Given that the technological options with respect to FSM were new to Tamil Nadu, building capacities of local governments, demonstrating FSM in towns both as complementing and stand-alone systems as applicable, developing an over-arching enabling environment, and finally regulating the whole sector were some of the key challenges faced.

Due to the prevalent stigma of ‘NIMBY’ around FSM and sanitation, the location of land parcels for constructing the FSTPs were a challenging task. There were special considerations to be taken for implementing FSTPs in difficult terrain conditions.