SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is reusing none of the treated wastewater it generates, despite having 16 sewage treatment plants with a combined designed capacity of 129.19 million litres per day, the Union Government informed Parliament on Thursday.
Data tabled in the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs shows that while Jammu and Kashmir has an operational sewage treatment capacity of 73.64 MLD, the quantity of treated water reused or recycled in the Union Territory stands at zero. The disclosure places Jammu and Kashmir among several States and Union Territories where wastewater reuse has yet to translate into measurable outcomes under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation and its successor programme, AMRUT 2.0.
According to the Ministry’s reply, wastewater management and reuse fall under the State subject, with the Centre providing financial and technical support through schemes such as AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0. Nationally, under AMRUT, 889 sewerage and septage management projects worth Rs 34,467 crore have been grounded, creating an approved sewage treatment capacity of 6,299 MLD, of which 1,437 MLD has been developed specifically for recycling and reuse. Under AMRUT 2.0, launched on October 1, 2021, 583 sewerage and septage projects worth Rs 66,117.69 crore have been approved so far, covering 6,649 MLD of sewage treatment capacity, including 1,931 MLD earmarked for reuse.
The ministry stated that sewage treatment plants are designed to cater to projected populations over the next 15 years, which results in lower operational capacity during initial years. It also listed structural and operational constraints affecting full utilisation, including inadequate sewerage networks, limited household connections, high energy costs, shortage of skilled manpower, and lack of downstream infrastructure such as pipelines and assured offtake for treated water.
As per data submitted by States and Union Territories in their City Water Balance Plans in 2021, the national picture shows a wide gap between installed and operational capacity, and uneven reuse outcomes. Across the country, 1,754 STPs have a total designed capacity of 36,543.2 MLD, with an operational capacity of 28,304.45 MLD. Of this, 6,534.49 MLD of treated wastewater is being reused or reclaimed.
In contrast to Jammu and Kashmir’s zero reuse, several States reported significant recycling of treated wastewater. Gujarat reused 1,108.79 MLD, Maharashtra 1,211.11 MLD, Karnataka 1,053.31 MLD, Tamil Nadu 240.22 MLD and Rajasthan 448.32 MLD. Delhi reported reuse of 421.59 MLD, while Haryana reused 278.07 MLD. Other regions, including Ladakh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Meghalaya, also reported no reuse of treated wastewater despite having treatment infrastructure.
To address these gaps, the ministry said it has introduced the “Jal Hi AMRIT” reform initiative under AMRUT 2.0 to incentivise States and Union Territories to improve the performance of sewage treatment plants and ensure treated effluent meets environmental standards on a sustained basis. Under this initiative, Water Resource Recovery Cells have been established in 25 States and Union Territories to plan, monitor and scale resource recovery and reuse interventions.
The ministry also highlighted Andhra Pradesh as a case study in reuse policy implementation. The State has established 129 STPs with an installed capacity of 703.65 MLD and reuses 123.02 MLD of treated water for industrial, horticultural and agricultural purposes. Andhra Pradesh’s treated water reuse policy mandates the use of recycled wastewater by industries, bulk consumers and railways within a 10-kilometre radius of urban local bodies, while offering treated water free of cost.
