Uttar Pradesh proposes to invest Rs.3,287 cr in basic urban infra under AMRUT Plan for 2015-16

Uttar Pradesh Government seeks to invest Rs.3,287 cr for improving water supply and sewerage network services and provision of green spaces and parks in 60 cities under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Action Plan for 2015-16, submitted to the Ministry of Urban Development. Out of this, Rs.1,519 cr is to be spent on water supply schemes in 60 mission cities, Rs.1,698 cr on sewerage projects in 24 cities and Rs.70 cr on providing open spaces in 58 cities. In the State Annual Action Plan for 2015-16 under Atal Mission, the state government has reported better availability of basic infrastructure services than the national average for urban areas. Average water supply in these 60 mission cities is reported to be 161 litres per capita per day as against the national average of 70 lpcd for urban areas in the country. Coverage of urban households with water taps is 54% while it is 50% for the country. 87% of households in these 60 cities are said to be having individual household toilets as against 69% for urban India. Sewerage network services are available to the extent of 34% while it is at a low of 12% for the country.

Under SAAP for 2015-16, the state government has proposed an investment of Rs.352 cr in Ghaziabad to further augment water supply (Rs.45 cr) and sewerage network services(Rs.307 cr), the highest among all 60 mission cities. This if followed by Rs.305 cr for Lucknow, Rs.223 cr for Jhansi, Rs.200 cr for Kanpur, Rs.190 cr for Allahabad, Rs.180 cr each for Varanasi and  Modinagar, Rs.140 cr for Mirzapur, Rs.125 cr for Meerut, Rs.109 cr for Moradabad, Rs.107 cr for Bulandshahar, Rs.98 cr for Ghazipur, Rs.80 cr for Shahranpur and Rs.65 cr for Raibareilly. All cities and towns in the country with a population of above one lakh each and all capital cities and towns are included in Atal Mission. Central assistance to each state under this mission is allocated based on an objective criteria of total urban population and number of statutory urban local bodies in each state.

The AMRUT Action Plan of Uttar Pradesh for 2015-16 will be considered by the Ministry of Urban Development for approval on the 10th of this month. The Ministry has so far approved such plans of 13 states covering a total of 286 cities and towns.