News: In the Budget 2021-22, the Government has announced the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban).
About Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban): The scheme will be implemented first through the signing of MoUs between the Centre, states, and the urban local bodies.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
Objective: The Jal Jeevan Mission-Urban aims to create universal coverage of water supply in all 4,378 statutory towns as well as sewage management in 500 AMRUT cities.
Duration: The duration of the mission is over five years.
Features of the Jal Jeevan Mission:
- It will rejuvenate the water bodies to facilitate sustainable fresh water supply and the creation of green spaces.
- It will promote a circular economy of water through the development of the city water balance plan in each city. The plan will focus on recycling/reuse of treated sewage water and water conservation. 20% of water demand is to be met by reused water.
- Awareness Campaign: Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign are proposed. It will spread awareness among the masses about the conservation of water.
- A drinking water survey ‘Pey Jal Survekshan” will be conducted in cities. It will ascertain the equitable distribution of water, reuse of wastewater, and mapping of water bodies.
- Technology Submission For water: It is proposed to leverage the latest global technologies in the field of water.
- The mission has mandated that a city having a million-plus population will take up PPP projects. These projects shall constitute a minimum of 10% of their total project fund allocation.
- Funding:
- For Union Territories, there will be 100% central funding.
- For North Eastern and Hill States, central funding for projects will be 90%.
- Central funding will be 50% for cities with less than 1 lakh population, one-third for cities with 1 lakh to 10 lakh population, and 25% for cities with a million-plus population.