AMRUT projects  : Urban Development Ministry clears first batch for 89 cities worth Rs.2,786cr in AP, Gujarat and Rajasthan 

The Ministry of Urban Development has approved the first batch of state level Action Plans under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) aimed at enabling water supply as per the norm and providing water supply and sewerage connections to all urban households. An inter-ministerial Apex Committee of AMRUT chaired by Shri Madhusudhan Prasad, Secretary(Urban Development) cleared plans worth Rs.2,786.28 cr in this regard for 89 cities in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan yesterday.

This is for the first time that the Urban Development Ministry approved state level plans unlike the past practice of appraising and approving individual projects.

The approved Action Plans have a total of 143 projectsin 89 AMRUT cities in these 3 states. These include 47 schemes relating to ensuring water supply connections and augmenting water supply and 31 projects for expanding sewerage network services in identified cities and towns. The rest pertain to storm water drains, urban transport and green spaces and parks.

Sewerage projects got a lion share of Rs.1,471.07cr followed by Rs.1,225 cr for water supply related schemes.

The Apex Committee of AMRUT approved State Annual Action Plans (SAAP) for the three states for 2015-16. Gujarat proposed SAAP entailing an investment of Rs.1,204.42cr followed by Rajasthan –Rs.919 cr and Andhra Pradesh proposing an investment of Rs.662.86 cr.

Under the SAAP approved, Gujarat will take up sewerage projects in 25 AMRUT cities at a cost of Rs.916 cr and water supply schemes in 11 cities with an investment of Rs.233.65 cr.

Rajasthan will take up sewerage schemes in 6 cities at a cost of Rs.555 cr and water supply projects in 10 cities at a cost of Rs.344 cr.

Andhra Pradesh will focus on water supply in 26 AMRUT cities at a cost of Rs.646.29 cr and provision of green spaces and parks in 30 cities at a cost of Rs.16.57 cr.

Under AMRUT, Central Government will provide an assistance of 50% of project cost for cities with a population of up to 10 lakhs each and one third of project cost for cities with a population of above 10 lakhs each. Rest of the project cost has to be borne by the states and urban local bodies. As per these norms, central assistance for the approved projects in three states comes to Rs.1,356.23 cr.

The Apex Committee approved SAAP of the three states after a 3 hour long deliberations and scrutiny of Plans proposed by the states. SAAP of each state is an integration of all city level Service Level Improvement Plans (SLIP) of all Atal Mission cities in respective states.

City level SLIP is formulated based on detailed assessment of gaps in the availability of infrastructure pertaining to water supply, sewerage network services, storm water drains, urban transport etc.

Ensuring water supply of 135litres per capita per day in urban areas besides providing water supply and sewerage connections to all urban households is the national priority, which Atal Mission seeks to achieve.

Shri Madhusudhan Prasad, Secretary (UD) has urged all the states to ensure water meters for all consumers in urban areas for efficient management of water supply and reducing supply of water without collecting fee (Non-Revenue Water). States have been asked to focus on this from next year onwards.

First installment of central assistance of Rs.118.03 cr for Gujarat, Rs.91.90 for Rajasthan and Rs.66.29 for Andhra Pradesh under Atal Mission will be released shortly.

The states made a detailed presentation on implementation of a set of 11 reforms including time lines for the same. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan will also undertake capacity building of urban local bodies at a cost of Rs.22.23 cr.