The Indian Prime Minister has recently launched the second phase of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT 2.0). The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is the primary governing body for this initiative. The mission continues to empower households with assured tap water supply and sewerage connection, a foundational project that was first initiated in June 2015. With AMRUT 2.0, the goal is to achieve full coverage of water supply to around 4,700 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), while promoting self-reliance through Startups and Public-Private Partnerships.
About AMRUT 2.0
AMRUT 2.0 builds on the progress of its predecessor. Its primary focus is on addressing water needs, rejuvenating water bodies, managing aquifers, and advocating for the reuse of treated wastewater. Consequently, this encourages a circular economy of water resources. Moreover, the mission will ensure that all 500 AMRUT cities obtain full coverage of sewerage and septage. Furthermore, there is an expectation that recycling and reusing wastewater will meet 20% of the total water needs of these cities, and cater to up to 40% of industrial demand.
Protecting Fresh Water Bodies & Pey Jal Survekshan
To make natural resources sustainable, AMRUT 2.0 strives to protect fresh water bodies from pollution. As part of this effort, the Pey Jal Survekshan campaign will be conducted in various cities. This campaign aims to promote fair distribution of water, encourage the reuse of wastewater, and assist in the mapping of water bodies.
Performance of the First Phase of AMRUT
The performance of the initial phase of AMRUT is noteworthy. It has provided about 1.14 crore water tap connections, bringing the total to approximately 4.14 crore in AMRUT cities. Credit rating work has been completed in around 470 cities, and 164 of these cities have received an Investable Grade Rating (IGR). Out of those rated cities, 36 have achieved a grade of A- or better.
Raising Funds & Improvements
In addition, the first phase saw about Rs 3,840 crore raised through Municipal Bonds by 10 ULBs. The Online Building Permission System has also been implemented in 2,471 cities, including 455 AMRUT cities. Due to this reform, India’s ranking in the Ease of Doing Business in construction permits improved from 181 in 2018 to 27 in 2020 according to the Doing Business Report (DBR) by the World Bank.
Energy Reduction Efforts
Finally, the initiative saw approximately 89 lakh traditional streetlights replaced with more energy-efficient LED lights. This resulted in an estimated annual energy saving of 195 crore units and a reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 15.6 lakh tons per annum.
The launch of AMRUT 2.0 demonstrates the ongoing efforts to ensure that every Indian household has access to clean water and proper sewerage facilities, while nurturing the concept of self-reliance through innovative entrepreneurship and responsible ecological practices.
