**Executive Summary**
This document responds to Unstarred Question No. 984 regarding sewerage and septage management in urban areas, to be answered on February 5, 2026. It details the initiatives under AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0, including financial allocations, project status, and incentives for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to upgrade Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). A key initiative is "Jal Hi AMRIT" launched in 2024-25, which introduces a star-rating system for STPs with associated incentives for improved performance.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0:**
* AMRUT was launched on June 25, 2015, in 500 cities, focusing on basic infrastructure development, including water supply, sewerage, and septage management.
* AMRUT 2.0 was launched on October 1, 2021, in all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), aiming to make cities self-reliant and water secure.
* A major focus of AMRUT 2.0 is providing universal sewerage and septage management coverage in 500 AMRUT cities.
* 889 sewerage/septage management projects worth ₹34,467.01 crore have been grounded under AMRUT.
* 583 sewerage projects worth ₹66,117.69 crore have been approved under AMRUT 2.0.
* **Sewage Treatment Capacity:**
* Under AMRUT, approximately 6,299 MLD of sewage treatment capacity has been approved, with 4,843 MLD created, and 1,437 MLD capacity developed for recycle/reuse.
* Under AMRUT 2.0, approved projects cover 6,649 MLD sewage treatment capacity, with 1,931 MLD for recycle/reuse.
* **"Jal Hi AMRIT" Initiative:**
* Launched in 2024-25 under AMRUT 2.0 to incentivize States and Union Territories to efficiently manage STPs for recyclable treated water.
* Focuses on building capacity and incentivizing qualitative improvements in treated discharge effluent.
* STPs are assessed through desktop assessment, field verification, and water quality testing, leading to Star-rating certification with six months validity.
* **Incentives for STPs:**
* Incentives are provided for STPs with 3-Star and above ratings based on treatment capacity groups. (See table on page 2 of document)
* 70% of the incentive is released upfront after meeting conditions, with the remaining 30% released after maintaining the rating for six months.
* Higher ratings are eligible for increased incentives upon standards upgradation.
* The incentive is provisioned for improving operating efficiencies, technology upgrades, capital expenditures for reuse infrastructure, setting up real-time data management, and capacity building of staff.
* Participation is voluntary.
* 860 STPs have enrolled for assessment via an online platform.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) / Cities
* **Impact:** ULBs benefit from financial support for sewage and septage management projects under AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0, contributing to improved infrastructure and water security. They can also receive incentives under "Jal Hi AMRIT" for operating and upgrading STPs, enhancing their performance and environmental impact.
* **Action Required:** ULBs should participate in AMRUT 2.0, "Jal Hi AMRIT" program, enroll their STPs for assessment, and implement upgrades to meet higher star ratings for increased incentives.
**Stakeholder:** Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)
* **Impact:** STPs are provided with financial incentives for enhancing efficiency, upgrading technology, and improving treated water quality. Participation in the star-rating system offers opportunities for recognition and increased funding.
* **Action Required:** STPs should participate in the "Jal Hi AMRIT" program, undergo assessment, and implement necessary improvements to achieve higher star ratings and access incentives.
**Stakeholder:** Citizens
* **Impact:** Citizens benefit from improved sewerage and septage management, leading to better sanitation, water quality, and overall public health.
* **Action Required:** There are no immediate actions listed for citizens.
Key Entities Referenced
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): A mission focused on the development of basic infrastructure, including sewerage and septage management, in selected cities and towns across India. AMRUT aims to transform urban areas by implementing projects related to water supply, sewerage, and septage management.
AMRUT 2.0: The second phase of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, launched to extend the program's reach to all Urban Local Bodies and focus on making cities 'self-reliant' and 'water secure', with an emphasis on sewerage and septage management.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: The central government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of policies, programmes, and projects related to housing and urban development, including schemes like AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0.
