1. Governance issues in Urban Sanitation in India
Puneet Srivastava

2. Structure of Presentation
Introduction to governance in urban sanitation and Key Challenges
Institutional Aspects of the Sanitation Sector
Economics, Pricing and Financing of the Sanitation Sector- Resource adequacy and post-project financing issue
Sanitation and Poverty 

3. Introduction
Post 1992: 74th Amendment to Constitution: Urban Sanitation rests with ULBs- SFC for financial resources
By 2030, over 40% of India’s population will be urban
Globally, 100 million people in urban areas resort to open defecation -Of these 48% are in India- JMP 2013
There are large gaps in urban sanitation service chain-37 million (12%) practice OD in urban India, 28 million (4%) people with individual toilets use unsanitary/ unimproved toilets , 30,004 MLD (79%) untreated wastewater is discharged in water bodies or in land
Swachh Bharat Mission ( urban), AMRUT and Smart Cities Programme of central government covers the urban sanitation issues across a vide spectrum of cities and urban areas in India

4. Sanitation and Development: % Urban OD α State HDI (Composite index - LE index, Education index, Income index)

5. Key challenges in Governance- Urban Sanitation (1)
Speed: The pace of Urbanisation in India to fast to catch up on reforms, institutions, skill development and asset creation and maintenance. Very little data to support.
Innovations for localized contexts: Solutions of the developed world ( e.g. centralized sewerage systems) can not be replicated in totality in India due to lack of finances, lack of or rising costs of water, lack or rising costs of energy and lack of orientation for reuse of waste- Need for localized standardized solutions
Fractured Mandates : on water, sanitation and solid waste leads to poor accountabilities and service delivery
Cities are not able to cope with the pace of urbanization with regard to
Reforms
Institutions
Skill development
Asset creation and maintenance

6. Key challenges in Governance- Urban Sanitation (2)
Weak Capacity of ULBs: PPPs/ Outsourcing/JV Agreements use complex contracts often difficult for ULBs to adopt without external support, Creation and monitoring of Service-Level Agreements difficult for ULBs
Weak human resources with minimal training, Poorly designed Cadre and Recruitment Rules and dysfunctional internal systems – finance, land records, personnel etc.
Complex Urban poverty issues- Multiple factors: land rights/ permanent and seasonal migration/ beneficiary identification
Lack of finances and innovative financing mechanisms for post project O&M
Cities are not able to cope with the pace of urbanization with regard to
Reforms
Institutions
Skill development
Asset creation and maintenance

7. Impact of Climate Change ( and DRR?)
Impacts on Sanitation Infrastructure and services
Floods
Sea level rise
Extreme events (heavy storms)
Increased Precipitation
Drought
Heat waves
Urban Sanitation vis a vis Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk reduction (The challenge of mainstreaming in policy and implementation framework)

8. Regulatory Framework for Urban Sanitation
Environment Protection Act, 1986
Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution Act), 1974
The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013
National Water Policy
Septage Management Advisory
Central Pollution Control Board
Municipal law
Central Agencies & Departments
Planning Laws
Building codes, master plans and local area planning
Institutional Arrangements

9. Regulatory Framework for urban sanitation
73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts
Environment Protection Act, 1986
General law covering all forms of environmental pollution
Powers to the central government to issue directions, make standards and take action in case of environment pollution
Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution Act), 1974
Prevention and control of water pollution
“Permits” or specific approval for discharge of wastewater
“Permits” for municipal discharge of wastewater and untreated sewage
Develop standards for treatment of municipal wastewater.
Powers of policy, enforcement and regulation to Centrol Pollution Control Board/ State Pollution Control Boards
The Water Cess Act, 1977
Metering and levy a cess on water payable by industries and by local authority entrusted with the duty of supplying water.
National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
Act establishing special environment court with jurisdiction over (civil) matters arising under any of environment laws and any “substantial question relating to environment”
Appeals against orders under environment laws, such as relating to clearances or permits

10. Regulatory Framework for urban sanitation
The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavenging Act, 2013
Prohibits the employment of manual scavengers to clean sewers and septic tanks without protective gear and equipment.
National Water Policy 2002
Prioritise water use for drinking, irrigation, hydropower, ecology, agriculture, non-agricultural industries, navigation, and other uses
Encourages private participation in planning and operation of water systems
National Water Policy, 2012
Encourages recycling and reuse of water after treatment to specified standards.
It provides for preferential tariffs that incentivize treated wastewater over freshwater.
Septage Management Advisory (Draft, MoUD, 2012)
Technology advisory note on Septage Management; makes mention of safe desludging, transportation and disposal (the latter in compliance with the EPA, Water Act, & MSW 2000 Rules)
Also provides options for treatment facilities for FS
Central Pollution Control Board
Lay down standards for treatment of sewage and trade effluents and for emissions from various polluting source
Evolve efficient methods for disposal of sewage and trade effluents on land
Develop reliable and economically viable methods of treatment of sewage, trade effluent and air pollution control equipment

11. What does it cost India’s economy?
Economic Impacts of Sanitation in India, WSP Report, 2011, Centre for Policy Research

12. Economic Benefits of Sanitation Interventions
Hutton & Bartram 2011, Centre for Policy Research

13. Resource Adequacy and Financing
Overall , the resources allocated for urban sanitation falls much short of needs for sustainable urban sanitation ( mostly Central grants)
Subsidies of 5000 Rs per Toilet for urban poor
50000 crore for 500 cities in AMRUT
Life Cycle Approach in urban sanitation project planning missing leaving O&M costs largely unfunded- Cycle of Build-Neglect- Rebuild

14. Sanitation and Urban Poor
Source: census2011

15. Urban Poor
Although improved coverage- Access , Equity and Sustainability major challenges for urban poor..
No significant enhancement in access and sustainability over a period of time
Sustainable models for community toilet/public toilet missing often
Poor FSM leads to slippages and detrimental to abolition of manual scavenging

16. Thank you
No municipality can cope with insanitation and congestion by the simple process of taxation and paid services. This vital reform is possible only by whole-sale and voluntary co-operation of the people both rich and poor.
Mahatma Gandhi in Young India, ‘25