Harsh Vardhan

India's journey towards cleaner waters has been a complex and often contradictory affair. While it strives to meet its environmental goals, the implementation of sewage treatment standards has been fraught with challenges.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been at the forefront of environmental regulation, often stepping in to fill gaps in governance and pushing for more stringent standards to protect the environment. One such instance is its controversial approach to sewage management and the uniform standards it imposed for sewage treatment plants (STPs) across the country.

The evolution of legislative framework for water pollution in India

Contrary to popular belief, the technology to treat sewage and to convert it to potable quality has existed for about 60 years now. Windhoek, (the capital of Namibia) has been treating wastewater and using it for potable purposes since 1968.

Inadequate sanitation facilities result in environmental degradation and public health risks. A survey by the British Medical Journal in 2006 found access to water and sanitation crucial for health and longevity.