Urban forests, green energy & inclusive sanitation services: How 2 cities in Gujarat and 5 in Maharashtra paving the path for climate-resilient sanitation

The pilot projects, launched nearly three years ago, are likely to be replicated for the low-income groups and slums in other areas of the two states, and resulted in the inauguration of the first Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) Theme Park of Gujarat on September 17 in Gandhidham, built in collaboration with the Sindhu Resettlement Corporation and the Gandhidham Municipal Corporation.

The projects have been able to reduce energy consumption, helped in improving the green cover of the cities and sequestering carbon and reduced vulnerability by providing inclusive services to women through SHGs. Those women, formally contracted by the cities, now manage the sanitation facilities and urban forests, creating jobs and raising awareness.

“In India’s fast-changing climate landscape, the focus often falls on big metros. However, our team has shown how smaller cities can contribute meaningfully to India’s climate goals while improving everyday lives. The impact is already spreading beyond these towns. Maharashtra has included these approaches in its Majhi Vasundhara Mission, with toolkits designed for over 28,000 local bodies across the state. At the national level, lessons learnt from the projects are feeding into flagship programmes such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the National Urban Livelihood Mission,” Dinesh Mehta, senior advisor and professor emeritus CWAS CRDF, told The Indian Express.

For Ichalkaranji with an estimated population of 3.7 lakh, Karad with 90,000 people and Vita with 60,000 people in Maharashtra, these steps are more than infrastructure upgrades: they are a blueprint of how India’s over 4,000 small cities can contribute to climate goals while ensuring dignity, equity, and sustainability for their citizens.

Listing out the impact, Meera Mehta, senior advisor and professor emeritus CWAS CRDF, said that in Vita, Karad and Ichalkaranji, carbon sequestration was achieved through development of urban forests in 6,170 sq mt land parcels – 95 tonnes CO2 equivalent sequestered within three years with potential of sequestering about 4,280 tonnes CO2 equivalent over 25 years – and sanitation services were provided to more than 30,000 households across two cities and faecal sludge treatment capacity was improved by 25 KLD. Treatment of all safely collected faecal waste is being done at Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs).

“Similarly, in renewable energy, 350 MWH units were produced through installation of 215 KW solar units across the three cities, mitigating 230 tonnes CO2 equivalent over three years with potential of mitigating 5,412 tonnes CO2 equivalent over 25 years. Also, the 1940 KW installations across the three cities, through their own investments, have the potential of generating over 72,000 MWH clean energy and mitigating over 58,000 tons CO2 equivalent over 25 years,” Meera Mehta told The Indian Express.

Aimed at moving towards water-secure and climate-resilient cities, over 40,000 litres of fresh water has been made available to over 3,000 residents in Anjar and Gandhidham of Gujarat through rainwater harvesting projects.

“Over 56 million litres of groundwater was recharged annually through ground water recharge (GWR), which is equivalent to drinking water for over 10,000 households. Around Rs 3 crore was invested by the government in over 50 ground water recharge structures in Gandhidham, leveraging CWAS pilot projects to mitigate urban flooding, and in 35 institutional and school buildings,” Dinesh Mehta added.

Climate-resilient sanitation along with capacity building in smaller cities

Capacity building – 1,000 government officials and professionals have been trained on gender, energy audit and renewable energy adaptation

Scaleup of experience at state level through policies and guidelines as a part of MoU with Urban Development Department and Department of Environment and Climate change

Scaleup of experience at national level by sharing this experience as a part of various technical working groups. Providing feedback to various policies and guidelines that are provided for public consultation through NFSSM alliance (National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Alliance) and as an independent institution.

Over 100 professionals such as engineers, teachers and plumbers have been trained and made aware about the importance of rainwater harvesting and ground water recharge

Over 1,200 from various walks of life including MPs, MLAs, government officials, development authority, armed forces, villagers, citizens visited the Jal Sanrakshan Melas

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