AMRUT: A shelter and right environment to live life to the fullest
A house is a turning point in everyone’s life and the National Democratic Alliance government’s efforts did not just provide a house, but the right environment to live life to the fullest. The World Bank has recently released the Doing Business Report (DBR) 2019 and the country’s rank in Construction Permits indicator has gone up to 52 from 181, a year ago. This was achieved due to the reforms implemented and consistent efforts of the Municipal Corporations of Delhi and Mumbai in facilitating Ease of Doing Business in construction permits.
In a determined bid to recast the urban landscape of the country to make urban areas more livable and inclusive besides driving the economic growth, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, focus to establish infrastructure that could ensure adequate robust sewage networks and water supply for urban transformation by implementing urban revival projects. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2015 with Rajasthan being the first state in the country to submit State Annual Action Plan under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).
While elaborating scheme on 25th June 2015, Prime Minister said, this competitive mechanism would end the top-down approach, and lead to people-centric urban development. Technology, transportation, energy efficiency, walk-to-work, cycling were some elements mentioned by the Prime Minister. Prime Urbanization should be viewed as an opportunity and urban centres should be viewed as growth centres. This people-centric scheme has a clear vision. India is completing 75 years of independence in 2022, and by then, it was our responsibility to provide a house for everyone.
The scheme aimed Housing for all by 2022 and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) were launched on the same day. The scheme is dependent on the public-private partnership (PPP) model. If required, various other schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission, Housing for All 2022, along with the local state schemes like that related to water supply and sewerage and other infrastructure related schemes can be linked to AMRUT.
Important points of this scheme--
I. An assured supply of water and a sewerage connection;
II. Increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces (e.g. parks)
III. Reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorized transport (e.g. walking and cycling)
IV. About ₹1 lakh crore (US$14 billion) investment on urban development under Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation of 500 cities has already been approved by the government
V. Eligibility for this scheme is SAAP (State Annual Action Plans) is a consolidated plan of all the city level SLIPs (Service Level Improvement Plan) of all proposed AMRUT cities in the respective states.
VI. A formulation on City level SLIP is done based on diligent estimation of ambiguities in the availability of infrastructure like water supply, sewerage network, draining system, transportation facilities, available digital and internet facilities, industrial facilities etc. 135litres per capita per day is another factor in the process including water supply and sewerage connections to all urban households.
VII. The Cabinet has approved the Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation of 500 cities (AMRUT) with outlays of Rs.48,000 crore and Rs.50,000 crore respectively.
AMRUT Mission also has a reform agenda spread over 11 reforms comprising 54 milestones to be achieved by the States and Union Territories over a period of four years. During 2018-19, an amount of Rs.600 crore has been earmarked to incentivize the states/ UTs for implementing reforms out of which, Rs.260 crore has been earmarked to incentivise the AMRUT cities for issuing municipal bonds. An amount of Rs.340 crore has been disbursed to 21 States/ UTs during the year 2018-19 for implementation of reforms.
As per the report published on 17 March 2017, Rs.11,421cr investments for basic urban infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh under Atal Mission (AMRUT). Tamil Nadu-Rs.11,237cr, Maharashtra-Rs.6,759 cr, Haryana-Rs.2,544 cr, Chattisgarh-Rs.2,192 cr Manipur-Rs.180 cr, Sikkim-Rs.39 cr