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The Centre has approved Rs. 62,935.90 crore for sewerage and septage projects under the AMRUT 2.0 (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) scheme, according to Minister of State Tokhan Sahu. The projects will establish a vast 29,105 km sewerage network and enhance sewage treatment capacity by 5,791.94 million litres per day (MLD), Sahu informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Launched on October 1, 2021, AMRUT 2.0 is a five-year initiative running from the financial year 2021-22 to 2025-26. Previously, the Centre had sanctioned Rs. 32,456 crore for sewerage and septage projects under the original AMRUT scheme, which began on June 25, 2015. To date, 313 sewerage treatment plants (STPs) with a combined capacity of 6,232 MLD have been approved, with 214 of these plants—totaling 4,174 MLD—already completed. Approximately 18,000 km of sewerage network has been laid in these projects.
AMRUT focuses on essential urban infrastructure, including water supply, sewerage and septage management, stormwater drainage, green spaces and parks, and non-motorized urban transport. It also incorporates Urban Reforms and Capacity Building initiatives.
While sanitation falls under state jurisdiction and is managed by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) supports state efforts by providing infrastructure for sewerage through its flagship missions and schemes.
According to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and a report by the Central Monitoring Committee, there are currently 1,261 STPs with a total capacity of 30,001 MLD across 31 states and union territories. However, only 56% of this capacity is utilized for treating municipal sewage.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has set effluent standards for STPs covering pH, Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand, Total Suspended Solids, and Fecal Coliform.
AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 include projects for networked underground sewerage systems, upgrading existing sewerage systems, and constructing new STPs. These projects are selected, appraised, approved, and implemented by states and union territories based on local conditions and needs. |
