Contract awarded for 24 other works, MoHUA wants prompt execution
Substantial progress in drainage, green mobility projects
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 13: A total of 80 projects worth Rs 406 crore have been completed under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) in three cities of Jammu and Kashmir while as Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has asked the Government of Union Territory to ensure prompt execution of 24 other works, the contract for which has already been awarded.
The AMRUT was launched on June 25, 2015 in 500 cities and towns across the country and in Jammu and Kashmir there are three such cities—Jammu, Srinagar and Anantnag. The focus of the Mission is on development of basic infrastructure in the sectors of water supply, sewerage and septage management, storm water drainage, green spaces and parks and non-motorized urban transport etc.
As per the document of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs containing progress of AMRUT projects, in three Mission cities of Jammu and Kashmir a total of 80 projects worth Rs 405.79 crore have been completed while as contract has been awarded for 24 works worth Rs 194.22 crore, the work on which will begin shortly as the Union Ministry wants early completion of the same.
As far as sewerage and septage connections are concerned, there was target of 265802 connections as per State Annual Action Plan (SAAP). In three Mission cities, a total of 66,500 new sewer connections have been provided while as a total of 264642 households have been covered under Septage Management. Likewise, 331142 sewer connections have been provided and households covered under Septage Management.
About green space development, the document said that 13 park projects spread over 5 acre have been completed while as work on only one park is pending. Similarly, a total of 32 drainage projects having 122 water logging points have been completed in three Mission cities while as four drainage projects having 57 water logging points are under execution at present.
A total of 13 green mobility projects have been completed while as work is apace on four other while as a total of 143710 street lights have been replaced as against estimated target of 122000 in these three cities. Further, 43 Urban Local Bodies including those of AMRUT towns are having Online Building Permission System.
Under non-motorized urban transport component of AMRUT, 7.67 kilometers of pedestrians walkway has been created against target of 8.03 kilometers while as 3.60 kilometers of dedicated cycle track has been completed against target of 3.97 kilometers. Moreover, 42099 square meters of dedicated parking facility has been created against target of 45887 square meters.
It is pertinent to mention here that AMRUT has been extended to achieve its objective and subsumed under AMRUT 2.0 till 31st March 2023 and States/UTs have to complete AMRUT projects by 31st March 2023.
AMRUT 2.0 scheme was launched on 1st October, 2021 for the period of 05 years—from the financial year 2021-22 to 2025-26. AMRUT 2.0 envisages to make all notified statutory towns and the cities of the country ‘water secure’. Sustainability of quality of water supply is an admissible component of project. Also continuous (24×7) pressurized water supply systems with ‘Drink from Tap’ facilities shall prevent the contamination of drinking water in the pipelines and make the water fit for consumption.
Further, AMRUT 2.0 Mission promotes (24×7) water supply with ‘Drink from tap’ facility in the selected wards which will be evaluated on parameters of quality, accessibility and availability of water.
Pointing towards achievements through reform component of AMRUT, the official document said that Jammu and Kashmir has received several crores of rupees as reforms incentive for registering good performance on various parameters. The implementation of AMRUT is being reviewed after regular intervals by the Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta so that timelines fixed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs are strictly adhered to by the concerned authorities.
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