The purpose of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) is to ensure that every household has access to a tap with the assured supply of water and a sewerage connection, increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces (e.g. parks) and reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorized transport (e.g. walking and cycling). The Priority zone of the Mission is water supply followed by sewerage. Rejuvenation of water bodies, green spaces, and parks are other components. Outcome-based funding is a major feature of AMRUT 2.0. Funding for the projects under AMRUT & AMRUT-2.0 will be shared by the Centre, States/ UTs and ULBs. The AMRUT 1.0 cities of Kerala are Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur Corporations, and Alappuzha, Guruvayur and Palakkad Municipalities. All 93 Urban Local Bodies in Kerala are included in AMRUT-2.0 except for the Sewerage and Septage sector, which covers only the ULBs included under AMRUT 1.0.

AMRUT Mission was launched on 1st September 2015.

AMRUT 1 scheme is being implemented in 9 AMRUT Cities: -
  • 6 Corporations (Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur) and
  • 3 Municipalities (Alappuzha, Guruvayur and Palakkad).
  • Total Project Outlay/ Approved Project Cost: Rs.2357.69 Cr.
  • Central Assistance for Kerala: 1161.2 Cr.
  • Sanctioned Projects: 1111 (Worth 2386 Cr.) | Completed: 965 | Ongoing: 146
  • Expenditure: 1919.62 (81.42%) 
  • Received 100% Central Assistance 
Activities Under Amrut1 Other Than Projects:
Reforms implementation, Capacity Building, GIS based Master plan (for 9 AMRUT Cities), Local Area Plan (LAP) and Town Planning Scheme (TPS) in certain areas of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
Water Supply Sector
  • Total Projects: 217 Nos. (1461.88 Cr.) | Completed: 172 Nos.
  • Expenditure: 1209.29 Cr. (82.72%)
  • Water Treatment Plant: Target- 6 Nos. (265 MLD) | Achieved: 5 Nos. (165 MLD).
  • Water Supply Network: Target – 2,084 Km | Achieved: 1,806 Km.
  • New Water Tap Connections: Target – 83,582 Nos. | Achieved: 50,647 Nos.
  • Water Tanks (OHSR & GLSR): Target: 20 Nos. (365.5 Lakh Litre) | Achieved: 17 Nos. (307.5 Lakh Litre)
Sewerage Sector
  • Total Projects: 152 Nos. (352.31 Cr.) | Completed: 109 Nos.
  • Expenditure: 252.57 Cr. (71.69%)
  • Sewerage Treatment Plant:

o   Target – 9 Nos. (27.7 MLD)- | Achieved: 7 Nos. (14.6 MLD) | Ongoing: 2 Nos. (13.1 MLD)

  •  Septage Treatment Plant:

o   Target – 5 Nos. (320 KLD) | Ongoing-1 (100KLD) | Pending: 4 Nos. (220 KLD)

  • Sewerage Network: Target – 103 Km | Achieved: 75 Km
  • Sewerage Connection: Target – 29,128 Nos. | Achieved: 398 Nos.
Storm Water Drainage
  • Total Projects: 536 Nos. (336.83 Cr.) | Completed: 502 Nos.
  • Expenditure: 289.74 Cr. (86%)
  • Drainage Network: Target – 337 Km | Achieved: 324 Km
  • Water logging points elimination: Target – 1395 Nos. | Achieved: 1320 Nos.
Urban Transport
  • Total Projects: 128 Nos. (189.58 Cr.) | Completed: 109 Nos.
  • Expenditure: 129.40 Cr. (68.26%)
  • Multi-Level Car Parking: Target – 7 Nos. | Achieved: 3 Nos
  • Footpath: Target – 78.13 Km | Achieved: 77.4 Km
  • Cycle Track: Target – 6.59 Km | Achieved: 6.49 Km
  • Foot Over Bridge: Target – 27 Nos. | Achieved: 27 Nos.
  • Skywalk: Target – 1 No. | Achieved: 1 Nos
  • Subway: Target – 1 No. | Achieved: 1 Nos
Green Spaces & Parks
  • Total Projects: 78 Nos. (46.32 Cr.) | Completed: 73 Nos.
  • Expenditure: 38.46 Cr. (83%)
  • Area Development: Target – 70.8 Acre. | Achieved: 68.01 Acre.
Setting the Stage: Challenges in Kerala's Waste Management Landscape

The Nava Kerala Karma Paddhathi was launched in 2016, recognizing the need for decentralized waste management to address the state’s unique geographical challenges and high population density. Local self-government bodies are entrusted with the full responsibility of waste management, with support from agencies such as the Suchitwa Mission, KILA, Kudumbashree, Clean Kerala Company ltd, Haritha Kerala Mission and KSWMP in urban areas under the Nava Kerala Karma Paddhathi. The Principal Director LSGD supervises the waste management activities of the LSGs.

Following a fire incident at the Kochi Brahmapuram waste treatment plant in 2023, the Kerala High Court intervened, setting a deadline for the state to become completely waste-free by March 30, 2024. In response, the government launched a comprehensive campaign titled “Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam” (Waste-free New Kerala), structured into three phases: emergency, short-term, and medium term. The campaign focuses on grassroots mobilization, infrastructure development, and waste-free practices. Dedicated campaign secretariats were established at state and district levels, comprising representatives from various government departments, agencies, and volunteers with expertise in waste management. The campaign deliverables were:

Multiple initiatives were undertaken to realize these deliverables by the LSGs. Foremost was the comprehensive amendment of the Kerala Panchayati Raj and Municipality Acts to bring provisions in line with the SWM Rules, clarify roles and responsibilities, enhance punitive provisions and enable waste management systems and interventions. 

