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Urban and Rural Sanitation

  Sanitation facilities in both urban and rural areas are very inadequate. Only 46 % of the state’s population has access to sanitation facilities, 84 % of the total urban population has access to the sanitation facilities whereas in rural areas, sanitation facilities are available to only 20 % of the population. This is of serious concern as many waterborne diseases are major cause of mortality in rural areas.

   Maharashtra has about 250 urban agglomerations, comprising of 22 Municipal Corporations (MCs) and 222 Municipal Councils. For any development process there is a need of safe and regular water supply. In the state, very few towns have properly planned sewage systems. For example, in Konkan regions of the state, about 45 % of local bodies have underground drainage system, while in Marathwada and Vidharbha, this number falls to 23.5 percent. About 99 % of the sewage generated by municipal councils and over 60 % sewage discharged by municipal corporations goes untreated. or the year 2006, the rate of effluent generation in corporation areas was 76 % whereas the rate of effluent generation in council areas was 73 % against total water supply to these areas. Overall, the volume of effluent generated from municipal corporations is 5027 MLD (Million Liters a Day). In many cases, Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) constructed many years ago, are overloaded at present. The problem of wastewater generation and disposal is a more serious issue in the case of larger cities and towns. Following table shows quantity of Wastewater Generated by Municipal Corporations (MCs) in Maharashtra.

Source: State of Environment Report, 2007 by MPCB.

* MLD – Million Liters a Day , NA – Not Avialable.

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