For clustering, what is the incentive for a ULB that has a treatment plant to share its capacity with others? Were there any cost sharing arrangements? How it became successful in your case?

Given the nascent state of FSM in Tamil Nadu, where ensuring Fecal Sludge and Septage reaches treatment facilities is still a challenge, the adopted cluster approach allows FSTP/STP capacities to be saturated, even as desludging and disposal process is streamlined. Additionally, the approach enables sharing of resources and capacity between ULBs. It is in the best interest of ULBs with treatment plants to optimise usage and share resources for the sustained operation of facilities. The GoTN has planned for the cluster ULBs to enter into a MoU that lays out the roles & responsibilities of each ULB including cost sharing arrangements between the ULBs. A Government Order has been issued which is currently being rolled out across the State. The order is available on our website here.