New Delhi: The Pey Jal Survekshan (PJS), a critical component of the AMRUT 2.0 mission, seeks to assess and recognize achievements in water-related services within urban areas. Manoj Joshi, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), highlighted the mission’s objectives during a media briefing, shedding light on the Pey Jal Survekshan Awards set to be conferred by President of India Droupadi Murmu on March 5, 2024.
The inaugural edition of the awards aims to instigate healthy competition among the 485 AMRUT cities, acting as a monitoring tool and catalyst for the mission’s progress. The focus areas for assessment include the quality, quantity, and coverage of water supply; sewerage and septage management; reuse and recycling of wastewater; and the conservation of water bodies within the city.
Joshi elaborated on the assessment criteria, emphasizing three key parameters:
Access and Coverage: Assessing tap connections at the household level.
Water Quality: Evaluating samples from households and water treatment plants.
Performance on Sustainability Parameters: Gauging the health of water bodies, availability of SCADA & Flowmeters, water quality of samples from Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), and the extent of reuse of treated wastewater.
The survey, conducted from December 2022 to November 2023, captured responses from over 5.21 lakh households. Field assessments involved 830 water treatment facilities, 941 water bodies, 1044 used water treatment facilities, and 2,005 parks. Shri Joshi emphasized the importance of citizen feedback collection, direct field assessment, data reconciliation, and data validation exercises in ensuring comprehensive evaluations.
The Pey Jal Survekshan Awards will include categories such as:
Achievement of Good Water Quality: Recognizing 46 cities.
Achievement towards City Saturation: Acknowledging 54 cities.
AMRUT 2.0 Rotating Trophy of the Year: Awarding one city for exceptional performance.
Special awards will be presented to cities excelling in good quality water bodies, reuse of treated wastewater, and those pioneering sustainable water use. Additionally, certificates of appreciation will be distributed.
Joshi also announced the launch of the AMRUT Mitra Initiative, designed to empower women in urban water management. Under this initiative, women will be designated as “AMRUT Mitra” and engaged in activities such as water quality testing at the household level, billing and collection of water charges, public grievance redressal support, and enhancing citizen experiences in obtaining water connections.
The initiative not only aligns with the objectives of AMRUT 2.0 but also aims to uplift the socio-economic status of women self-help groups, contributing to the overall progress of urban water management in India. The Pey Jal Survekshan Awards Ceremony on March 5, 2024, will mark the official launch of the AMRUT Mitra Initiative.