In News
- Recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Challenge’ under the Ministry’s Atal mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0.
About
- Aim:
- To empower startups in the water/ used-water sector to grow through innovation and design that will drive sustainable economic growth and generate employment opportunities.
- Vision:
- Technology Sub-mission to engage startups as ‘Technology Partner’
- Selection & Support:
- MoHUA will select 100 start-ups through this challenge and provide Rs.20 lakh each as funding support.
- Mentorship will also be provided in this.
- First of its kind:
- It is a first of its kind networking platform to startups, young innovators, industry partners, incubators and States/cities.
AMRUT 2.0
- About:
- AMRUT 2.0 is a transformative and unique scheme.
- Aim:
- To provide 100% coverage of water supply to all households in around 4,700 urban local bodies by providing about 2.68 crore tap connections and 100% coverage of sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities by providing around 2.64 crore sewer/ septage connections, which will benefit more than 10.5 crore people in urban areas.
- Principle:
- It will adopt the principles of circular economy and promote conservation and rejuvenation of surface and groundwater bodies.
- The Mission will promote data led governance in water management and Technology Sub-Mission to leverage latest global technologies and skills.
- Funding:
- It has a huge outlay of over Rs 2.77 lakh crore.
- Surveys:
- Under this mission, drinking water surveys will be conducted to provide better water services to the people.
- ‘Pey Jal Survekshan’ will be conducted to promote progressive competition among cities.
- Benefits:
- Ensuring water security in the country,
- Reducing water’s transportation costs,
- Reducing groundwater contamination, and
- Increasing water utilisation capacity.
- Importance of Startups:
- Involvement of Startups will help resolve urban water problems in the country.
Significance
- AMRUT has contributed significantly to improve urban landscape during the last seven years.
- It is in line with the SDG 8 dealing with sustainable economic growth.
- It will help in generating more employment opportunities.
- It has ensured water security by adding one crore 10 lakh water tap connections and 85 lakh sewer connections in the last six years.
- It is a step forward towards effectively addressing the challenges of rapidly urbanising India.
Challenges
- Affordable Housing:
- Inadequate affordable housing has meant that the majority of the urban population lives in slums.
- Water Supply & Waste Management:
- Water supply is unreliable.
- Mountains of solid waste sit on the fringes of our cities.
- Poor drainage, congested roads and deteriorating air quality are other challenges.
- Poor Urban Planning:
- The existing urban planning and governance framework is complex, which often leads to ambiguity and lack of accountability.
- City planning has become a highly technocratic exercise with long delays.
- Lack of Coordination:
- Lack of synergy between urban and rural planning and development.
Way Ahead
- Incentives to Startups:
- For the success of the Mission, Start-ups will have to play a meaningful role- by bringing in innovative ideas, Technology, novel delivery mechanism, etc.
- There is a need to assure them of full and active support from the Government.
- Better technology:
- There are enormous issues related to urban water management in our country and better technology is the need of the hour to address them.
- Diverse Investment:
- The huge investment in urban infrastructure is outside the range of what the public budget can support. Thus, the participation of all other stakeholders is needed.
- Awareness:
- Awareness in water management is important to make a healthy society.
Source: PIB
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