Government's AMRUT 2.0 Initiative: Reviving Stepwells and Borewells

Government's AMRUT 2.0 Initiative Aims to Revive Stepwells and Borewells for Groundwater Recharge and Flood Mitigation

The government of India is in the news for its plans to revive defunct borewells, neglected heritage stepwells, and other shallow aquifers in an effort to recharge groundwater and mitigate flooding. This pilot project falls under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0.

AMRUT, launched in 2015, aims to improve the quality of life for all citizens, especially the poor and disadvantaged, by providing basic civic amenities such as water supply, sewerage, urban transport, and parks. The mission focuses on infrastructure development that directly contributes to better service provision.

AMRUT 2.0, the second phase of the mission, aims to enhance sewerage and septic management, make cities water safe, and ensure that no sewage drains into rivers. The objectives include achieving 100% water supply coverage for all households in around 4,700 urban local bodies and 100% coverage of sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities.

The pilot project for groundwater recharge and flood mitigation covers ten cities: Jaipur, Gwalior, Dhanbad, Kolkata, Rajkot, Thane, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai. These cities were selected based on their historical dependence on shallow aquifer systems and the interest of local urban bodies in implementing the project.

The project involves technical partners such as the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), along with the not-for-profit organizations ACWADAM (Advanced Center for Water Resources Development and Management) and Biome Environmental Solutions.

The idea behind this initiative is to recharge shallow aquifers, which can be recharged relatively quickly and with less energy compared to deeper aquifers. Once recharged, the water can be used by local communities, particularly informal settlements that rely on shallow aquifers for water supply.

This project addresses the need to recharge groundwater as the level of groundwater is depleting rapidly in India. According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2022, India is the largest groundwater user globally. Recharging groundwater can also help address water scarcity and flooding situations.

Overall, the government's focus on reviving stepwells, borewells, and shallow aquifers under the AMRUT 2.0 pilot project demonstrates its commitment to water conservation, groundwater recharge, and mitigating the impacts of flooding in urban areas.

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