TAG: GS 2: POLITY
THE CONTEXT: Under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0, cities are likely to initiate projects worth Rs 5,000 crore.
EXPLANATION:
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0
- It was launched in 2021.
- AMRUT 2.0 aims to provide tap water supply to all households across 4,800 statutory towns in the country.
- With the tendering process completed and the contractors selected, the projects are set to start on the ground soon.
- With the aim of universal tap water supply, the first iteration of AMRUT covered 500 cities in the country.
- Expanding the coverage to all statutory towns, AMRUT 2.0 was approved with a Central assistance of Rs 66,750 crore from 2021-2022 until 2025-2026, with the total estimated outlay at Rs 2.99 lakh crore.
- AMRUT 2.0 will promote circular economy of water through development of City Water Balance Plan (CWBP) for each city focusing on recycle/reuse of treated sewage, rejuvenation of water bodies and water conservation.
- It will help cities to identify scope for projects focusing on universal coverage of functional water tap connections, water source conservation, rejuvenation of water bodies and wells, recycle/reuse of treated used water, and rainwater harvesting.
- Based on the projects identified in CWBP, Mission envisages to make cities ‘water secure’ through circular economy of water.
- Mission also has a reform agenda on ease of living of citizens through reduction of non-revenue water, rejuvenation of water bodies, augmenting double entry accounting system, urban planning, strengthening urban finance etc.
Other components of AMRUT 2.0 are:
- Pey Jal Survekshan to ascertain equitable distribution of water, reuse of wastewater, mapping of water bodies and promote healthy competition among the cities /towns.
- Technology Sub-Mission for water to leverage latest global technologies in the field of water.
- Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign to spread awareness among masses about conservation of water.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
- It was launched in 2015 in selected 500 cities and towns across the country.
- The Mission focuses on development of basic infrastructure, in the selected cities and towns, in the sectors of water supply; sewerage and septage management; storm water drainage; green spaces and parks; and non-motorized urban transport.
- A set of Urban Reforms and Capacity Building have been included in the Mission.
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has approved State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) of all the States/Union Territories (UTs) amounting to ₹77,640 crore for the entire Mission period, which includes committed Central Assistance (CA) of ₹35,990 crore.
- So far, States/UTs have taken up 5,873 projects worth ₹82,222 crore, of which 4,676 projects worth ₹32,793 crore have been completed, and another 1,197 projects worth ₹49,430 crore have been grounded which are at various stages of implementation.
- Further, overall works worth around ₹66,313 crore have been physically completed and expenditure of ₹59,615 crore has been incurred.
- Till date, 134 lakh water tap connections and 102 lakh sewer connections (including households covered through Faecal Sludge and Septage Management – FSSM) have been provided through AMRUT & in convergence with other schemes against targeted 139 lakh water connections and 145 lakh sewer connections respectively.
- AMRUT Mission has been subsumed under AMRUT 2.0, which was launched on 01st October, 2021and ongoing projects of AMRUT 1.0 will be funded with CA till 31st March, 2023.