Govt launches AMRUT to develop infrastructure in water sectors

The government launched Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) in 2015 in 500 selected cities and towns across all the states and Union Territories (UTs) to develop infrastructure in the water sectors. AMRUT aims to develop infrastructure in the various sectors, including water supply, sewerage and septage management, stormwater drainage, non-motorised urban transport, and green spaces and parks. It also includes reforms and capacity building. The total outlay under the mission is Rs 50,000 crore, from which Rs 35,990 crores have been earmarked for AMRUT projects, and the remaining amount for other components of the mission, including Administrative and Office Expenses (A&OE), reform incentives, eligible spillover projects of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM), Sub-scheme of Geographic Information System (GIS) based Master Plan and Sub-scheme of Local Area Programme-Town Planning Scheme (LAP-TPS). The funds under this mission have been earmarked for the entire mission period. The funds have not been earmarked annually or city-wise. Against the total approved plan size of Rs 77,640 crore, the states and UTs have taken up 5,850 projects worth Rs 81,283 crore. From which,4,158 projects worth Rs 26,193 crore have been completed, and Rs 60,446 crore work physically completed. Against the target of providing 139 lakh tap water connections to achieve universal water supply coverage and 145 lakh sewer connections, 126 lakh tap water connections and 95 lakh sewer connections have been provided under the mission and in convergence with another scheme. According to reports, implementation of some AMRUT projects had been delayed due to various reasons, like land disputes, natural calamities, delay in obtaining land clearances and permissions from other departments and lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic etc. Image Source Also read: Govt approves sub-scheme on GIS-based Master Plan for AMRUT cities