NUTRITIOUS DIET
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has highlighted India’s severe urban water crisis, revealing that only 28% of the country’s urban wastewater and sewage is treated. The remaining untreated water is discharged into rivers, lakes, and land, worsening the overall water scarcity. The CSE report, released on Monday, calls for effective wastewater treatment and reuse as key solutions to India’s growing water challenges. Treating and reusing all urban wastewater could significantly alleviate the crisis and promote long-term water sustainability. Rajiv Kumar Mital, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), stressed the importance of utilizing treated wastewater, noting that ignoring its potential is a missed opportunity. CSE Director General Sunita Narain linked India’s water scarcity to rapid urbanization, industrial growth, population increase, and climate change. She emphasized that wastewater reuse is crucial for promoting water circularity and sustainability, turning wastewater back into a usable resource. In response to these concerns, the Jal Shakti Ministry has mandated that cities recycle and reuse at least 20% of their consumed water. Subrata Chakraborty, senior programme manager of the CSE water programme, called this mandate a critical step toward building a climate-resilient and sustainable future. The CSE report urges urgent action to treat and reuse urban wastewater, offering a valuable opportunity to transform waste into resources for India’s water-scarce future.
A meagre 28 per cent of the urban wastewater and sewage generated in India undergoes treatment while the rest flows directly into rivers, lakes and land, according to a report by the think tank Centre for Science and Environment. India’s urban water crisis could ease if all the wastewater is treated and reused, the report released here on Monday said. Rajiv Kumar Mital, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), said, “Using and disposing of treated water without harnessing its potential means we are losing out on utilizing an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful.” Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Director General Sunita Narain said India faces significant water scarcity challenges due to rapid urbanization, industrial growth, population expansion and, most importantly, climate change. “Wastewater reuse can be a key part of the strategy to address these concerns and promote water circularity and sustainability.” “In fact, there is an opportunity for turning wastewater into water again and this is what our report’s title — Waste to Worth — is referring to,” Narain added. The Jal Shakti Ministry has mandated that cities must recycle and reuse at least 20 per cent of the water they consume. Subrata Chakraborty, senior programme manager, water programme, CSE, said, “This is in line with the belief that promoting a circular economy is essential for achieving a sustainable and climate-resilient future and for managing the ever-growing demand for freshwater.”
A meagre 28 percent of the urban wastewater and sewage generated in India undergoes treatment while the rest flows directly into rivers, lakes and land, according to a report by the think tank Centre for Science and Environment. India’s urban water crisis could ease if all the wastewater is treated and reused, the report released here on Monday said. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) Director General Rajiv Kumar Mittal said, “Using and disposing of treated water without harnessing its potential means we are losing out on utilising an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful.” Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Director General Sunita Narain said India faces significant water scarcity challenges due to rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, population expansion and, most importantly, climate change. “Wastewater reuse can be a key part of the strategy to address these concerns and promote water circularity and sustainability.” “In fact, there is an opportunity for turning wastewater into water again and this is what our report’s title – waste to worth – is referring to,” Narain added. The jal shakti ministry has mandated that cities must recycle and reuse at least 20 percent of the water they consume. Subrata Chakraborty, senior programme manager, water programme, CSE, said, “This is in line with the belief that promoting a circular economy is essential for achieving a sustainable and climate-resilient future and for managing the ever-growing demand for freshwater.” (PTI)
A meagre 28 per cent of the urban wastewater and sewage generated in India undergoes treatment while the rest flows directly into rivers, lakes and land, according to a report by the think tank Centre for Science and Environment. India's urban water crisis could ease if all the wastewater is treated and reused, the report released here on Monday said. Rajiv Kumar Mital, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), said, "Using and disposing of treated water without harnessing its potential means we are losing out on utilising an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful." Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Director General Sunita Narain said India faces significant water scarcity challenges due to rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, population expansion and, most importantly, climate change. "Wastewater reuse can be a key part of the strategy to address these concerns and promote water circularity and sustainability." "In fact, there is an opportunity for turning wastewater into water again and this is what our report's title -- Waste to Worth -- is referring to," Sunita Narain added. The Jal Shakti Ministry has mandated that cities must recycle and reuse at least 20 per cent of the water they consume. Subrata Chakraborty, senior programme manager, water programme, CSE, said, "This is in line with the belief that promoting a circular economy is essential for achieving a sustainable and climate-resilient future and for managing the ever-growing demand for freshwater."
