“Uttarakhand’s Town Action Plans (TAPs) – Model for Sanitation in Himalayan States”
Context
- Recently, nearly 100 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Uttarakhand prepared their first structured Town Action Plans (TAPs).
- These TAPs focus on faecal sludge, septage, and used water management.
- The plans were developed through district-level workshops conducted by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
- This marks a significant step towards systematic sanitation planning in the state.
What is a Town Action Plan (TAP) on Sanitation?
- A strategic vision document for a city/town.
- Outlines short, medium, and long-term strategies.
- Provides a step-by-step roadmap for sanitation improvement.
- Aims for universal, safe, and sustainable sanitation.
Patterns Observed in TAPs
- Awareness & Behaviour Change
- Focus on IEC (Information, Education, Communication) campaigns.
- Emphasis on citizen awareness, registration systems, and accountability.
- Monitoring & Visibility
- GPS tracking, surveys, monitoring tools frequently mentioned.
- Helps track desludging frequency, septic tank safety, and operator accountability.
- Technical & Administrative Focus
- Frequent use of DPR formulation, site selection, procurement, training, and bye-law updates.
- Reflects readiness for structured governance and professional execution.
Role of Terrain in Shaping TAPs
- High-Altitude Towns (e.g., Joshimath, Pithoragarh, Chamoli)
- Challenges: steep gradients, fractured land, freezing winters, scattered septic tanks.
- TAP Focus:
- Detailed household surveys.
- Shared treatment units with site-specific planning.
- Strong departmental coordination.
- Behavioural adaptation for local needs.
- Mid-Altitude Towns (e.g., Almora, Pauri, Tehri)
- Challenges: dense urban ridges, partial sewer lines, informal desludging.
- TAP Focus:
- Registration of desludging operators.
- Safe desludging practices.
- Monitoring through vehicle tracking.
- Training and capacity building.
- Plains Towns (e.g., Haridwar, Kashipur, Rudrapur)
- Challenges: large populations, flat terrain, unregulated operators, service overload.
- TAP Focus:
- Structured systems for desludging.
- Digital platforms for booking services.
- More vehicles and equipment procurement.
- Cluster-level STPs for high volumes.
- Large-scale public awareness drives.
Priorities for Uttarakhand State
- Standardisation
- Uniform templates, SOPs, costing methods, performance dashboards for all TAPs.
- Technical Handholding
- Deployment of engineers, planners, and NIUA field experts to guide towns.
- Funding Linked to Readiness
- Milestone-based funding for ULBs with detailed and coordinated TAPs.
- Worker Safety & Dignity
- Ensure protective equipment, IEC campaigns, and safety training.
- Link sanitation worker dignity with NAMASTE programme.
- Knowledge Loop
- A Sanitation Learning Portal for Uttarakhand to document all practices, successes, and failures.
Why This Matters for India
- Tailored Approach: Highlights the need for mountain-specific sanitation models.
- Model for Himalayan States: Can be replicated in Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland.
- Knowledge Repository: Builds a national database of sanitation practices with terrain-specific solutions.
- Scalable and Replicable: Over 500 sanitation activities documented – practical templates for others.
- Starting Point: Reflects readiness, ambition, and clarity despite being in the early stages.
Conclusion
- Uttarakhand’s Town Action Plans (TAPs) are a first-of-its-kind exercise in structured sanitation planning for diverse terrains.
- They show that ULBs are serious about governance, safety, and citizen engagement.
- If the state provides support and national agencies integrate these TAPs into larger missions, India will gain:
- A robust repository of sanitation practices.
- A tested roadmap for the entire Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).
- These TAPs, with over 500 coded activities, mark a rare and significant opportunity to reform sanitation governance in India.
Source : Down To Earth
