Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Scheme

01.04.2024

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Scheme

Why in the news?

      The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has sanctioned 39 more sewage treatment plants (STPs) under the AMRUT scheme.

About AMRUT Scheme:

• It was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2015, in 500 selected cities and towns across the country. It has been subsumed under AMRUT 2.0 in 2021.
• It 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.
• AMRUT 2.0, which was launched for a period 2021-26, is designed to provide universal coverage of water supply through functional taps to all households in all the statutory towns in the country and coverage of sewerage/septage management in 500 cities covered in the first phase of the AMRUT scheme.
• AMRUT 2.0 will promote a circular economy of water through the development of the City Water Balance Plan (CWBP) for each city focusing on recycle/reuse of treated sewage, the 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.
• It also has a reform agenda on ease of living of citizens through reduction of non-revenue water, recycle of treated used 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 the masses about conservation of water.

• The total indicative outlay for AMRUT 2.0 is ₹2,99,000 crore including Central share of ₹76,760 crore for five years. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

                                                       Source: The Hindu