AMRUT 2.0: Transforming Urban Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What is Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)?
• What is AMRUT 2.0?
• AMRUT 2.0 and Govt’s 100-day plan

Why in News?

Under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0, cities are expected to launch projects worth Rs 5,000 crore. These projects will focus on water supply, sewage treatment, and the rejuvenation of water bodies and parks. 

This initiative is part of the current government's 100-day agenda during its third term.

What is Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)?

• About
  • AMRUT was launched in 2015 to provide basic civic amenities like water supply, sewerage, urban transport, parks as to improve the quality of life for all especially the poor and the disadvantaged. 
  • The focus of the Mission is on infrastructure creation that has a direct link to provision of better services to the citizens.

• Objective
  • The objective of the mission is to: 
    • ensure that every household has access to a tap with assured supply of water and a sewerage connection 
    • increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well-maintained open spaces e.g., parks and 
    • reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorized transport e.g., walking and cycling.
• Coverage
  • The Mission covers covering 500 cities that includes all cities and towns with a population of over one lakh with notified Municipalities.
• Achievements
  • AMRUT has been ensuring water security by adding 1.1 crore household water tap connections and 85 lakh sewer connections, thus benefiting more than 4 crore people.

What is AMRUT 2.0?

• About
  • The target in the second phase of AMRUT is to
    • improve sewage and septic management, 
    • make our cities water safe cities and 
    • ensure that no sewage drains anywhere in our rivers’
  • In other words, AMRUT 2.0 will focus on enhancing sewerage and septic management and to make all Indian cities water secure.
• Aim
  • Amrut 2.0 aims at 
    • providing 100% coverage of water supply to all households in around 4,800 urban local bodies by providing about 2.68 crore tap connections and 
    • 100% coverage of sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities by providing around 2.64 crore sewer or septage connections
• Principles and Mechanism
  • AMRUT 2.0 will adopt the principles of circular economy and promote conservation and rejuvenation of surface and groundwater bodies. 
  • The Mission will promote data led governance in water management and Technology Sub-Mission to leverage latest global technologies and skills. 
• ‘Pey Jal Survekshan’ will be conducted to promote progressive competition among cities. 
• Coverage 
  • The Amrut 2.0 will extends coverage from 500 cities under the first phase to 4,800 cities and towns.
  • It will provide water tap connections to 26.8 million urban households.
  • It will benefit more than 10.5 crore people in urban areas.
• Funding
  • 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 and Govt’s 100-day plan

• Govt’s plan
  • Under AMRUT 2.0, cities will launch projects worth Rs 5,000 crore focusing on water supply, sewage treatment, and rejuvenation of water bodies and parks.
• Current status
  • In a reply to the Lok Sabha on July 25 this year, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) had said that:
    • as many as 4,065 projects worth Rs 77,317.40 crore out of the total 8,205 projects worth Rs 1.82 lakh crore had been awarded;
    • 4,410 projects worth Rs 1.05 lakh crore were in the stage of floating tender or preparation of detailed project report (DPR).
  • Around 50 per cent of the approved projects relate to the management of water supply, sewerage and septage.
  • Projects covering rejuvenation of water bodies, development of parks, groundwater recharge and urban flood mitigation are also being implemented under AMRUT 2.0.
• 100 Day agenda
  • Under the 100-day agenda, cities aim to commission 500 MLD of sewage treatment plants and 150 MLD of water treatment plants, benefiting 8 lakh households. 
  • The government's broader 100-day agenda includes the Delhi Master Plan 2041 and the creation of eight greenfield cities, each with Rs 1,000 crore funding as recommended by the 15th Finance Commission.

Q.1. What is Pey Jal Survekshan?

Pey Jal Survekshan is an annual survey by the Indian government assessing urban water supply services. It evaluates cities based on parameters like water quality, distribution, and sustainability. The initiative aims to enhance water management, ensure equitable access, and improve overall water infrastructure across urban areas in India.

Q.2. What is circular economy?

A circular economy is an economic model focused on minimizing waste and maximizing resource use by reusing, recycling, and repairing products. Unlike the traditional linear model, which follows a 'take-make-dispose' approach, the circular economy promotes a closed-loop system where materials and products are continuously cycled through the economy.

Source: In Govt’s 100-day plan: Will cover water supply, sewage treatment and parks | PIB | India Today