Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India today urged the private sector to exploit the potential of the Indian sanitation market which is likely to reach US$ 60 billion by 2021.

Speaking at the '3rd FICCI-ISC Sanitation Awards and India Sanitation Conclave', Iyer said that the government is working on four verticals to achieve the target of ODF which include fecal sludge management; rural piped water supply; grey water management and solid waste management.

He further added that all this will require active participation of the corporate sector to invest in the treatment and waste management.

The government will also provide swachh credit facility to small entrepreneurs involved in the business of rural waste management, said Iyer.

Mr Iyer emphasised that the UN Sustainable Development Goal-6 of ensuring access to water and sanitation, will be achieved mainly through the collective effort of all and partnerships. "Persistence is very important to sustain all the gains for achieving ODF," he said.

Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India said that the government is working to launch the new standard ODF Special after ODF++ which will provide complete solution standards.

It is in the process of setting the benchmarks and ODF Special will be part of the next round of Swachh Survekshan, he said.

Mishra also added that under the Garbage Free City protocol, total 377 cities have been awarded 3 stars; 3 states with 5 stars rating and many are in the process for 7 stars.

Today we have more than 95% toilets coverage in the country said Mr Mishra and added that total 19 states have made fecal sludge management policy, and this has led to lower cost in treating and managing the waste.  

He highlighted that 23 States/UTs and 95% of 4,300 cities are ODF declared, total 377 cities have been ODF certified and 167 cities have been certified as ODF++.