WATER CRISIS MANAGEMENT IN TOWNS

Water and Sanitation is a State/ULB Subject. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) plays supportive role through schematic interventions and advisories. It provides technical & financial support to State/ULBs.

As per the information received from States/UTs Govts., 35 States/UTs have adopted the provision of rainwater harvesting in their respective building bye laws as suggested by MBBL 2016. CPHEEO, MoHUA has also published Guidance Document on Creation of Rain Water Harvesting Parks. MoHUA through its National Missions i.e., Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) & AMRUT 2.0 is supporting the efforts of State Government for management of water crisis.

Under AMRUT, Urban Local Bodies/States may take up projects of rainwater harvesting under water supply sector as per their assessment/need. MoHUA approves State Annual Action Plans submitted by the States. Under Storm Water Drainage Sector in AMRUT, State/UTs have grounded 813 projects worth ₹2,999 crore of which, 739 projects worth ₹1,864 crore have been completed. This has resulted in elimination of 3,416 water logging points and another 372 water logging points are in progress of elimination. In addition to that, 1,222 km of length of drains are laid & 401 km length of drains are under progress.

ISSR Project

‘Land’ and ‘Colonization’ are State subjects. Schemes related to housing in their respective areas are implemented by States/Union Territories (UTs). However, Government of India is supplementing the efforts of States/ UTs by providing Central assistance under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) since June, 2015 to provide pucca house with basic civic amenities to all eligible urban beneficiaries through four verticals namely (i) Beneficiary-led individual house construction or enhancement (BLC) (ii) Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) (iii) Credit-Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) and (iv) “In-Situ” Slum Redevelopment (ISSR).

Identification of eligible beneficiaries and implementation of projects under PMAY-U is the responsibility of State/ UT Governments concerned. All State/ UT Governments prepare project proposals as per demand in consonance with scheme guidelines of PMAY-U. 

Based on the project proposals submitted by States/ UTs, a total of 2,10,552 houses have been sanctioned for eligible beneficiaries under ISSR vertical of PMAY-U as on 20.03.2023.

Under PMAY-U, more than 1.20 crore houses have been sanctioned as on 20.03.2023. Of the sanctioned houses, 109.40 lakh have been grounded for construction; of which 72.72 lakh are completed/ delivered to beneficiaries. Of the 72.72 lakh completed houses as on 20.03.2023, 52.78 lakh houses have been sanctioned to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) beneficiaries.