“Odisha’s FSSM is a bright star in urban development,” says ACS Usha Padhee as state charts next leap in sanitation innovation

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, FEBRUARY 3, 2026

Declaring Odisha’s faecal sludge and septage management journey as “a bright star in the urban development domain,” Housing & Urban Development Department Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee on Tuesday called for sustained innovation, collaboration and learning to further strengthen the State’s urban sanitation ecosystem.

Addressing a Learning Workshop on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) organised by the State Housing & Urban Development Department, at the Odisha Urban Academy, in collaboration with TSU-FSSM (EY) and Dasra,  she underlined that Odisha’s FSSM programme has earned recognition at both national and international levels and must now focus on future-ready solutions that ensure long-term sustainability and resource efficiency.

The workshop brought together senior government officials, sector experts and leading knowledge partners to review progress, share insights and consolidate Odisha’s pioneering efforts in urban sanitation.

Highlighting the importance of partnerships, Padhee acknowledged the State’s decade-long association with the Gates Foundation, noting that its continued support has played a critical role in strengthening Odisha’s sanitation initiatives. She emphasised that learning platforms such as this workshop are vital for translating global best practices into locally relevant and scalable solutions.

A key highlight of the event was the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding among the Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO), the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) and TIDE Technocrats Ltd., in the presence of Padhee. The MoU paves the way for the establishment of a state-of-the-art pyrolysis unit at the Basuaghai Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant, marking a significant step towards advanced biosolids treatment, enhanced resource recovery and the promotion of circular economy practices in the sanitation sector.

The workshop also featured a structured stakeholder consultation aimed at generating actionable recommendations to further strengthen Odisha’s FSSM framework. Discussions focused on improving operational efficiency, financial sustainability and institutional capacity, in alignment with the State’s broader vision of Vikshit Odisha.

Speaking on the occasion, Binaya Kumar Dash, Additional Secretary, H&UD Department and Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), said that the learning workshop represents an important milestone in enhancing the future-readiness, scalability and sustainability of Odisha’s FSSM ecosystem. He added that the insights and collaborations emerging from the workshop would help the State maintain its leadership position in urban sanitation while setting new benchmarks for others to follow.