CSE launches an analysis of the sanitation chain in 66 cities of Uttar Pradesh through, SFDs

New Delhi, February 12, 2019: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has launched report on Managing Septage in Cities of Uttar Pradesh-An analysis of the sanitation chain in 66 cities of Uttar Pradesh in two Volumes. 

The reports were launched by Mr Bhure Lal, Chairman, Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority, Ms Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE, Sudhir Mishra, Resident Editor, Nav Bharat Times, Lucknow, Dr Mahreen Matto, Programme, Water Programme, CSE and Dr Suresh Kumar Rohilla, Senior Director, Water Programme, CSE. 

CSE did the study across the sanitation chain in 66 cities of Uttar Pradesh. To understand the gaps in the service provision, SFDs were developed for each of the cities. Depending on the population, these cities were classified into four clusters and SFDs for these clusters were also developed to understand the key issues the cities, clustered together, are facing. Based on the analysis action plans for each cluster is proposed. 

Volume1 - “Managing Septage in Cities of Uttar Pradesh - An analysis of the sanitation chain in 66 cities, through SFDs” briefly describes about each stage of sanitation chain, analysis through cluster SFDs and also proposes action plan. 

Volume 2 - “Assessment of Excreta Management- Factsheets for 66 cities in Uttar Pradesh”, is a compilation of SFD factsheets of each of the 66 cities.

Both these volumes were recently released at the CSE’s Annual Media Conclave – the Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2019, which was attended about 100 journalists, environmentalists and experts from all over India, coming together in a state-of-the-art symposium to discuss, debate and demystify the year’s key issues of environment and development. 

A sanitation snapshot of urban Uttar Pradesh, India clearly indicates that households with onsite sanitation systems like septic tanks far exceed those with sewer connections, hence septage management in the state becomes an integral part of sustainable sanitation.

The SFDs of Urban Uttar Pradesh prepared based on data collected from 66 cities. Following are the key observations: 

• More than 60% of the total population is dependent on onsite sanitation systems like septic tank and pit latrine. Out of which, the faecal sludge and septage of 7% of the population is treated
• Septic tank effluent (overflow) of 50% of the population is discharged in open drains, of which, 2% is treated by tapping of nullahs and drains
• 29% of the population is connected to sewerage network. Of which, sewage of 16% of the population is treated
• More than 80% of the sewerage network in state is found in 7 cities (out of 635)
• Sanitation provision through sewer system increases with the increase in population of cities
• Excreta of 8% of the population is discharged directly in open drains
• Excreta of 27% of the total population is safely managed. 7% of which is safely stored in containment systems
• No city is 100% sewered
• 4% of the population still defecates in the open 

What makes this event unique among CSE’s AAD meets is its almost exclusive audience: journalists from across the country. The earlier AAD meets had primarily been a gathering of stakeholders engaging in a dialogue on a specific issue under discussion. The 2019 event focuses more on multiple concerns tagged to the state of India’s environment