AMRUT 2.0: India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Challenge

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