Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Principal secretary (urban development) Sanjay Shukla here on Friday said that municipal services require specialised understanding and that officers must recognise the importance of urban service delivery. Highlighting Indore’s success in providing various services through innovative technology, he called for replicating such models across the state.
The PS’s utterance came at the concluding day of a two-day state-level workshop and water dialogue on urban utility water management at Brilliant Convention Center in the city on Friday. The event was organised by Madhya Pradesh Urban Development and Housing Department and attended by Shukla and commissioner Sanket Bhondve along with commissioners of municipal corporations and officers from urban local bodies (ULBs) across the Indore–Ujjain division.
During the workshop, participants discussed challenges and solutions related to water management in cities. The programme also included technical presentations by experts, site visits to sewage treatment plants (STPs) and an expo showcasing water management technologies. Shukla urged that the workshop’s recommendations be implemented effectively. He stressed that to solve any problem effectively, three things are essential: knowledge, resources and will power.
Bhondve said the workshop featured expert discussions both online and offline and included an exhibition on different water management technologies. He announced that, for the first time in India, work is being done on building a ‘Green SOR,’ and that a ‘Reuse Water Portal’ is also being developed to promote sustainable water use.
He underlined that utility water management rests on three principles: reduce, reuse and recycle water—essential in meeting growing demand with limited supply.
Collector Asheesh Singh noted that while the city is known for its cleanliness, there is often little discussion about its sewage system, which is equally vital. He pointed out that just as visible waste is undesirable on roads, so too is water flowing in the streets, making proper sewage connections essential.
Municipal commissioner Shivam Verma explained that under the Chief Minister’s Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan, the June 26–27 event brought together municipal commissioners and officers to discuss challenges and solutions in water management. Participants also visited the 245 MLD STP at Kabitkhedi and the STP at Pratik Setu near Rajendra Nagar to study Indore’s sewage treatment infrastructure.
Experts who shared their insights included Dr Rajesh Biniwale (CSIR), Dr Shailesh Kharkwal (National University of Singapore), Prof Rajesh Gupta, Prof Sanjeev Prajapati and Prof Arun Kumar (IIT Roorkee) and Subrata Chakraborty (CSE).
Topics covered included circular economy in domestic wastewater, low-cost treatment technologies, energy recovery from liquid waste, choosing appropriate treatment approaches for cities, STP operations, national and international reuse standards and planning for irrigation and industrial use.