A mere 28 per cent (20,236 million litre per day (MLD) of the total urban wastewater and sewage generated in India, undergoes treatment, leaving a substantial 72 per cent untreated, which is very conveniently allowed to flow into rivers, lakes and land, says a new report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). All this treated water – and the remaining untreated amount if treated can ease India’s urban water crisis, says the report titled Waste to Worth: Managing India’s urban water crisis through wastewater reuse, was released on Monday by Sunita Narain, director general, CSE and Rajiv Kumar Mital, director general, national mission for clean Ganga (NMCG). Narain said: “India faces significant water scarcity challenges due to rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, population expansion – and most importantly -- climate change. Wastewater reuse can be a key part of the strategy to address these concerns and promote water circularity and sustainability.” “In fact, there is an opportunity for turning wastewater into water again, and this is what our report’s title – Waste to Worth -- is referring to,” Narain added. Releasing the report, Rajiv Mital said: “Using and disposing treated water, without harnessing its potential, means we are losing out on utilising an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful.” The Jal Shakti Ministry has mandated that cities must recycle and reuse at least 20 per cent of the water they consume. Says Subrata Chakraborty, senior programme manager, water programme, CSE: “This is in line with the belief that promoting a circular economy is essential for achieving a sustainable and climate-resilient future, and for managing the ever-growing demand for freshwater.” The report also highlights good examples -- cases of states that have introduced policies to encourage treated wastewater reuse. Maharashtra, for instance, mandates industries in urban areas to use treated wastewater. Gujarat targets 100 per cent reuse with applications in agriculture and industry, and Tamil Nadu promotes reuse for industrial and urban greening projects. Sumita Singhal, programme manager, water, CSE, says: “Upscaling wastewater reuse faces challenges, including infrastructure gaps in sewage treatment and distribution, quality assurance to meet reuse standards, public resistance due to cultural beliefs, and the high operational costs of treatment facilities.” She adds: “The data implies that 28 per cent (20,236 MLD) treated water is immediately available for reuse. Aligning policies with urban planning and industrial needs can enhance adoption, while advancements in decentralised and cost-effective treatment technologies can address infrastructure deficits.” The report points out that public-private partnerships can help mobilise investments for scaling up reuse projects, and capacity-building initiatives can improve awareness and acceptance among urban managers and communities.
Of the total urban wastewater and sewage generated in India, a mere 28 per cent (20,236 million litre per day or MLD) undergoes treatment, leaving a substantial 72 per cent untreated and allowed to flow into rivers, lakes and land. All this treated water – and the remaining untreated amount if treated – holds an opportunity within itself: the opportunity to ease India’s urban water crisis, says a new report from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The report, titled Waste to Worth: Managing India’s urban water crisis through wastewater reuse, was released at a national workshop organised jointly by CSE and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. Sunita Narain, director general, CSE and Rajiv Kumar Mital, director general, NMCG addressed the inaugural session. Narain said: “India faces significant water scarcity challenges due to rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, population expansion – and most importantly — climate change. Wastewater reuse can be a key part of the strategy to address these concerns and promote water circularity and sustainability. In fact, there is an opportunity for turning wastewater into water again, and this is what our report’s title – Waste to Worth — is referring to.” Releasing the report, Rajiv Mital said: “Using and disposing treated water, without harnessing its potential, means we are losing out on utilising an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful.” The Jal Shakti Ministry has mandated that cities must recycle and reuse at least 20 per cent of the water they consume. Says Subrata Chakraborty, senior programme manager, water programme, CSE: “This is in line with the belief that promoting a circular economy is essential for achieving a sustainable and climate-resilient future, and for managing the ever-growing demand for freshwater.” The CSE report points out that the gap in total sewage water generated and its treatment is the highest in Uttar Pradesh, followed by the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Haryana (in that order). Says Chakraborty: “Having said that, the report also highlights good examples — cases of states that have introduced policies to encourage treated wastewater reuse.” Maharashtra, for instance, mandates industries in urban areas to use treated wastewater. Gujarat targets 100 per cent reuse with applications in agriculture and industry, and Tamil Nadu promotes reuse for industrial and urban greening projects. At the national level, the National Urban Sanitation Policy (NUSP) and the Namami Gange Programme emphasise wastewater management and reuse as key components of water security initiatives. Cities like Nagpur, Benguluru and Chennai have taken the lead in implementing wastewater reuse practices. Nagpur supplies treated wastewater to power plants, significantly reducing freshwater usage, while Benguluru utilises it for agriculture, lake revival and groundwater recharge. Chennai has adopted treated wastewater for industrial applications, urban landscaping and groundwater recharge. Sumita Singhal, programme manager, water, CSE, says: “Upscaling wastewater reuse faces challenges, including infrastructure gaps in sewage treatment and distribution, quality assurance to meet reuse standards, public resistance due to cultural beliefs, and the high operational costs of treatment facilities. The data implies that 28 per cent (20,236 MLD) treated water is immediately available for reuse. Aligning policies with urban planning and industrial needs can enhance adoption, while advancements in decentralised and cost-effective treatment technologies can address infrastructure deficits.” The CSE report points out that public-private partnerships can help mobilise investments for scaling up reuse projects, and capacity-building initiatives can improve awareness and acceptance among urban managers and communities. Explaining the joint efforts by CSE and NMCG, Chakraborty says: “CSE, in collaboration with NMCG, has been working on a capacity-building initiative aimed at ‘Making Ganga Basin Cities Water-Sensitive for Improved River Health and Flow’. The primary objectives of this initiative are to raise awareness and build the capacities of municipal and state-level officials, elected representatives and key stakeholders, including the NMCG team, to promote water-sensitive urban development. Additionally, the initiative seeks to enhance the integration of national programmes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, Atal Bhujal Yojana, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation), and the Swachh Bharat Mission for more effective implementation and synergy.”
