Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0: Urban Sanitation Efforts Making Progress
The Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0) is making significant strides in enhancing urban sanitation across India. Launched in October 2021, the program aims to create Garbage Free Cities through comprehensive waste management initiatives, including door-to-door collection and efficient segregation of waste. With over ₹6,876 Crore allocated for this mission, States and Union Territories are receiving funds based on their action plans, which must be vetted and approved by both State Level Technical Committees and the National Advisory and Review Committee.
Central share funds are now being integrated into a new framework that utilizes the PFMS, State IFMIS, and the RBI’s e-kuber platform. As of now, a total of ₹811.36 Crore has been claimed by States and UTs through this latest system, following strict utilization guidelines. Furthermore, the Comptroller and Audit General of India oversees the financial aspects of the mission, but there is currently no separate audit specifically for urban sanitation activities.
Progress in Municipal Solid Waste Management
As urban areas generate a staggering 1,62,468 tons of Municipal Solid Waste daily, SBM-U 2.0 responds to this challenge by increasing waste processing capabilities. Currently, approximately 80.31% of generated waste is processed, a significant increase from just 16% in 2014. The establishment of various waste processing facilities, including Material Recovery Facilities and composting plants, has contributed to this growth. To date, 7,783 solid waste processing facilities have been set up across various States.
Dumpsite Remediation and Green Initiatives
The mission also targets the remediation of 2,478 identified dumpsites, each containing over 1,000 tons of waste. Out of these sites, 1,096 have been fully remediated, while progress continues on 986 others. The cumulative amount of waste remediated stands at 15.20 Crore metric tons, reclaiming around 7,903.47 acres of land for productive use.
Moreover, towns classified as National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) cities, along with urban local bodies with populations exceeding 5 lakh, are eligible for additional central assistance to procure mechanized road sweepers. So far, action plans have been submitted for 580 such vehicles, with an approved total project cost of ₹323 Crore, including a central share of ₹96 Crore.
This information was presented by Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Tokhan Sahu, in a recent Lok Sabha session, underscoring the government’s commitment to improving urban hygiene and sustainability through the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
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