AMRUT MISSION 2.0

AMRUT MISSION 2.0

News: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0.

Background:
• AMRUT was launched as the first water – focused Mission in 2015, with a total Mission outlay of ₹1,00,000 crore. The Mission caters to 500 major cities covering 60% of the urban population. Projects worth more than ₹80,000 crore have been grounded and more than funds allocated for project implementation worth ₹77,640 crore. Work worth ₹56,000 crore has been carried out and ₹48,000 crore expanded.

Achievements so far:
• Under the Mission, 1.14 crore water tap connections have been provided taking total connections to 4.14 crore in AMRUT cities. 85 lakh sewer connections including households covered under septage facilities have been provided taking coverage to 2.32 crore. 6,000 MLD of Sewage Treatment capacity is to be developed through AMRUT, of which 1,800 MLD of treatment capacity has been developed. Further, 907 MLD capacity is created for recycle/reuse of treated used water.
• Through green spaces projects, 3,850 acre of permeable green spaces have been added and another 1,600 acre of green area will be added. 2,200 water logging points have been eliminated & another 1,500 water logging points through ongoing projects will be eliminated. Rejuvenation of 106 water bodies has been taken up.
• The Mission has also made tremendous progress under its component of reforms. Credit rating work has been completed in 470 cities. Of which, 164 cities have received Investible Grade Rating (IGR), including 36 cities with rating of A- or above.
• This reform has helped improve India’s rank in Ease of Doing Business in construction permits to 27 in Doing Business Report (DBR) 2020 of World Bank from 181 in 2018. 89 lakh conventional streetlights have been replaced with energy efficient LED lights, leading to estimated energy savings of 195 crore units per annum & reduction in CO2 emission by 15.6 lakh tons per annum.

AMRUT 2.0
• Now, taking the transformations further, AMRUT2.0 aims to make around 4,700 towns / cities ‘water secure’. It will build upon the progress of AMRUT to address water needs, rejuvenate water bodies, better manage aquifers, reuse treated wastewater, thereby promoting circular economy of water. The total outlay of AMRUT 2.0 is ₹2,97,000 crores, including central share of ₹76,760 crores. This includes ₹10,000 crores Central share and another ₹10,000 crores states’ share for continuing financial support to AMRUT Mission up to March 2023.
• The Objective of AMRUT 2.0 is to provide100% coverage of water supply to all households in around 4,700 ULBs, by providing 2.68 crore urban household tap connections, thereby benefitting around 10.7 crores people. It will provide 100% coverage of sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities, by providing 2.64 crore sewer connections/ septage connections, thereby benefitting around 10.6 crores people.
• Rejuvenation of water bodies and urban aquifer management will be undertaken to augment sustainable fresh water supply. Recycle and reuse of treated wastewater is expected to cater to 20% of total water needs of the cities and 40% of industrial demand. Under the Mission, fresh water bodies will be protected from getting polluted to make natural resources sustainable.
• There will be several defining features of AMRUT-2.0. These include upscaling from 500 cities covered under AMRUT with 1 lakh+ population to all 4,372 cities, covering 100% urban India. It will promote circular economy of water through formulation of City Water Balance Plan for each city,focusing on recycle/reuse of treated sewage, rejuvenation of water bodies and water conservation. Digital economy will be promoted through being a Paperless Mission.Pey Jal Survekshan will be conducted in cities to ascertain equitable distribution of water, reuse of wastewater and mapping of water bodies w.r.t. quantity and quality of water through a challenge process. Technology Sub-Mission for water will leverage latest global technologies in the field of water.
• The Mission seeks to promote AatmaNirbhar Bharat through encouraging Startups and Entrepreneurs. It will lead to promotion of GIG economy and on-boarding of youth & women.Urban Water Information System through NRSC will be developed, leading to Aquifer Management system. Information, Education and Communication campaign will spread awareness among masses about conservation of water. Target based capacity building program will be conducted for all stakeholders including contractors, plumbers, plant operators, students, women and other stakeholders.
• Mission has a reform agenda, with focus on strengthening of urban local bodies and water security of the cities. Major reforms include rejuvenation of water bodies, rain water harvesting, reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW), meeting 40% industrial water demand through recycled used water, dual piping system for bulk users through building bye-laws, unlocking value & improving land use efficiency through proper master planning, improving credit rating & accessing market finance including issuance of municipal bonds and implementation Online Building Permission System under EoDB.
• Incentive based reforms will be
• Rejuvenation of water bodies in cities;
• Reducing non-revenue water to 20%;
• Rain water harvesting in all institutional buildings;
• Reuse of 20%treated waste water;
• Reuse of waste water to meet 40% industrial waterdemand;
• Development of green spaces & parks;
• Improving credit rating & access to market financeby ULBs; and
• Improving land use efficiency, through GIS based master planning & efficient town planning
• The AMRUT-2.0 Mission will promote Public Private Partnership (PPP). It has been mandated for cities having million plus population to take up PPP projects worth minimum of 10 percent of their total project fund allocationwhich could be on Annuity/ Hybrid Annuity / BOT Model.
• 4798 ULBs have already signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Government, outlining the role and commitments of all the stakeholders in both the Missions.