Jal Hi AMRIT: A component within AMRUT 2.0 aimed at incentivizing States and Union Territories to manage Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) efficiently for recyclable treated water, promoting environmental standards.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 984
TO BE ANSWERED ON FEBRUARY 05, 2026
SEWERAGE AND SEPTAGE MANAGEMENT IN URBAN AREAS
NO. 984. SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation
(AMRUT) and AMRUT 2.0 focus on sewerage and septage
management in urban areas and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the total number of sewage treatment projects grounded and
approved under both AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 till date;
(c) the total sewage treatment capacity in Million Litres per Day (MLD)
created and approved under these missions;
(d) whether specific capacities have been earmarked for recycle and
reuse of treated sewage water and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government proposes further incentives or support to
Urban Local Bodies for upgradation of existing Sewage Treatment
Plants (STPs) under AMRUT 2.0 and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a) to (d): Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation
(AMRUT) was launched on 25 June 2015 in selected 500 cities (485 cities
including 15 merged cities) and towns across the country. The Mission
focuses on development of basic infrastructure, in the selected cities and
towns, in the sectors of water supply, sewerage and septage
management; etc.
So far, 889 sewerage/septage management projects worth
₹34,467.01 crore have been grounded under AMRUT. Through these
projects, about 6,299 Million Litres per Day (MLD) of sewage treatment
capacity has been approved. Of this, 4,843 MLD sewage treatment
capacity has been created, out of which 1,437 MLD capacity has been
developed for recycle/reuse.
…2/--2-
AMRUT 2.0 has been launched on 01 October 2021 in all Urban Local
Bodies (ULBs)/ cities including West Bengal, enabling the cities to become
'self-reliant' and 'water secure'. Providing universal coverage of sewerage
& septage management in 500 AMRUT cities is one of the major focus
areas of AMRUT 2.0.
So far, 583 sewerage projects worth ₹66,117.69 crore have been
approved by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) under AMRUT
2.0. Approved projects cover 6,649 MLD sewage treatment capacity
(new/augmentation) of which 1,931 MLD sewage treatment capacity is for
recycle/reuse.
(e) Jal Hi AMRIT" under AMRUT 2.0 reforms has been launched in the
year 2024-25, which aims to incentivize States and Union Territories (UTs)
to efficiently manage Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) for recyclable
treated water meeting environmental standards on sustained basis. The
focus of this initiative is to build capacity and incentivizing qualitative
improvements in the treated discharge effluent. This initiative is targeted
to create opportunities for suitable reuse of water, contributing to the
overall goal of water security through increasing water availability under
the Mission.
Under this programme, provision has been made for assessment of
participating STPs based on the desktop assessment, field verification,
water quality testing and thereafter issue of Star-rating certificate with
six months validity to the eligible STPs based on the final assessment.
The amount of incentive for the STPs with 3-Star and above rating in
different groups is as below:
All amounts in ₹
Group - 1 Group - 2 Group - 3 Group – 4 Group – 5
Star STPs with treatment capacity
rating 10 to <50 50 to <100 100 MLD
< 5 MLD 5 to <10 MLD
MLD MLD & above
***** 0.75 Crore 1.5 Crore 4 Crore 6 Crore 8 Crore
**** 0.5 Crore 1 Crore 2 Crore 3 Crore 5 Crore
*** 0.25 Crore 0.75 Crore 1 Crore 2 Crore 2 Crore
A 70:30 incentive release structure has been adopted for this program
with release of 70% of the incentive upfront to the STPs after meeting the
required conditions and remaining 30% of incentive upon maintaining
their star rating for another six months. 4 Star and 3 Star-rated STPs
becomes eligible for balance incentive as earmarked for higher rating,
upon upgradation of their Standards to 5 Star and 4 Star rating
respectively by next year.
…3/--3-
The incentive released under this initiative is provisioned for
improvement of operating efficiencies, technology upgradation, capital
expenditures for reuse infrastructure, setting up of real time data
management system (Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems
(OCEMS) & Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) etc.) and
capacity building of staff by the concerned STPs.
Participation of existing STPs under this sub-scheme is voluntary.
860 STPs have been enrolled (submitted information) via online platform
for assessment.
*****