Door to door coverage was monitored and augmented and all LSGs including panchayats were made to institutionalise the haritha karma sena for waste collection, segregation and transportation. Construction of Mini MCFs for interim storage, MCFs for storage and segregation, procurement of vehicles for transporting waste, developing transportation and lifting plans, undertaking clean up of tourist and cultural destinations, identification, tagging and clean up of garbage vulnerable points, incorporating safety measures in waste management facilities, introduction of new facilities and technologies for improved management, procurement of equipment and machinery for waste management, building citizen awareness and involvement in waste management through community based campaigns, understanding and rectifying policy gaps in waste management through developing of new protocols, SOPs and policy guidelines in areas ranging from MCF SOPs to GPS tracking of vehicles, camera surveillance, managing sanitary waste, licensing of pig farms, scope of private technology or service providers – are some of the initiatives undertaken. Departmental  and institutional responsibilities cutting across departments were driven home through multiple orders, and one on one discussions. 

Creating a sense of citizen responsibility and participation, involving NSS and other student bodies in beach clean up and conversion of waste dumps into sneharamans, creating a theme song that centred the philosophy of My Waste, My Responsibility, were some of the strategic communication interventions attempted. 

Various challenges such as attitudinal barriers still persist, including a lack of segregation habits and a disregard for waste management staff and initiatives. Through concerted efforts and community engagement, Kerala endeavors to overcome these obstacles and emerge as a shining example of effective waste management and environmental stewardship.

AMRUT 2.0 was launched on 1st October 2021 to make cities “Water Secure”.

It is being implemented in all 93 Urban Local Bodies in Kerala.

The projects are taken in 4 sectors: Water Supply (Universal Coverage), Sewage & Septage Management (in 9 AMRUT cities only), Waterbody Rejuvenation, and Green Spaces and Parks.

Total Outlay/ Approved Project Cost: Rs. 3495 Cr.

Approved Central Assistance: Rs. 1374 Cr.

 Project Sanctioned so far (SWAP1&2): 452 (Worth Rs. 2411 Cr.)

SWAP3 projects (Final Tranche):  299 (Worth Rs.1240.35 Cr.) approved by SHPSC and will be submitted to MoHUA by this month.

Total Works: 751 Works (452+299)

Activities Under Amrut 2.0 Other Than Projects:
  • Reforms Implementation: Improving delivery of citizen services, bringing down the cost of delivery, improving financial health, augmenting resources and enhancing transparency.
  • IEC (Information, Education & communication): 
  • Technology Sub-Mission (Promoting Startups): identifying the proven and potential global technologies in the water and sanitation sector. Entrepreneurship/start-ups involved in low-cost indigenous equipment and processes will be encouraged. Start-ups will be selected through a challenge and provided financial assistance.
  • Capacity Building: 
  • GIS Based Master Plan: – for class II towns with population 50,000 to 99,99
  • AMRUT Mitra: – To create sustainable livelihood opportunities for SHG women from the water management projects, foster their skills, raise the community awareness about water conservation & reuse, etc.
  • NUDM (National Urban Digital Mission): – The National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM) is a pilot project under AMRUT 2.0, focused on the online delivery of urban services using shared digital infrastructure across the country. Kerala has been selected for the pilot implementation.
Highlights of AMRUT 2.0
  • Total Outlay:  3495 Cr.
  • Central Assistance: 1374 Cr.
  • Total Projects (SWAP1 & 2): 452 Nos. (2213 Cr.) | Completed: 15 Nos.
Water Supply
  • Total Projects: 156 Nos. (1652.51 Cr.) | Completed- 7 Nos.
  • Expenditure: 225.75 Cr. (13.65%)
  • Water Treatment Plant (New): Target- 7 Nos. (58 MLD)
  • Water Treatment Plant (Augmentation): Target- 4 Nos. (39 MLD)
  • Water Supply Network: Target – 2614.45 Km | Achieved: 792.56 Km.
  • Water Tap Connections:

o   New: Target – 3,86,916 Nos. | Achieved: 56,647 Nos.

o   Replacement: Target – 10,83,925 Nos. | Achieved: 18,281 Nos.

  • Water Tanks (OHSR & GLSR):

o   Target: 35 Nos. (70.07 Million Litre)

Sewerage & Septage
  • Total Projects: 14 Nos. (457.81Cr.) | Awarded: 11 Nos.
  • Expenditure: 9.27 Cr. (2.02%)
  • Sewerage Treatment Plant:

o   New STP: Target – 10 Nos. (62.647 MLD)

o   Augmentation: Target – 1 No. (2 MLD)

o   Sewerage Network: Target – 90.61 Km | Achieved: 1.354 Km

o   Sewerage Connection:

  • Target (New)- 19111 Nos. | Achieved:  0 Nos.
  • Target (Replacement)- Target: 14,058 Nos. | Achieved:  12 Nos.
  • Septage Treatment Plant:

o   New FSTP: Target – 1 No. (1 MLD)

 

Waterbody Rejuvenation

  • Total Projects: 251 Nos. (65.15 Cr.) | Completed: 8 Nos.
  • Expenditure: 6.17 Cr. (9.47%)

 

Micro Water Supply Scheme & ULB projects

  •  Total Projects: 31 Nos. (37.60 Cr.)

 

Parks:

Projects under this sector are proposed under SWAP3 only. It will be submitted to MoHUA for approval soon.

  1.   Progress shown above for AMRUT 2.0 projects is under SWAP-1 & SWAP-2 (Tranche 1&2).
  2.  The SWAP-3 Proposal is ready for submission.