Indian cities, which contribute more than 60% of the country’s GDP, face a major challenge in managing their wastewater in a scientific manner. A recent ADB report calculated a $48 per capita income loss annually due to inadequate sanitation. According to the government’s own estimates, 94% of all cities and towns do not have sewers, and 80% of sewage generated is discharged untreated. The release of untreated water causes environmental degradation and poses a severe health hazard.

Municipal bodies across India are struggling to manage wastewater systematically due to a lack of financial as well as human resources. Here, partnerships that tap into private sector expertise and resources can provide a possible solution. The southern port city of Mangalore in the state of Karnataka developed a public-private partnership that can be a model for other urban centers to replicate. Until the mid-2000s and like in most Indian cities... — blog.adb.org/blogs