Bhubaneswar, Aug 24: Odisha is stepping up efforts to make urban water management more sustainable, with experts and policymakers calling for treated wastewater to be reused and valuable resources recovered instead of simply being discarded.
Pic Credit: Pexel
The message emerged at the Technical Symposium on Used Water Management held during the Odisha Urban Conclave 2026 at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. The discussions brought together government officials, engineers, researchers, urban planners, technology experts and industry representatives to explore practical solutions for the growing wastewater challenges in the state.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra stressed the importance of managing treated wastewater and sludge in a safe, affordable and environmentally responsible manner. He said wastewater should increasingly be viewed as a resource that can support cities rather than merely as waste.
The Minister also called for closer cooperation among government agencies, academic institutions, technical experts and technology providers to develop solutions that can work effectively in rapidly growing urban areas.
Housing and Urban Development Department Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee emphasised the need to move beyond the traditional approach of treating wastewater and disposing of it. She encouraged professionals to focus on safe and planned reuse of treated water through solutions that are practical, sustainable and scalable.
Experts at the symposium discussed sewage treatment, sludge management, urban drainage, resource recovery and the potential for wider reuse of treated water. Specialists from CPHEEO, IIT Palakkad, IIT Roorkee, IIT Bhubaneswar, CEEW and CSE shared their views on technology, policy and planning.
The discussions also highlighted the potential of modern treatment technologies, decentralised systems and improved sludge management to help cities reduce pressure on freshwater resources while improving sanitation and environmental protection.
The event concluded with an industry showcase featuring solutions for low-footprint sewage treatment plants, decentralised wastewater treatment, wastewater conveyance, aerated wetlands, lake and drain remediation and mechanised sewer and sludge management.
The deliberations reinforced the need for stronger policy support, technological innovation and cooperation between government, academia and industry. The focus is increasingly shifting towards a circular approach in which treated wastewater is safely reused and useful resources are recovered.
With urban areas facing growing pressure on water resources, the move towards treating, reusing and recovering wastewater could play an important role in building cleaner, more resilient and water-secure cities across Odisha.