Q1. Could you start by giving us a brief overview of your professional background, particularly focusing on your expertise in the industry?

I am a Water industry expert specializing in transportation and treatment, with deep expertise in sewage treatment, desalination, disinfection, and high-pressure systems (HPS).

Q2. How is the Indian water and wastewater treatment market evolving in terms of size and CAGR, and which sub-segments—sewage treatment, desalination, or disinfection—are growing fastest? 

It's growing at a healthy 15% Y-o-Y. A little faster or slower, but the average is maintained. The population explosion and the trend of moving from rural to urban areas are contributing factors. To that extent, this is the market the globe should focus on, leveraging technology while factoring in life cycle costs and scale.

Q3. What role do ESG requirements or corporate sustainability commitments play in driving demand for sewage recycling and industrial wastewater treatment?

I wish our compliance and, more importantly, our governance systems were rigorous, and our much-flaunted democracy and judiciary were more grounded, rather than sitting in ivory towers & all really ACCOUNTABLE.

Q4. How are digital tools such as AI, IoT, or advanced sensors changing the way projects are designed, operated, or maintained?

All these tools are being used in project engineering, procurement, management & execution, but the scale of our markets is truly mammoth and hence the work-to-potential ratio is very significantly reduced.

Q5. In projects where technology and service both matter, how do customers balance technical innovation against the need for proven reliability?

 
Proven reliability, rather than first-time trials, and life cycle costs over initial costings are a trend in the private sector, but the public sector continues to fall short of expectations.

Q6. How are you seeing the balance shift between global players with advanced technology and domestic firms with cost advantages? 

The two-way adaptation & adoption is the only law for success, continuity in the long run. So very often, global-advanced players without long-term vision and commitment, and local players without implementing changes all around in their trades, disappear faster from the markets.

Q7. If you were an investor looking at companies within the space, what critical question would you pose to their senior management? 

Are they here for a long-term commitment or a quick success? Are they keen on leveraging local strengths or interested in dumping? Are they bringing a value proposition or brand imaging? These are some key aspects to consider for PE or start-up funding decisions.