This is a very good point.  Organic wastes flowing into the Ganga represent a source of Short Lived Climate Pollutants, which can attract concessional climate finance because they can achieve reduction in carbon footprint.  However, the extreme dilution of these wastes in water streams makes recovering Methane operationally difficult unless it is supplemented by a substantial flow of organic wastes generated by communities living in the cities.  As we all know Indian cities are quite efficient in recycling inorganic wastes; it is the organic wastes that usually litter the open spaces and water ways. The Chinese are testing out anaerobic treatment approaches using kitchen waste and sludge as the feedstock.  For the cities on the banks of the Ganga organized supply of fecal sludge plus kitchen waste to the STPs could enable capturing energy from waste.  Links to the Chinese pilot experience can be seen below, with which I have been associated: http://www.wri.org/blog/2017/03/wastewater-best-hidden-energy-source-youve-never-heard   We also published a blog on the sludge-to-energy issue for the World Water Day at the link below: http://www.wri.org/blog/2017/03/wastewater-best-hidden-energy-source-youve-never-heard Vijay Jagannathan

Published by

This is a very good point.  Organic wastes flowing into the Ganga represent a source of Short Lived Climate Pollutants, which can attract concessional climate finance because they can achieve reduction in carbon footprint.  However, the extreme dilution of these wastes in water streams makes recovering Methane operationally difficult unless it is supplemented by a substantial flow of organic wastes generated by communities living in the cities.  As we all know Indian cities are quite efficient in recycling inorganic wastes; it is the organic wastes that usually litter the open spaces and water ways.

The Chinese are testing out anaerobic treatment approaches using kitchen waste and sludge as the feedstock.  For the cities on the banks of the Ganga organized supply of fecal sludge plus kitchen waste to the STPs could enable capturing energy from waste. 

Links to the Chinese pilot experience can be seen below, with which I have been associated:

http://www.wri.org/blog/2017/03/wastewater-best-hidden-energy-source-youve-never-heard

 

We also published a blog on the sludge-to-energy issue for the World Water Day at the link below:

http://www.wri.org/blog/2017/03/wastewater-best-hidden-energy-source-youve-never-heard

Vijay Jagannathan