AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) Scheme | 04 Jun 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, the AMRUT scheme has garnered attention due to the challenges it is facing in addressing infrastructure issues related to water, mobility, and pollution.

What is AMRUT Scheme?

• About:
  • Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) was launched on 25th June 2015 in 500 selected cities across the country, covering around 60% of the urban population.
  • The mission targets enhancing basic infrastructure and implementing urban reforms for selected cities, encompassing water supply, sewerage, drainage, green spaces, non-motorised transport, and capacity building.
• AMRUT 2.0 Scheme:
  • The scheme was launched on 1st October 2021, subsuming AMRUT 1.0 for the period of 5 years i.e. from the financial year (FY) 2021-22 to the FY 2025-26.
  • Its objective are universal coverage of water supply from 500 cities to about 4,900 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 aims to promote the circular economy of water through the development of a City Water Balance Plan (CWBP) by recycling/reuse of treated sewage, rejuvenation of water bodies and water conservation.
  • The mission also has a reform agenda on ease of living of citizens through the reduction of non-revenue water, urban planning, strengthening urban finance etc.
  • Other components of AMRUT 2.0:
    • 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 the latest global technologies in the field of water.
    • Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign to spread awareness among the masses about the conservation of water.

What is the Status of the AMRUT 2.0 Scheme?

• Fund Allocation:
  • The total outlay for AMRUT 2.0 is Rs. 2,99,000 crore for ongoing projects until March 2023.
• Impact:
  • AMRUT has impacted the lives of women in many positive ways . Women can now utilise their time in a more productive way due to a decrease in effort in fetching water.
  • It has further led to a decrease in disease load due to availability of safe drinking water.
• Challenges:
  • Despite the implementation of the scheme, around 200,000 people die annually due to inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene.
  • India's 2016 disease burden from unsafe water and sanitation is 40 times higher per person than China's and showing little improvement.
  • A NITI Aayog report indicates that around 21 major cities will deplete their groundwater, leaving 40% of India's population without access to drinking water by 2030.
    • Nearly 31% of urban Indian households lack piped water while 67.3% are not connected to a piped sewerage system.

What are the Challenges in the Implementation of AMRUT Scheme?

• State Project Implementation: Despite regular fund releases, states like Bihar and Assam have yet to complete projects or utilise the PPP model, resulting in less than 50% execution completion in most states.
• AMRUT Program Scope: The scheme entails a project-focused approach instead of a holistic perspective.
• Potential Overlaps and Convergence Challenges: The overlap between AMRUT and other schemes, like Swachh Bharat mission, could result funding allocation challenges, and increased workload in addressing specific urban issues.
• Unaddressed Air Pollution: National Clean Air Programme was launched as deterioration of air quality persisted since AMRUT 2.0 shifted solely to water and sewerage, leaving the unresolved air quality issues from AMRUT 1.0.
• Non-Inclusive Governance Structure: The mechanically designed scheme without organic participation from elected city governments, making it less inclusive scheme for urban people.

What are the Steps Needed to Revamp AMRUT Scheme?

• Financial Challenges and Solutions: Local urban bodies need to diversify financial resources to implement local projects instead of relying on top-down funding approach.
• Holistic Approach: Considering the climate change , rainfall patterns, and existing infrastructure, urban water management should cater to the evolving challenges.
  • The scheme needs nature-based solutions and a comprehensive methodology with a people-centric approach and empowering local bodies.
• Community Engagement: Encouraging participation from community groups, including NGOs and resident associations, can enhance the effectiveness of housing schemes by soliciting ideas and feedback from the grassroots level.
• Learning from Success Stories: Studying successful case studies where hygiene and sanitation were significantly improved, can provide valuable insights for addressing similar challenges in housing initiatives.
  • For example, “Water Availability for All” initiative in Dahanu Taluka aimed at making potable drinking water available to local tribal communities.
• Innovation and Research: Establishing innovation hubs to foster industry-specific research and development related to health and housing issues can spur innovative solutions and technologies.