AMRUT 2.0 is a flagship mission launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in October 2021 as a successor to the first iteration of the mission. It is designed to provide universal coverage of water supply in all statutory towns in India and sewerage/septage management in 500 AMRUT cities. The mission is scheduled for implementation over a period of five years, from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Core Objectives and Vision
The primary vision of AMRUT 2.0 is to make cities ‘Water Secure’ and ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) in terms of water requirements.
- Universal coverage of water supply for households through functional taps in all 4,378 statutory towns.
- Universal coverage of sewerage and septage management in 500 AMRUT cities.
- Rejuvenation of water bodies and urban spaces to enhance the quality of life and create green infrastructure.
- Promotion of the circular economy of water, specifically through wastewater recycling and reuse.
- Reduction of non-revenue water (NRW) through systematic measurement and leak detection.
Mission Components
The mission framework rests on several key pillars that ensure holistic urban water management.
- Water Supply: Ensuring tap connections to every household to improve water security.
- Sewerage and Septage Management: Extending the sewerage network, connecting households to the network, and establishing treatment plants.
- Rejuvenation of Water Bodies: Restoring urban water bodies to augment groundwater levels and act as flood mitigation reservoirs.
- Green Spaces and Parks: Developing parks and green spaces to improve the micro-climate and urban aesthetics.
- Technology Sub-Mission: Leveraging modern technology for water quality testing, monitoring, and infrastructure management.
Key Financial and Implementation Features
AMRUT 2.0 follows a competitive and reform-driven approach to federal funding.
| Feature | Description |
| Duration | 2021-22 to 2025-26 (5 years) |
| Total Outlay | Approx. ₹2.77 lakh crore |
| Central Share | ₹76,760 crore |
| Funding Mechanism | Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with varying funding ratios for different types of urban local bodies (ULBs). |
| Reform-linked Funding | Incentivizes states to implement urban reforms such as digital monitoring and property tax digitization. |
Major Reforms and Technological Integration
The mission mandates specific reforms to ensure the long-term sustainability of urban infrastructure.
- Digital Monitoring: The mission utilizes the ‘AMRUT 2.0 Portal’ for end-to-end monitoring of projects, including the submission of project proposals, approval processes, and fund release.
- Pey Jal Survekshan: A periodic survey conducted to rank cities based on their performance in water supply, sewerage, and water body rejuvenation, fostering competitive federalism.
- Public-Private Partnership (PPP): The mission mandates that for cities with a population of over 10 lakhs, at least 10% of the project value must be implemented through PPP models.
- Water Quality Standards: Adherence to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) 10500 for drinking water quality is mandatory for all projects.
- Capacity Building: Continuous training programs for municipal officials to manage and maintain urban water assets effectively.
Notable Initiatives and Targets
- Circular Economy: A major focus is placed on the reuse of treated wastewater for industrial and agricultural purposes, thereby reducing the burden on freshwater sources.
- Data-Driven Governance: Cities are required to maintain a ‘City Water Balance Plan’ (CWBP) and a ‘City Water Action Plan’ (CWAP) to identify gaps and prioritize interventions.
- Climate Resilience: Integration of climate-resilient water management practices to handle urban floods and droughts simultaneously.
- Citizen Participation: Integration of ‘Jan Andolan’ (People’s Movement) where citizens are actively involved in the rejuvenation of local water bodies and maintenance of green spaces.
Key Differences: AMRUT 1.0 vs. AMRUT 2.0
- Coverage: AMRUT 1.0 focused only on 500 cities; AMRUT 2.0 covers all statutory towns.
- Goal: AMRUT 1.0 aimed to bridge service level gaps; AMRUT 2.0 mandates universal coverage of water supply.
- Reform Focus: AMRUT 2.0 places a stronger emphasis on technological interventions and private sector participation compared to its predecessor.
- Water Body Restoration: While part of the initial mission, the rejuvenation of water bodies has been given a more prominent, data-backed mandate in the current version.