**Executive Summary**
The document addresses Starred Question No. 269 regarding improvements in drainage systems, posed in the Lok Sabha and to be answered on December 18, 2025. It outlines the roles of State Governments and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/Urban Development Authorities (UDAs) in managing drainage, as well as the central government's support through schemes like Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). The document details progress under AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 in addressing waterlogging and drainage issues, with a particular focus on Uttar Pradesh.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Roles and Responsibilities**
* Water and Sanitation are State subjects.
* ULBs/UDAs are responsible for maintaining drainage and sewerage systems at the city/town level.
* Urban Planning is a function of ULBs/UDAs, as per the 12th Schedule of the Constitution.
* Government of India supplements State efforts through financial and technical support.
* **Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)**
* Launched in 2015 in selected 500 cities.
* Storm water drainage is an admissible component, focusing on reducing flooding.
* States/UTs are empowered to select, appraise, prioritise, and implement projects within Mission guidelines.
* Under AMRUT, 838 storm water drainage projects approved, with 813 completed, and 1,468 km of storm water drainage network laid.
* Under AMRUT, 890 sewerage/septage management projects grounded, resulting in 21,754 km of sewer network.
* **AMRUT in Uttar Pradesh**
* 179 sewerage/septage management projects have been taken up.
* The State has reported development of 408 MLD STP capacity.
* Coverage of 23,59,034 households under sewerage/septage management projects.
* Uttar Pradesh has not undertaken any Storm Water Drainage project under AMRUT.
* **AMRUT 2.0**
* Launched on October 1, 2021, in all ULBs/cities, including hill towns/cities, to enable cities to become 'self-reliant' and 'water secure'.
* Projects related to rejuvenation of water bodies and wells can be taken up by the States.
* Proposals for 3,031 water body rejuvenation projects have been approved.
* 588 Sewerage and Septage Management projects have been approved covering 35,801 KM of sewer network.
* 194 water body rejuvenation projects have been approved in Uttar Pradesh.
* 26 projects have been approved in Uttar Pradesh under sewerage/septage management sector.
* **Resources and Initiatives**
* The Ministry has published a Manual on Water Supply and Treatment Systems (Drink from Tap) in March 2024.
* Ministry brought out Standard Operating Procedure on Urban Flooding, 2017 and published manual on Storm Water Drainage Systems, 2019.
* AMRUT promotes the adoption of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) based operations.
* **Uttar Pradesh State Government Initiatives**
* State has launched a Storm Water Drainage Scheme for Urban Flood/Waterlogging issues in 2024-25.
* Under this scheme, a budget provision of ₹1,000 crore has been made for the current financial year 2025-26.
* Funds have been released for the preparation of Integrated Urban Stormwater Drainage Master Plans for 16 municipal corporations.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
*Impact*
Responsible for the management and maintenance of drainage and sewerage systems. They are impacted by the central government's schemes and advisories.
*Action Required*
Implement projects and utilise the resources provided by the central government, such as AMRUT and the published manuals.
**Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/Urban Development Authorities (UDAs)**
*Impact*
Responsible for maintaining drainage and sewerage systems at the city/town level. They must survey and prepare drainage plans.
*Action Required*
Develop and implement drainage plans as per local needs and utilize the support offered under AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0.
**Citizens**
*Impact*
Directly impacted by the effectiveness of drainage systems, affecting public health, safety, and convenience.
*Action Required*
Monitor improvements in drainage and water management; Report issues to respective authorities.
Key Entities Referenced
AMRUT: Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, a program focused on urban infrastructure, including water supply and drainage, across selected cities in India.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: The primary ministry responsible for policies related to housing and urban development, including drainage systems.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ Urban Development Authorities (UDAs): Local government entities responsible for maintaining drainage and sewerage systems at the city/town level.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where specific drainage projects and initiatives are being implemented under AMRUT and other state schemes.
Nal Se Jal Yojana: Drinking water supply scheme. A lack of a proper drainage system causes serious problems despite the availability of drinking water supply under this scheme.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.269
TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 18, 2025
IMPROVEMENTS IN DRAINAGE SYSTEM
NO. 269. SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHWAHA:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to
state:
a) whether despite availability of drinking water supply in cities and
towns under the Nal Se Jal Yojana, lack of proper drainage system
in most areas is causing/creating serious problems such as
waterlogging, filth and accidents and if so, the details thereof
along with the reasons therefor and the departments/agencies
responsible for the same;
b) whether the Government has conducted any audit, survey or
prepared any status report of such areas across the country,
particularly in Purvanchal and municipal areas of Uttar Pradesh
and if so, the details thereof;
c) whether the Government proposes to implement any
comprehensive action plan, additional budget allocation or
special monitoring mechanism for improvement of drainage
systems, pipeline maintenance and prevention of leakage and
overflow and if so, the details thereof; and
d) whether the lack of maintenance and absence of proper drainage
system is causing serious inconvenience to the public and if so,
the details thereof along with the timeline fixed for the redressal
of the said problem?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI MANOHAR LAL)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF
STARRED QUESTION NO. 269 DUE FOR ANSWER IN THE LOK SABHA
ON 18th DECEMBER, 2025 REGARDING “IMPROVEMENTS IN
DRAINAGE SYSTEM”
(a) to (d): Water and Sanitation are State subjects and management
of drainage and sewerage system falls under the purview of the State
Governments and the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ Urban Development
Authorities (UDAs) at city/ town level who are responsible for
maintaining the drainage and sewerage system. Further, as per 12th
Schedule of the Constitution, Urban Planning is the function of ULBs/
UDAs. The ULBs/ UDAs under the State Governments survey and
prepare drainage plans as per the local needs. Government of India
supplements the efforts of the States through schematic
interventions/ advisories. It provides financial and technical support
to the States to strengthen water and sewerage systems.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation
(AMRUT) was launched in the year 2015 in selected 500 cities. Under
AMRUT Mission, storm water drainage was an admissible component
which involved construction and improvement of drains/ storm water
drains to reduce and eliminate flooding. States/ Union Territories
(UTs) are empowered to select, appraise, prioritise and implement
the projects within the broad framework of Mission guidelines.
