| Sanction Date: | 20.03.2025 | |||
| Project Category | MG | |||
| Year | 2024-2025 | |||
| Project Duration | 3 Years | |||
| BTA : | HW | |||
| Project Site/ State/ Districts/ Villages Covered: |
Pulibor, Jorhat, Sensowa Gaon, Assam |
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| Organization/ Implementation Agency: | CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat | |||
| Project Partners: | S.No. | Name | ||
| 1. | Resolin Tech North East Agriculture Technology Entrepreneurs Hub (NEATEHUB-AN AIC- AAU INCUBATOR), Barbheta, Jorhat, Assam | |||
| Lead Proponent: | Dr. Sachin Rameshrao Geed |
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| Project Brief Description: | The Himalayan region, especially Northeast India, faces significant challenges in faecal sludge management (FSM) due to its rugged terrain, variable climatic conditions, dispersed communities, and limited sanitation infrastructure. The lack of centralized sewage systems in rural and semi-urban areas increases the risks of environmental degradation, groundwater contamination, and the spread of waterborne diseases. High rainfall exacerbates these issues by promoting runoff of pathogens and nutrients into water bodies, adversely impacting ecosystem. Therefore, innovative and decentralized solutions for FSM are essential. Existing faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTP) face challenges in degrading faecal sludge effectively due to slow degradation rates. Hence, development of an effective “bioformulation” is crucial for enhancing the performance of these FSTPs. This project aims to develop a bioformulation-based approach to the environmental and infrastructural needs of Northeast India. The bioformulation will consist of indigenous microbial strains, including bacteria and fungi, to break down organic matter, reduce pathogen loads, and mitigate the environmental risks associated with faecal sludge. By accelerating natural decomposition, this bioformulation reduces FSM’s environmental footprint. A pilot-scale FSTP will demonstrate the bioformulation’s efficacy in real-world conditions. A decentralized, scalable approach is important for the region’s diverse, isolated communities. In cold Himalayan areas, where microbial activity slows down due to low temperature, bioformulations with psychrophilic/phychrotolerant microbes can effectively continue sludge degradation. At low temperature high-altitude regions in Arunachal Pradesh (Tawang, Mechuka Valley, Bomdila) and Sikkim (Nathula Pass), bioformulation-based FSM is essential due to the extreme fragility of the environment. Bioformulations incorporated with psychrophilic/phychrotolerant microbes can effectively decompose waste even in sub-zero conditions. Additionally, implementation of insulated pits, batch treatments, constructed wetlands and cold-tolerant microbial consortia further enhances degradation under these challenging conditions. This project addresses the urgent need for adaptable and sustainable FSM solutions in the Himalayas, promoting improvements in public health and enhancing environmental resilience across these difficult landscapes. | |||
| Beneficiaries/ Stakeholders: |
• Local communities and Gram Panchayat |
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| Activity Chart | ||||
| Total Grants (in Rs.) | Rs. 15,000,000/-(Rupees One Crore Fifty Lakh Only) | |||
| Project Objectives | Quantifiable Deliverables | Monitoring Indicators |
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• To collect and characterize samples for development of an effective bioformulation for faecal sludge management. • To optimize process parameters and design medium recipes for lab scale batch bioreactor studies. • To evaluate the performance of the bioformulation through pilot-scale demonstrations for faecal sludge management, with the potential for scalable implementation across multiple locations (including low temperature regions). |
• Formulation of optimized microbial consortia, including psychrophilic and psychrotolerant strains, for effective sludge treatment. • Standardized medium recipes and process parameters for enhanced biodegradation efficiency. • Pilot-scale demonstration of bioformulation in a faecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP). • Assessment of treatment efficiency under different climatic conditions, particularly in the Himalayan region and Assam. • Training modules and awareness programs conducted for stakeholders, including municipal bodies and local communities. • Research articles, technical reports, and policy briefs documenting the performance of bioformulation-based faecal sludge management solutions. |
• No. of faecal sludge samples collected and analyzed.
• Identification of key microbial consortia for sludge treatment. • Efficiency improvement in biodegradation rates. • No. of pilot-scale demonstrations conducted. • Efficiency metrics of sludge treatment (e.g., reduction in organic load, pathogen removal). • No. of training programs conducted. • No. of stakeholders trained in bioformulation-based faecal sludge treatment. • No. of research papers, technical reports, and policy documents published. |
| S.No. | Name (Sanctioned) | Salary (Sanctioned) |
| 1. | 03 JPF | @ Rs.24,000/- + 9% HRA |
| 2. | 01 Project Assistant | @ Rs.18,000/- + 9% HRA |
| S.No. | Name of Equipment (Sanctioned) | Cost (in INR) |
| 1. | NA | NA |
