SBM (U) 2.0, AMRUT 2.0 to make cities garbage-free and water-secure

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, told the media that during the five-year mission period (2021-2026) of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0, which commenced on October 1, 2021, the primary aim is to make cities garbage-free and water-secure (2021-2026). Emphasising the benefits of SBM (U) 2.0, the Ministry said that each household and business separate their garbage into wet waste (from the kitchen and gardens) and dry waste (which contains paper, domestic hazardous waste, glass, plastic, and sanitary waste packed individually). Additionally, door-to-door collection of segregated waste from every household or premise. Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 [SBM (U) 2.0] assisted in 100% scientific management of all waste fractions, comprising safe disposal in scientific landfills, it highlighted. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, the Ministry said that all legacy dump sites have been remedied. In cities with lower than one lakh people, all used water, comprising faecal sludge, is securely kept, transported, processed, and disposed of such that no untreated faecal sludge or used water contaminates the ground or water bodies, the Ministry said. It said that the nation has seen a phased decrease in the usage of single-use plastic. Highlighting the benefits of AMRUT 2.0, the Housing Ministry said that water supply coverage extended from 500 cities to about 4,800 statutory towns. The mission aims at making cities water-secure and self-sufficient. Sewerage and septage management are uniformly included in 500 AMRUT cities, the ministry said. The mission aims to render 2.68 million drinking water tap connections and 2.64 million sewer connections. The mission raises the creditworthiness and market borrowing of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to enhance their financial sustainability, the Ministry emphasised. 'Pey Jal Survekshan' will be conducted in cities to promote healthy competition and to act as a monitoring device and Mission accelerator, it stated. AMRUT 2.0's Technology Sub-Mission will help in the identification of proven and potential global water technologies. Entrepreneurship and start-ups in low-cost indigenous equipment and processes would be funded, it said. Image Source Also read: Centre releases Swachh Bharat 2.0 and AMRUT guidelines Also read: AMRUT projects in nine civic bodies delayed in Kerala