The Housing and Urban Development Department of the Government of Odisha organised a Learning Workshop on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) today at the Odisha Urban Academy, in collaboration with TSU-FSSM (EY) and Dasra.
This workshop brought together senior officials, sector experts, and key knowledge partners to consolidate and advance Odisha’s innovative initiatives in urban sanitation.
During the event, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department Usha Padhee, IAS. The MoU was signed among the Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO), the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), and TIDE Technocrats Ltd. for the establishment of a state-of-the-art pyrolysis unit at the Basuaghai Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP).
This initiative marks a significant step towards advanced biosolids treatment, resource recovery, and the promotion of circular economy practices in the sanitation sector.
The workshop also featured structured stakeholder consultations aimed at generating actionable recommendations to strengthen Odisha’s FSSM framework and ensure its long-term operational and financial sustainability, in alignment with the state’s vision of Vikshit Odisha.
In her address, ACS Padhee praised the collective efforts of the state government and its partners, describing Odisha’s FSSM program as “a bright star in the urban development domain,” which has received recognition both nationally and internationally. She also acknowledged the decade-long partnership with the Gates Foundation for its ongoing support in strengthening the state’s sanitation initiatives.
Binaya Kumar Dash, Additional Secretary of the H&UD Department and Mission Director of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), stated that the learning workshop represents an important milestone in enhancing the future-readiness, scalability, and sustainability of Odisha’s FSSM ecosystem.