India grapples with a significant urban water crisis, highlighted by a report which reveals that only 28% of urban wastewater receives treatment. The rest, alarmingly, ends up contaminating rivers, lakes, and the land. This crucial information was unveiled by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), underscoring the urgent need for enhanced wastewater management to mitigate this issue. Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Rajiv Kumar Mital, emphasized the importance of not only treating water but also utilizing it effectively. He stated, "Using and disposing of treated water without harnessing its potential means we are losing out on utilizing an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful." This highlights the potential benefits that could arise from addressing this pressing issue. Sunita Narain, Director General of CSE, pointed out that India's escalating water scarcity is propelled by rapid urbanization, industrial growth, burgeoning population, and notably, climate change. She stressed that reusing wastewater is a crucial strategy in combating these challenges, thereby advancing water sustainability and circularity. Narain's statement, "In fact, there is an opportunity for turning wastewater into water again and this is what our report's title -- Waste to Worth -- is referring to," encapsulates the report's essence and its vision for a sustainable future.
A meagre 28 per cent of the urban wastewater and sewage generated in India undergoes treatment while the rest flows directly into rivers, lakes and land, according to a report by the think tank Centre for Science and Environment. India's urban water crisis could ease if all the wastewater is treated and reused, the report released here on Monday said. Rajiv Kumar Mital, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), said, "Using and disposing of treated water without harnessing its potential means we are losing out on utilising an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful."
A meagre 28 per cent of the urban wastewater and sewage generated in India undergoes treatment while the rest flows directly into rivers, lakes and land, according to a report by the think tank Centre for Science and Environment. India's urban water crisis could ease if all the wastewater is treated and reused, the report released here on Monday said. Rajiv Kumar Mital, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), said, "Using and disposing of treated water without harnessing its potential means we are losing out on utilising an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful." Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Director General Sunita Narain said India faces significant water scarcity challenges due to rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, population expansion and, most importantly, climate change. "Wastewater reuse can be a key part of the strategy to address these concerns and promote water circularity and sustainability." "In fact, there is an opportunity for turning wastewater into water again and this is what our report's title -- Waste to Worth -- is referring to," Narain added. The Jal Shakti Ministry has mandated that cities must recycle and reuse at least 20 per cent of the water they consume. Subrata Chakraborty, senior programme manager, water programme, CSE, said, "This is in line with the belief that promoting a circular economy is essential for achieving a sustainable and climate-resilient future and for managing the ever-growing demand for freshwater."
new report by the Centre for Science and Environment reveals that only 28% of India's urban wastewater is treated, leaving the majority to pollute rivers, lakes, and land. This untreated wastewater exacerbates the country's growing water crisis, as stated in the report released this Monday. Experts argue that addressing this issue by treating and reusing wastewater could be a game-changer for India. Rajiv Kumar Mital, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, emphasized the need for leveraging treated water's full potential, pointing to its role as an invaluable resource. Sunita Narain, Director General of CSE, underscored the urgency of wastewater reuse, citing India's urbanization, industrial growth, and climate change as key drivers of water scarcity challenges. The Jal Shakti Ministry has mandated a 20% minimum recycling and reuse target for cities, aligning with a broader circular economy framework aimed at achieving sustainability and addressing freshwater demand.