Outreach

The National Workshop on "Waste to Worth: Managing India's Urban Water Crisis through Wastewater Reuse" explored critical issues surrounding the reuse of treated wastewater. The keynote address was delivered by Rajeev Mittal, Director General, NMCG, and Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE. Sunita Narain remarked, "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". Both speakers emphasised the need to address critical challenges such as missing incentives, ineffective risk mitigation strategies, and the absence of standardised pricing models. Key recommendations included listing state-level policies, mapping cities based on their water treatment capacities, and identifying reuse opportunities to scale sustainable practices.

The workshop was divided into three sessions, each focusing on specific themes:

Session 1: Lessons from States – Wastewater Treatment and Reuse from Utilities
This session appreciated state-level efforts in wastewater treatment and its safe reuse. It featured a panel discussion with five distinguished speakers, including members from the Delhi Jal Board and a former CEO of the Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company. 

Dr. Sumita Singhal (CSE) highlighted India’s critical water stress, where demand significantly exceeds supply, emphasising the need to utilise treated wastewater effectively. The discussion examined practices in states such as Haryana, Delhi, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, revealing that while progress is underway, challenges remain. These include gaps in implementation, high costs of tertiary treatment, and the absence of comprehensive action plans.

Session 2: Prioritising Framework for Reuse of Treated Wastewater
This session, presented by Faraz Ahmad (CSE), centred on creating state-specific frameworks for wastewater reuse. The four-member panel, which included experts from GIZ and CWC, provided valuable insights into strategic prioritization. The session focused on Uttar Pradesh, a state grappling with groundwater dependency and water stress. Examples from cities like Kanpur, Agra, and Mathura showcased successful wastewater reuse for irrigation and industrial purposes. A structured framework was proposed, including situational analysis, mapping key demand centers, prioritising districts based on stress and capacity, and developing actionable reuse plans tailored to local contexts.

Session 3: Policy and Governance Frameworks for Wastewater Reuse
The final session was chaired by a former Senior Water and Sanitation Specialist from the World Bank, with a panel that included representatives from the Haryana Water Resource Authority and CPHEEO. Anurag Vijay Naidu (CSE) introduced a city-level template for the safe reuse of treated water. This comprehensive guide provided a step-by-step approach for local governments to plan and implement reuse projects. The discussion further emphasised on the key components included demand and gap assessments, mapping high-potential sectors, establishing cost and pricing mechanisms, defining robust institutional frameworks, monitoring compliance with water quality standards, and developing phased project timelines.

In-toto, the workshop emphasised the need for robust policies, effective city-level implementation, and cross-sectoral collaboration to scale up the reuse of treated wastewater. By integrating treated water reuse into sectors such as agriculture, industry, and urban development, the workshop aimed to pave the way for sustainable water management practices in India, addressing both current challenges and future demands.

Image:

 " K. Shruti Prakash [extreme left], Research Associate, NEF with
Smt. Sunita Narain [extreme right], DG, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). "

Recently, the members of the NEF team had the privilege of attending a national conference
organised by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and the Delhi School of Economics (DSE) on the profoundly pertinent topic of “Inequality, Economic Growth and Inclusion” bringing together policymakers, academics, and experts from diverse fields to engage in meaningful discussions. 

Speakers, Prof Thomas Piketty (Paris School of Economics), Prof Sachin Chaturvedi (DG RIS), Dr Shamika Ravi (Member, Economic Advisory Council to the PM) , Dr V. Anantha Nageswaram (Chief Economic Advisor, GOI) , Dr Ravindra H. Dholakia (Member, RBI Central Board), and Prof Ram Singh (Director, DSE). 

The event explored the intricate interplay between inequality, economic progress, and inclusive development, fostering dialogue on data and numbers. 

Prof Sachin Chaturvedi emphasised on the role of the software sector in addressing the inequality. The reduction in inequality in bringing inclusion through increase in demand was the core point. 

Prof Piketty highlighted the brief history of ‘Equality’ through the World Inequality Report. He mentioned South Africa to be more equal than India. He also highlighted the issue of Gender Inequality and it to be exceedingly high. As per the Professor, tax revenue is one of the key methods to reduce inequality. 

Dr Shamika Ravi talked about the micro details of the trajectory of reducing inequality. She corroborated it with data which said that the Gini Coefficient for rural areas fell from 0.283 to 0.266. And for urban areas, it fell from 0.363 to 0.314. The significant point discussed was the falling consumption inequality. She talked about the stagnation in labour productivity and wages 

CEA Dr V Anantha Nageswaram talked about inequality vis a vis mobility and inequality vis a vis absolute poverty and highlighted the interplay among geography, history, climate, size and emissions. He further pointed out that in a span of seven  years, the number of the rich increased by 500 percent. He underplayed   the idea of taxing the rich as  a way of addressing the problem of inequality. . 

Dr Ravindra H. Dholakia brought out the litmus test for inequality  i.e.,  reduction in poverty. He talked about Ramsay’s model to explain long term economic growth. He explained how interest rate determination by the central bank can help in increasing or decreasing investments and through that, inequality. 

By bridging data-driven evidence with theoretical frameworks, the event reaffirmed the need for collaborative efforts to build a more equitable and inclusive society.The National Economic Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering our community through various programs and initiatives. Our mission is to make a positive impact and create a better future for all.