- By 2047, more than half of India’s population will be urban. The AMRUT initiative, established in 2015 and modified in 2021, addresses urban infrastructure requirements.
Achievements of AMRUT Mission:
- Financial utilisation: As of May 19, 2024, ₹83,357 crore has been disbursed under the AMRUT system, which includes payments from the Central Government, States, and Cities.
- Infrastructure Achievements:
- Tap Connections: Tap connections have been installed in 58,66,237 houses, assuring steady water supply.
- sewage Connections: 37,49,467 houses have been linked to the sewage system, hence enhancing sanitation and hygiene.
- Parks Development: 2,411 parks have been created to improve urban green spaces and recreational places.
- LED Street Lights: 62,78,571 LED street lights have been replaced, increasing energy efficiency and providing better urban illumination.
Present Challenges:
- Public Health Crisis: Every year, over 2,00,000 people die as a result of insufficient water, sanitation, and hygiene. As of 2016, India has a disease burden 40 times greater per person than China due to inadequate water and sanitation.
- Water and sanitation issues: Large amounts of untreated wastewater enhance disease susceptibility. Major reservoirs are just 40% full, endangering water availability for drinking, farming, and hydroelectricity.21 large cities are expected to run out of groundwater shortly.
Causes of the existing shortcomings:
- Non-overall Approach: The programme had a project-oriented rather than a holistic approach, failing to include overall urban planning.
- Cities, for example, did not play a substantial role in the scheme’s conception or execution, diminishing its efficacy.
- Second, the governance was directed by bureaucrats and business interests, with limited participation from elected local governments, which violated the 74th constitutional amendment.
- Inadequate Water Management: The strategy does not account for local climate, rainfall patterns, or existing infrastructure, resulting in poor water and sewage management.
- Urban design became controlled by real estate development interests, resulting in the removal of water bodies, interrupted stormwater flows, and inadequate drainage.
- Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene continue to be major public health issues, resulting in a high disease load and death rates.
Way Forward:
- Comprehensive Approach: Transition from project-oriented to comprehensive urban planning, which incorporates all elements of infrastructure development.
- Ensure that municipal governments and local entities actively participate in planning and execution, reflecting local requirements and conditions.
- Enhance the role of local elected officials in decision-making processes to promote accountability and community participation.
- Nature-Based Solutions: Implement sustainable urban design, such as protecting and rehabilitating water bodies and green spaces.
- Consider climate and rainfall patterns when managing water and sewage to improve efficiency and resilience.
- enhance water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure to lower disease burdens and enhance public health outcomes.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/an-overview-of-the-amrut-scheme-explained/article68230075.ece#:~:text=The%20purpose%20of%20the%20AMRUT,switching%20to%20public%20transport%20or