Jal Hi AMRIT scheme

(Prelims: Government Schemes and Programs)

Why in News

The Central Government has approved a new scheme ‘Jal Hi AMRIT’ in the first 100 days of the formation of the new government.

About Jal Hi Amrit Program:

What is it: ‘Jal Hi AMRIT’ program has been launched to encourage the promotion of efficient reuse of water by the states and union territories under the AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) 2.0 Mission.
Related Ministry: Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.O
Objective: To improve the quality of treated wastewater in urban areas and promote recycling of treated water.
Goal: To serve as a platform for competition among cities to ensure that treated water meets environmental standards on a sustainable basis and to develop peer learning capabilities.
Key Provisions:
- Clean Water Credit System: The Clean Water Credit system aims to create competition among cities, develop capacity and encourage them to achieve the best quality of treated water.
- Star Rating: Wastewater plants will be awarded Clean Water Credits in the form of a star-rating (between 3 stars to 5 stars) certificate which will be valid for 6 months.
- Performance-Based Incentives: Cities and waste water plants will be provided incentives on the basis of star rating/clean water credits.

AMRUT 2.0 Scheme:

What is it: Initiative launched as a next phase of AMRUT Mission launched in June 2015 to ensure access to water and sewerage connection to every household; AMRUT Mission has been subsumed under AMRUT 2.0
Start date: October 1, 2021
Time period: 05 years (FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26)
Related Ministry: Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Objective: It is to provide universal coverage of water supply through functional taps to all households in all statutory towns of the country and coverage of sewerage/septage management in 500 cities covered in the first phase of AMRUT Yojana.
Thrust areas
- Water supply.
- Sewerage facilities and septage management.
- Rapid drainage to mitigate flooding.
- Pedestrian, non-motorised and public transport facilities, parking spaces.
- Enhancing the amenity value of cities by creating and upgrading green spaces, parks and recreation centres.