New Delhi: Maharashtra’s Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) model has proved to be highly effective and is set to be developed as a national-level “role model” for other states across the country, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Thursday.
He said the recognition of Maharashtra’s STP model at the national level is a matter of great pride for the state, which is actively moving towards achieving the goals of zero waste and waste-to-energy generation through a series of concrete initiatives. Shinde was addressing the national review meeting of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.
The meeting was chaired by Union Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal Khattar. Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu, Secretary of the Ministry Katikithala Srinivas, along with Urban Development and Housing Ministers and senior officials from various states, were also present.
During the meeting, Union Minister Khattar reviewed sanitation drives and urban cleanliness initiatives being implemented across the country. Discussions focused on integrated solid waste management, Public-Private Partnership (PPP)-based financing models, timely remediation of legacy waste dump sites, maintaining ODF++ standards and ensuring fully mechanised sewer cleaning systems.
The newly introduced Solid Waste Management Rules 2026 were also reviewed in detail. Khattar urged all states to adopt each other’s best practices under initiatives such as Swachh Survekshan and Swachh City Partnership.Emphasising the importance of cleanliness, Khattar said sanitation is not merely an administrative programme but a collective responsibility linked to public health, human dignity and the overall quality of life of citizens. He appealed to all states to accelerate sanitation efforts across urban areas.
Maharashtra Presents Its Sanitation Initiatives
Deputy Chief Minister Shinde presented a detailed overview of Maharashtra’s ongoing sanitation campaigns and urban infrastructure projects during the meeting. He assured that all key recommendations and directives issued by the Central Government would be implemented effectively in the state. Highlighting Maharashtra’s achievements and future plans, Shinde said the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has evolved from a government campaign into a large-scale public movement.
He said Maharashtra is rapidly transforming waste into valuable resources through initiatives such as the “Waste to Wealth” mission, Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects and the state’s Green Policy. The state government is also strengthening these efforts through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models and encouraging private sector participation in sanitation and waste management projects.
Shinde further said the true objective of the cleanliness mission is not limited to keeping cities clean, but also to bring about a positive change in public behaviour and mindset towards sanitation and environmental responsibility. He expressed confidence that active public participation, adoption of advanced technology and innovative urban sanitation initiatives would help India’s cleanliness movement reach new heights in the coming years.
