Government Rolls Out Jal Hi AMRIT Scheme for Efficient Water Management

The government introduced the Jal Hi AMRIT scheme in its first 100 days to encourage efficient water management. The scheme incentivizes STP management for good-quality treated water. Over 263 projects worth Rs 9,352 crore have been initialized, focusing on improving citizens' lives and urban transport.

The government has unveiled the Jal Hi AMRIT scheme within its first 100 days, aiming to promote efficient water management, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, announced. The initiative encourages states and Union Territories (UTs) to manage sewage treatment plants (STPs) efficiently, ensuring the production of high-quality, recyclable treated water.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs reported that Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and parastatal agencies are nominating STPs from their regions for the scheme. Under AMRUT 2.0, the minister highlighted the ministry's 100-day achievements, which include implementing 68 projects worth Rs 3,020 crore and 41 projects worth Rs 3,805 crore across 13 states, totaling Rs 6,825 crore.

The states partaking in these projects include Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. In total, 263 projects worth Rs 9,352 crore will either be inaugurated or have their foundations laid within this time frame. The initial efforts aim to enhance citizens' quality of life and ensure dignified living conditions.

Rounding up his address, Lal referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Housing for All initiative, noting the Union Cabinet's resolution on June 10, 2024, to assist 3 crore additional rural and urban households in house construction. The minister further discussed PMAY-U 2.0, which targets the housing needs of 1 crore families, amounting to a total investment of Rs 10 lakh crore.

Lal also highlighted the government's strides in urban transport, with approvals for three metro projects worth Rs 31,000 crore: Bengaluru Metro Phase-3, Thane Internal Ring Road Metro Project, and the southward extension of the Pune Metro Rail Project. Prioritizing water recycling and reuse in both rural and urban areas, the Jal Hi AMRIT scheme was introduced to reinforce water management efforts. In the realm of sanitation, Lal mentioned the Swachh Bharat Mission and the Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 Campaign, which have seen around 7.5 lakh Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) registered, of which 86 per cent have already been cleaned.

(With inputs from agencies.)