Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday, 21 May declared that the state's Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) model has proved highly effective and will soon be developed into an 'ideal model' for adoption at the national level. The announcement came during the National Review Meeting of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in New Delhi.

Maharashtra's Case at the National Meeting

Deputy CM Shinde represented Maharashtra at the review meeting, delivering a detailed presentation on the state's ongoing cleanliness campaigns and urban waste management projects. He assured that key guidelines and suggestions provided by the Central Government during the session would be implemented effectively across the state.

Calling the STP model a matter of pride for Maharashtra, Shinde said the state government was taking concrete steps towards realising the concepts of 'Zero Waste' and 'Waste-to-Energy'.

Waste-to-Wealth and Green Policy Initiatives

'The Swachh Bharat Mission is no longer merely a government campaign, but has transformed into a major public movement in Maharashtra,' Shinde said. He added that through the effective implementation of 'Waste-to-Wealth' initiatives, Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects, and the state's Green Policy, 'waste is rapidly being converted into valuable resources.'

The Maharashtra government is actively promoting these initiatives through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models to accelerate sustainable waste management practices, according to the statement issued by the Deputy Chief Minister's Office.

Behavioural Change as the Core Goal

Deputy CM Shinde also highlighted the broader philosophy driving the mission, stating that the ultimate objective of cleanliness initiatives was not merely to clean surroundings, but to bring about positive behavioural changes in citizens' mindsets and habits. He said Maharashtra was witnessing encouraging results due to growing public awareness and participation.

Expressing confidence in the mission's future, Shinde said that active public participation, adoption of modern technology, and innovative administrative practices would help the country achieve new milestones in urban sanitation and waste management.

What the Centre Said

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar emphasised during the meeting that states should adopt one another's best practices under the 'Swachh Survekshan' and 'Swachh City Pairing' initiatives. 'Cleanliness is not just an administrative programme; it is a collective responsibility linked to public health, human dignity and the overall quality of life of citizens,' Khattar said, urging all states to intensify their cleanliness efforts.

The meeting also focused on strengthening inter-state coordination, sharing successful urban sanitation models, and accelerating the implementation of sustainable waste management systems across the country. Maharashtra's STP framework now stands as a frontrunner for replication at the national scale.