The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has informed Parliament that large-scale investments in sewerage infrastructure, green spaces and non-motorised transport are underway as part of efforts to promote environmentally sustainable urban development.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the ministry said that under the AMRUT scheme, 889 sewerage and septage management projects worth ₹34,467 crore have been grounded, creating 4,843 MLD of sewage treatment capacity along with 1,437 MLD capacity for recycle and reuse.
Under AMRUT 2.0, 583 sewerage and septage projects valued at ₹61,117.69 crore have been approved so far, covering 6,649 MLD of sewage treatment capacity, including 1,931 MLD earmarked for recycle and reuse.
On non-motorised transport, the ministry said 348 projects worth ₹1,020.7 crore have been grounded under AMRUT.
Works amounting to ₹983.16 crore have been physically completed, resulting in the creation of 430 km of pedestrian walkways and 43 km of dedicated cycle tracks.
Read also : Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat RRTS corridor nears completion with over 96 per cent physical progress
The ministry said 2,497 green space and park projects have been completed, developing about 5,277 acres of permeable green space.
It also said nine water body rejuvenation projects worth ₹71.29 crore have been taken up under AMRUT.
For AMRUT 2.0, the ministry said 3,016 water body rejuvenation projects worth ₹6,223.48 crore and 1,665 green space and park projects valued at ₹1,117.48 crore have been approved.
The ministry noted that the Model Building Bye-Laws, 2016 include provisions for green buildings, while the Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation Guidelines, 2014 incorporate sustainability measures.
It added that the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2022–26 incentivises reforms such as transit-oriented development, sponge cities, urban forests, conservation of water bodies and inclusion of green building initiatives in bye-laws, with incentives of approximately ₹11,000 crore released to States and Union Territories under the scheme during 2022–25.
Read also : India’s metro network crosses 1,095.66 Km; 957.06 Km under construction across major cities
