10 Years of AMRUT Scheme: Objectives, Key Features and Focus Areas

AMRUT Scheme stands for Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation which aim is to improve the quality of life for all, with a particular focus on the poor and disadvantaged.

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Context: The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) has reached a major milestone, completing 10 years since its launch on June 25, 2015.

10 Years of AMRUT Scheme

AMRUT Scheme was launched on June 25, 2015. AMRUT is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme by the Government of India.
Aims to enhance urban infrastructure and ensure a better quality of life in selected cities and towns.
- The AMRUT scheme was launched to enhance the quality of life in urban areas by addressing critical infrastructure needs.
Focuses on delivering basic civic amenities like water supply, sewerage, urban mobility, and green spaces with an emphasis on inclusivity and sustainability.

Objectives of AMRUT Mission

Universal Access to Water and Sewerage: Ensure every urban household has functional tap water and sewer connections.
Improved Urban Livability: Enhance city environments with parks, green spaces, and non-motorized transport
Pollution Control: Encourage sustainable transport and waste management to curb pollution.
Inclusive Development: Address the needs of the urban poor and disadvantaged sections by ensuring access to essential services.

Facts

Around 36% of India’s population lives in cities, and by 2047, it will be more than 50%.
The World Bank estimates that around $840 billion is required to fund the bare minimum urban infrastructure over the next 15 years.

Key Features and Focus Areas

Water Supply: Expansion and rehabilitation to achieve universal tap water coverage.
Sewerage and Septage Management: Increase sewer connectivity and support faecal sludge management.
Stormwater Drainage: Develop systems to tackle urban flooding and waterlogging.
Green Spaces and Parks: Allocate up to 5% of project costs for developing child- and elderly-friendly parks.
Non-Motorised Transport: Build infrastructure for walking and cycling to reduce traffic and air pollution.

Financial Outlay and Implementation

Total Investment: ₹77,640 crore approved under State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs).
Central Assistance: ₹35,990 crore committed by the Government of India.
Projects:
- Over 5,800 projects worth ₹82,222 crore
- More than 4,600 projects completed
Coverage:
- Initially included 500 cities, now scaled up to cover all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) under AMRUT 2.0.
Key Achievements:
- Provided 134 lakh water tap connections.
- Installed 102 lakh sewer connections, moving towards universal service coverage.

Financial Outlay: The total outlay for AMRUT is ₹50,000 crore (Phase 1) and ₹2,99,000 crore (Phase 2), with the Central government contributing ₹76,760 crore in Phase 2.

100-Day Agenda of AMRUT Mission

Under the 100-day agenda, cities also aim to establish sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a total capacity of 500 million litres daily (MLD) that would benefit around 6 lakh households and 150 MLD water treatment plants for 2 lakh households.
It includes approval of long-pending proposals, including notification of the Delhi Master Plan 2041 and the incubation of eight greenfield cities to Rs 1,000 crore each in the country, as the 15th Finance Commission recommended.

AMRUT 2.0

AMRUT 2.0 scheme was launched on 01 October 2021 for a period of 5 years (from 2021-22 to 2025-26).

AMRUT 2.0 will focus on:

Enhancing sewerage and septic management, and making all Indian cities water secure.
providing 100% coverage of water supply to all households in around 4,700 urban local bodies by providing about 2.68 crore tap connections and
100% coverage of sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities by providing around 2.64 crore sewer or septage connections

Implementation Progress of AMRUT Scheme

Funds Dispersed: As of May 19, 2024, ₹83,357 crore has been dispersed under the scheme.
Key Achievements:
- 58,66,237 tap connections provided.
- 37,49,467 sewerage connections were established.
- 2,411 parks developed.
- 62,78,571 LED lights were replaced.

Challenges of AMRUT Scheme

Water and Sanitation

An estimated 200,000 people die annually due to inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene.
India’s disease burden due to unsafe water and sanitation is significantly higher than China’s.
Untreated wastewater and limited water treatment pose health risks.
40% of India’s population may lack access to drinking water by 2030.
31% of urban households lack piped water, and 67.3% lack piped sewerage connections.

Air Pollution

Air quality in AMRUT cities continues to deteriorate, necessitating the launch of the National Clean Air Programme in 2019.

What Went Wrong?

Flawed Design: The scheme adopted a project-oriented approach instead of a holistic one.
Lack of Participation: Cities had limited involvement in the planning and implementation process.
Top-Down Approach: Bureaucrats and private entities dominated decision-making, sidelining people’s representatives.
Misaligned Priorities: Real estate development often took precedence over sustainable urban planning.
Neglect of Local Context: Water management failed to consider climate, rainfall patterns, and existing infrastructure.

Way Forward

Nature-Based Solutions: Incorporate natural solutions like rainwater harvesting and green infrastructure.
Comprehensive Approach: Address water, sanitation, air pollution, and other urban challenges holistically.
People-Centric Approach: Empower local communities and elected representatives in decision-making.
Sustainable Urban Planning: Prioritise long-term sustainability and resilience over short-term gains.