Multiple factors remain a hurdle in setting up centralised sewer networks, Kerala govt. informs NGT

The Kerala government has come up with a plan for managing faecal sludge and septage due to the challenges in setting up a centralized sewer network for wastewater treatment. They are proposing to establish faecal sludge treatment plants in urban and rural areas within a 15 km radius on a cluster basis. This plan is particularly suited for regions where households use on-site sanitation systems like septic tanks with soak pits. The government cited various obstacles to setting up centralized sewer networks, such as the dispersed settlement pattern of individual houses and regulatory constraints related to the state’s varied topography. These factors increase the cost and complexity of establishing sewage treatment plants.