7,000 villages in the state will get safe faecal sludge management

A spokesperson for the Rural Development Department stated that after becoming open defecation free, Himachal Pradesh is now moving toward the next phase of rural sanitation. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural), a significant initiative has been launched for the scientific management of fecal sludge in rural areas of the state. Under this initiative, the Rural Development Department and the Jal Shakti Department are jointly developing a system for co-treatment of fecal sludge at identified sewage treatment plants across the state. This initiative will benefit approximately 7,000 villages in the state.
He explained that most households in rural areas use septic tanks or single fecal pits to collect toilet waste. Over time, these tanks accumulate feces, mud, and other waste, known as fecal sludge. Often, these tanks are not cleaned timely and fecal waste is not safely managed. Consequently, this waste is dumped in the open, into drains, ditches, rivers, or forests. This pollutes water sources and increases the risk of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid.
The spokesperson stated that to address this problem, fecal sludge management is being implemented in the state as the next step in rural sanitation. Its objective is to ensure the safe collection, transportation, treatment, and scientific management of fecal waste from septic tanks.
Due to Himachal Pradesh’s mountainous terrain, extensive forest cover, a lack of suitable land, and high operation and maintenance costs, establishing separate fecal sludge treatment plants is not practical. Based on this recommendation, the WASH Institute, which provides technical support in liquid waste management, has adopted a co-treatment model at the existing sewage treatment plant, which is considered a practical, cost-effective, and sustainable solution.
He explained that under this model, instead of establishing separate fecal sludge treatment plants, the necessary infrastructure is being developed within existing STPs. Through these, fecal sludge removed from septic tanks will be brought to the STP and scientifically treated along with sewage. This will eliminate the need for new plants, reduce costs, and ensure better utilization of existing STPs.
He said that a State Level Approval Committee (SLAC), chaired by the Secretary of the Rural Development Department, has been formed to approve and technically review these projects. So far, 30 co-treatment projects have been approved in the state after the committee reviewed the STP capacity, estimated fecal sludge volume, cost, and other technical aspects.
The Rural Development Department has released approximately ₹15 crore to the Jal Shakti Department for the construction of these projects. A memorandum of understanding has also been signed between the two departments in this regard. Among the approved projects, fecal sludge co-treatment work has already begun at the STPs in Palampur and Sundernagar, and the surrounding rural areas are beginning to benefit.
The spokesperson stated that the goal is to implement co-treatment systems in all approved STPs by March 31, 2027. This will ensure safe and scientific management of fecal waste from septic tanks in thousands of villages across the state. This will protect water sources, promote environmental protection, improve public health, and strengthen rural sanitation.
He said that Himachal Pradesh has achieved the milestone of becoming an open defecation-free state. Now, the next goal is to create a Himachal with safe fecal sludge management, ensuring long-term protection of sanitation, the environment, and public health.
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