Clearford activity in India
By Sanjay Deshpande, Executive Director & Head of Operations, Clearford India
As summer temperatures rise to plus 40°C across the Indian sub-continent following the recent National Elections, the Clearford team and its dedicated clients and partners are nearing completion of three sanitation projects in Gujarat State and another in Tamil Nadu, while starting two more exciting projects in Maharashtra State and more opportunities in the works.
Clearford President & CEO, Kevin Loiselle, visited these project sites at the end of May 2019 on a weeklong tour through India to strengthen relationships with project partners. It was clear that these recent Clearford One projects are a big step forward for the company in India since its initial village sanitation project in 2016 that brought sewers and wastewater treatment to a rural community of about 50 homes. When all phases of the current Alwa village servicing project in Gujarat are complete, 1200 people will have improved sanitation.
The re-elected Modi government is expected to shift the focus of the Swachh Bharat ‘Clean India’ Mission from building toilets and soak pits to Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF+) projects with an emphasis on sustainability. Once initiated, this will accelerate efforts to deliver basic water and sewage infrastructure across India contributing to improved public sanitation, cleanliness and hygiene.
I’ve noticed a deeper interest in Clearford’s holistic approach throughout India. Clients are looking for more sustainable long-term solutions for sanitation including recycling of water resources that contribute to environmental targets. The critical need for better water management could not be more apparent than the current water crisis in Chennai, only 60 kilometres away from Clearford’s Poondi village project.
As Clearford’s leadership expands across the country, corporate clients and NGOs are gaining familiarity with the company’s technology and the opportunities it offers for positive change at the local level, whether for a rural community or a regional manufacturing facility.
Clearford is a dynamic water management company that has implemented turnkey solutions around the world from Canada to Colombia to India. The company’s complete sanitation project in Jambudiyapura, Gujarat has done more than improve public health in the village—reported socioeconomic benefits include increased income from local agriculture due to the accessibility of treated water for reuse throughout the year, and greater school attendance.
Now with village sanitation projects underway near Mumbai and in Tamil Nadu State, Clearford is on the path to delivering more and larger projects across India that will benefit communities for decades to come.
Contact us to discuss sustainable sanitation in India.
