Proceedings of National Workshop on the occasion of World Water Day Theme: Sustainable and Inclusive Sanitation and Water for All

Date: 21st and 22nd March 2023
Time: 09:30 am onwards
Venue: Auditorium, Urban Training and Research Centre and Local Bodies Directorate, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 

To commemorate World Water Day 2023, the Department of Urban Development (DoUD) UP and Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) jointly organized a two-day national workshop: "Sustainable and Inclusive Sanitation and Water for All’ on 21-22 March 2023. The workshop’s aim and objective was to share the journey of this progress in UP and to learn from other states for their work in sustainable and inclusive sanitation and water management. The workshop discussed and deliberated on policy and program actions and priorities for a successful transitioning from infrastructure provisioning to sustainable and inclusive sanitation. The workshop was chaired by Mr. Kaushal Kishore, Hon’ble Minister of State, MoHUA; Mr. Arvind Kumar Sharma, Hon’ble Minister, Urban Development, Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Durga Shankar Mishra (IAS), Chief Secretary UP; Ms Sunita Narain, Director General CSE; Mr. Amrit Abhijat (IAS), Principal Secretary; Mr. Ranjan Kumar, Secretary, DoUD; Mr. Anil Dhingra (IAS), Managing Director, UP Jal Nigam (Urban) and Ms. Neha Sharma (IAS), Director SBM, and AMRUT. During the workshop, Hon'ble Urban Development Minister, UP, Mr. Arvind Kumar Sharma inaugurated the 25 Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs) and 10 Co-treatment plants. These plants were constructed under AMRUT with technical support of CSE. Dignitaries also launched the following publication/research reports prepared by CSE with support of DoUD:

• Operation and Maintenance Cost of Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants in Uttar Pradesh
• Ease of Septage Management Tool
• Septage Management in Chunar Town – Towards Inclusive Urban Sanitation in Uttar Pradesh
• Septage Management in Bijnor Town – Towards Inclusive Urban Sanitation in Uttar Pradesh
• Septage Management in Jhansi Town – Towards Inclusive Urban Sanitation in Uttar Pradesh 

The workshop was attended by around 400 participants which includes officials from Municipal Corporations, Nagar Palika Parishad, Jal Kal and Jal Nigam, IWMI, Water Aid, DASRA and other sector experts. The workshop brought together experiences from other states in India and discussions on thematic topics - to make this a learning event for all. External speakers includes seven government officials from CPHEEO MoHUA, Odisha, Maharashtra, and NMCG. Eight sector experts from WASHi, CWAS-CEPT University, IIHS, UMC, CDD, ACWADAM, and Bhimrao Ambedkar University Lucknow. 

Post this workshop, around 50 participants visited the Co-treatment facility at Bharwara STP, Lucknow, organized jointly by DoUD and CSE.