Context
Recently, the Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs launched the BHARAT TAP initiative at the ‘Plumbex India’ Exhibition. This exhibition is aimed at products and services related to the plumbing, water, and sanitation industry.
- ‘Nirmal Jal Prayas’ initiative was also launched on the occasion which will work for saving 500 crore litres of water per year.
What is BHARAT TAP Initiative?
- It is a concept to use low flow taps and fixtures.
- It will provide low-flow, sanitary-ware at scale, and thereby reduce water consumption at the source considerably.
- It is estimated to save approximately 40% of water. This will in turn result in water saving and energy saving due to less water and energy will be required for pumping, transporting, and purification.
- This initiative will also be accepted quickly in the country and will lead to a renewed focus on water conservation efforts.
Government Initiatives and their achievement
- Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): It was launched to address open defecation and bring in a behaviour change towards Swachhata.
- Due to SBM’s success, India went from 38% toilet coverage to 100% toilet coverage in rural areas while also building 73.32 lakh household and community toilets in urban areas.
- Swachh Bharat Mission became a Jan Andolanthat inspired the country towards safe and proper sanitation.
- Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Transformation (AMRUT): It aims to provide safe water and sewerage systems for 60% of India’s urban population.
- SBM has been instrumental in the creation of basic infrastructure – with the major allocation going towards water supply and sewerage/septage.
- Achievements: AMRUT has provided 127 lakh household water tap connections and 95 lakh sewer connections across urban India.
- Sewerage projects under AMRUT are expected to lead to a development of approximately 6,000 MLD treatment capacity of STPs.
- Around 2,360 MLD capacity has already been created and around 3,650 MLD of STPs under progress.
About Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0
- Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 was launched along with Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 on 1st October 2021 by the Prime Minister of India.
- Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 aims to achieve sustainable sanitation and scientific waste processing for ‘Garbage Free Cities’.
- The budgetary allotment for SBM-U 2.0 for the State is ?1,765.80 crore, which is 2.5 times more than the allocation of Rs. ?705.46 crore in SBM-U from 2014-19.
Key Priorities of SBM (U) 2.0
- Key focus areas of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 are listed below-
- Phasing out single use plastics.
- Ensuring of the scientific processing of construction & demolition waste
- Establishing Waste to Compost, Waste to Energy, as well as Material Recovery Facilities.
