MoEF&CC Issues Draft Liquid Waste Management Rules 2024

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on October 7^th 2024 notified the Draft Liquid Waste Management Rules 2024.

 Applicability: The rules apply to both urban and rural local bodies, as well as all public authorities involved in wastewater management.

Scope: This includes:

• Wastewater generation and management entities (government, private, or PPP).
• Special areas like industrial zones, SEZs, and food parks.
• Locations under Indian Railways (stations, tracks, adjacent lands).
• Airports, ports, and defence establishments.
• Religious and historical sites.
• Landowners and various waste generators (domestic, commercial, institutional).

Waste Types: The focus is on wastewater, sludge from treatment facilities, and faecal sludge.

The Rules include the following important chapters:

• Chapter II: Environmentally sound management of wastewater including its reuse

• Chapter III: Environmentally sound management of faecal sludge

• Chapter IV: Treatment and reuse of wastewater by industry

• Chapter V: General Obligations for sludge/ faecal sludge handling entities including

• wastewater treatment facilities, ETPs, CETPs, faecal sludge treatment facilities.

• Chapter VI: Implementation framework

• Chapter VII: Role and Responsibilities

SCHEDULE 1 : Highlights the timelines for compliance

SCHEDULE-II : List of industries identified for reuse of wastewater

• Thermal Power plants
• (ii) Pulp and Paper
• (iii)Textile Industry
• (iv) Iron and Steel industry

THE RULES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING FORMS:

Form 1(A): [Application to be submitted by bulk user of water]

Form 1(B): [Format for grant of registration to user by State Pollution Control Board]

Form 1 (C): [Format for submission of Extended User Responsibility plan by the bulk user]

Form 2(A): [Application to be submitted by owner of liquid waste treatment facility for grant of registration/renewal of registration]

Form 2(B):  [Format for grant of registration/renewal of registration to owner of liquid waste treatment facility by State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees]

Form 3 [Annual returns to be submitted by bulk user by 30th day of June of the following financial year]

Form 4 [Quarterly return to be submitted by liquid waste treatment facility to State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees by end of the month succeeding the end of the quarter]

Form 5 [Form of appeal]

PUBLIC CONSULTATION:

Objections or suggestions on the proposals contained in the draft notification, if any may be addressed, by December 6^th 2024, to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jorbagh Road, New Delhi- 110 003

 Electronically at E-mail addressed: sohsmd-mef@gov.in

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1^st 2025