Gujarat draws up Rs 15K-cr plan to create urban infrastructure

NEW DELHI, October 12: Gujarat has proposed a Rs 15,375 crore action plan to ensure basic infrastructure in 31 cities of the state under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) in the next five years. Under the comprehensive plan, the state government intends to set up 19 Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) at a total cost of Rs 4,721.57 crore to create a total treatment capacity of 869 million litres per day. In the AMRUT action plan sent to the Urban Development Ministry, the state government projected that by 2030, Gujarat will emerge as the second-most urbanised state in the country with urban population increasing to 66 percent of the total population from the present 43 percent. Urbanisation in Tamil Nadu is forecast to be 67 percent in 2030, said a release. According to the Rs 15,375 crore action plan, 42 percent is to be spent on providing water supply connections to all urban households in 31 AMRUT cities, 30 percent on providing sewerage connections to all households. Also, 12 percent is earmarked for ensuring drainage services to the extent of 50 percent. The rest of the allocation will go towards urban transport and provision of green spaces and parks. For 2015-16, Gujarat has proposed State Annual Action Plan (SAAP) for Rs 1,204 crore for taking up water supply-related projects in 11 mission cities at a cost of Rs 233.65 crore, Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) in 19 cities at a cost of Rs 916.07 crore, storm water drainage projects in Bhuj and Vadodara at a cost of Rs 39 crore, urban transport projects in Gandhinagar at a cost of Rs 1.70 crore and works for providing green and open spaces in Amreli, Botad, Mehsana and Gandhinagar at a cost of Rs 14 crore. Regarding financing during the five-year Atal Mission period, Gujarat government has sought central assistance of Rs 2,478 crore with the state to contribute Rs 1,941 crore and urban local bodies chipping in with Rs 700 crore as their share. Under convergence, investment of Rs 10,282 crore is to be met from ongoing schemes of the state government. Gujarat government has reported that in 11 cities identified for taking up of water supply projects, 60 percent of households in Botad and Morbi have water connections, 63 percent in Mehsana, 70 percent in Nadiad, 72 percent in Vadodara, 90 percent in Deesa and Bharuch and 95 percent in Surat. Sewerage connections are available at present only in Jamnagar to the extent of 25 percent of households, 70 per cent in Rajkot, 80 per cent in Nadiad, 95 per cent in Ahmedabad and 96 per cent in Surat. AMRUT aims at universal water supply and sewerage network coverage followed by storm water drains, urban transport and provision of green and open spaces. The national norm for water supply in urban areas is 135 litres per capita per day. Under AMRUT, central assistance is provided to the extent of 50 percent of the project cost for cities with a population of up to 10 lakh and one third of the cost if the population is above 10 lakh. Of the 31 AMRUT cities in Gujarat, four -- Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot -- have population of above 10 lakh. Gujarat government has agreed to contribute 20 per cent to 40 per cent of the project cost under Atal Mission during the Mission Period of 2015-20 while urban local bodies will chip in with 10 per cent to 47 per cent of such expenditure. The Centre has provisioned Rs 50,000 crore for assistance under Atal Mission for five years. The state governments and urban local bodies are required to contribute an equal amount as their share with the states required to make a minimum contribution of 20 per cent of the project cost.