Lok Sabha Question No. 2527 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-13
Subject: AMRUT in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri C N Annadurai

NO. 2527.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2527

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 13, 2025

## AMRUT IN TAMIL NADU

SHRI C N ANNADURAI:

Will the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs be pleased to state:

- (a) the number  of  projects  approved  under  the  Atal  Mission  for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation Mission (AMRUT) since its inception in Tamil Nadu;
- (b) the  number  of  projects  completed  and  the  number  of  projects currently under implementation along with their expected timelines for completion;
- (c) whether the Government has proposed any new  reforms or modifications under AMRUT 2.0 and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)     the manner in which the AMRUT has contributed to the improvement of urban water supply and sewerage systems in AMRUT cities along
- with the measurable outcomes achieved;
- (e) whether the Government has reviewed the functioning of AMRUT and if so, the details thereof along with the thrust areas of AMRUT; and
- (f) the status of various water and sewer connection projects grounded under  AMRUT  in  Tamil  Nadu  during  the  last  three  years  and  the current year?

## ANSWER

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

(a) & (b):   Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is implementing Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT),  which was  launched  on  25  June  2015  in  selected  500  cities  (now  485  cities including 15 merged cities) and towns across the country. As reported by the Government of Tamil Nadu on AMRUT portal, 445 projects have been taken up in the State under AMRUT and an amount of ₹13,339 crore has been sanctioned for  these  projects,  which  includes  Central  Assistance  (CA)  of ₹4,756.68 crore. Out of these projects, 433 projects worth ₹7,810.68 crore have  been  completed,  and  12  Projects  worth  ₹5,528.75  crores  are  at implementation  stage.  Total  works  worth  ₹12,637.60  crore  have  been physically  completed.  State  Government  has  further  informed  that  the tentative date of completion of project is June 2025.

(C): Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 scheme has been launched on 01 October, 2021 in all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ cities, enabling the cities to become 'self-reliant' and 'water secure'. The  Mission  aims  to  provide  water  tap  connections  to  households  in  all statutory  towns.  Providing  universal  coverage  of  sewerage  and  septage management in 500 AMRUT cities is one of the major focus areas of AMRUT 2.0. Rejuvenation of water bodies, development of green spaces and parks, etc are other components of the Mission. The mission focuses on lnformation Education  &  Communication  (lEC),  adopting  latest  technologies  through Start-ups and preparation of Aquifer Management Plans for cities. The reform agenda of the Mission provisions for use of recycled treated used water to meet at least 2O% of total city water demand; 24x7 water supply with 'Drink from tap' (DFT) facility; Geographic Information System (GIS) based master plans of the cities and raising funds through issuance of municipal bonds.

Under  AMRUT  2.0,  AMRUT  Mitra  initiative  has  been  launched  to actively involve women SHG groups in water demand management, water quality  testing,  water  infrastructure  operations,  and  other  water  sectoral projects. So far, 1762 projects worth ₹ 140 crore have been approved under this initiative.

Jal Hi AMRIT has been launched as a sub-scheme under AMRUT 2.0 reforms,  which  aims  to  incentivize  states  and  Uts  to  efficiently  manage meeting environmental standards. The focus of sub scheme is to build capacity &

sewage treatment plants for recyclable treated water incentivizing qualitative improvements in the treated discharge effluent.

The Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) 2.0 has been launched under AMRUT  2.0  in  75  cities.  The  initiative  is  designed  to  integrate  aquifer management  into  broader  urban  planning,  ensuring  that  groundwater resources  are  managed  sustainably  as  cities  continue  to  grow.  Key interventions  include  the  construction  of  new  and  restoration  of  defunct recharge  structures,  implementation  of  rainwater  harvesting  systems, catchment level  improvement  for  regional  groundwater  recharge  and  the development of comprehensive city-wide groundwater management plans.

Technology Sub-Mission is an important component of AMRUT 2.0 to encourage start-up ideas, private entrepreneurship and commissioning them into the pilot projects. It facilitates identification of innovative, proven and potential environment friendly technologies in the fields of water and used water  treatment,  distribution  and  water  body  rejuvenation.  The  Start-ups fulfilling the definition given by "Start-up India" initiative of DPIIT are eligible to participate. As per the AMRUT 2.0 guidelines, start-up projects costing up to ₹20 lakh are approved by a State Water Start -Up Screening Committee consisting of State Mission Director, representative  of technical institute and/ or practitioners in water sector. Approved projects can be taken up for which necessary assistance are provided by the concerned ULB. Start-up projects with path breaking technologies, costing more than ₹20 lakh are approved  by  National  Water  Start-Up  Screening  Committee  consisting  of representatives of MoHUA, CPHEEO and experts in water sector.

(d) Under AMRUT Mission in convergence with the States 189 lakh water tap connections (new/ serviced) have been provided against the target of 139 lakh; 149 lakh sewer connections (new/ serviced) (including households covered through Faecal Sludge and Septage Management-FSSM) provided against  the  target  of  145  lakh;  Sewer  network  of  19,598  kilometers  and water supply network of 64,463 kilometers have been constructed; 4,447 Million Litre Per Day (MLD) Sewerage Treatment Capacity (STP) and 4,734 Million  Litre  Per  Day  (MLD)  Water  Treatment  Capacity  (WTP)  have  been developed; 1,434 km length of drains have been constructed resulting in eliminating  3,708  numbers  of  water  logging  points;  5,086  acres  of  Green space, 430 km pedestrian/ walkway and 43 km of cycle track have been developed.

(e) Project  taken  up  under  AMRUT  mission  are  large  infrastructure projects with long gestation periods. AMRUT guidelines have provisions for formation of State High Powered Steering Committee (SHPSC) headed by the Chief Secretary of the State, to monitor and supervise the implementation of the scheme at the State/ UT level. State Level Technical Committee (SLTC) headed  by  the  Secretary,  Urban  Development  &  Housing  Department provides technical support to the SHPSC in monitoring and supervising the scheme at the State level. Further, an Apex Committee constituted under the ambit of Mission guidelines reviews and monitor the Mission periodically. For assessment and monitoring of work done under AMRUT in the States/ UTs, there is a provision of Independent Review and Monitoring Agencies (IRMAs). Funds are released to the States/ UTs upon satisfactory compliance …4/-

of IRMA reports. Also, in order to fast-track the implementation of AMRUT, the progress is periodically reviewed and monitored through regular video conferences/ webinars/ workshops/ site-visits etc. by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) with the States/ UTs and ULBs. There is a dedicated AMRUT online portal for tracking the progress and project-wise outcomes of provisions of water tap connections provided by the States/ UTs.

(f) Under AMRUT, all the 18 water supply projects worth ₹7,436.02 crore and 18 sewerage/septage management projects worth ₹5,670.8 crore have already been grounded. No projects have been grounded in Tamil Nadu under AMRUT, during the last three years.

Under AMRUT Mission in convergence with the States 16.07 lakh water tap  connections (new/ serviced) and 25.20 lakh sewer connections (new/ serviced) (including households covered through Faecal Sludge and Septage Management-FSSM) have been provided.

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