Under AMRUT, 838 Storm Water Drainage projects worth
₹3016.82 crore were approved. As reported by the States/ UTs on
AMRUT Portal, 813 Storm Water Drainage projects worth ₹2,403.35
crore have been completed and 1,468 km of storm water drainage
network has been laid. Under AMRUT, 890 sewerage/septage
management projects have been grounded, which has led to creation
of 21,754 km length of sewer network.
In the State of Uttar Pradesh, 179 sewerage/septage
management projects worth ₹7,353.01 crore have been taken up
under AMRUT, covering 2917.92 KM of sewer network. The State has
reported development of 408 Million Litre per Day (MLD) of Sewerage
Treatment Plant (STP) capacity and coverage of 23,59,034
households (new/ serviced) under sewerage/septage management
projects under AMRUT and in convergence. The State of Uttar
Pradesh has not taken up any Storm Water Drainage project under
AMRUT.
Further, AMRUT 2.0 was launched on 01 October 2021 in all
ULBs/ cities including hill towns/ cities, enabling the cities to become'self-reliant' and 'water secure'. Under AMRUT 2.0, projects related to
rejuvenation of water bodies and wells can be taken up by the States.
The admissible elements under this include harvesting the rainwater
through storm water drains into water body (which is not receiving
sewage/ effluent). Under AMRUT 2.0, proposals of the States/ UTs for
3,031 water body rejuvenation projects worth ₹6,270.51 crore have
been approved. Further, 588 Sewerage and Septage Management
projects have been approved covering 35,801 KM of sewer network.
In the State of Uttar Pradesh under AMRUT 2.0, 194 water body
rejuvenation projects worth ₹385.64 crore covering 815.44 acre have
been approved. Under sewerage/septage management sector, 26
projects costing ₹5,054.93 crore for development of 201 MLD STP
capacity and covering 2003.61 KM have been approved. Against
targeted 9,22,813 household sewer connections (new/ serviced),
4,70,843 connections have been provided.
The Ministry has published Manual on Water Supply and
Treatment Systems (Drink from Tap) in March 2024
(https://mohua.gov.in/publication/manual-on-water-supply-and-
treatment- systems---drink-from-tap---march-2024.php), for reference
by the States/ ULBs for designing and implementation of the water
supply projects. The manual provides for District Metered Area (DMA)
approach for water supply to accurately track water use and loss,
which helps to identify and manage leaks, improve efficiency, and
implement targeted pressure management.
Ministry also brought out Standard Operating Procedure on
Urban Flooding, 2017 and published manual on Storm Water Drainage
Systems, 2019 to assists the States/ UTs and ULBs and other
stakeholders on the planning, design, operation and maintenance of
Storm water drainage systems.
Further, to strengthen maintenance systems and digital
monitoring, AMRUT promotes the adoption of smart elements/
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) based operations.
258 water supply schemes under AMRUT have SCADA system and
1,415 water supply projects under AMRUT 2.0 has provision for
SCADA system.
The State Government of Uttar Pradesh has informed that Storm
Water Drainage Scheme for Urban Flood/ Waterlogging issues has
been launched by the State in the year 2024-25. This scheme
provides for preparation of an Integrated Urban Rainwater DrainageMaster Plan for the urban local bodies and construction of
primary/secondary drains (with a width of not less than one meter)
based on the Master Plan. Under this scheme, a budget provision of
₹1,000 crore has been made for the current financial year 2025-26. In
the first phase, funds have been released for the preparation of
Integrated Urban Stormwater Drainage Master Plans for 16 municipal
corporations of the State. Additionally, Gorakhpur Nagar Nigam has
already started preparation of drainage master plan with their own
funds. In the financial year 2025-26, in-principle approval has been
accorded for 21 previously identified drainage projects with a total
cost of ₹1,728.75 crore under the said scheme. The State has also
informed that under the State-sector Sewerage and Drainage
Scheme, a total of 337 projects worth ₹810.69 crore have been
sanctioned for Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar
Panchayats during the financial year 2023-24.
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