Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 24

Jammu and Kashmir has secured Rs 10.5 crore in incentive funding under the federal government’s AMRUT 2.0 programme to promote wastewater recycling, officials said on Wednesday, as the Union Territory stepped up efforts to improve water security through greater reuse of treated sewage.

The announcement came during a meeting of the Water Resource Recovery Cell (WRRC), constituted under the Jal Hi AMRIT initiative, which reviewed measures to expand the use of treated wastewater for non-potable purposes across urban areas.

The meeting, chaired by Housing and Urban Development Commissioner Secretary Mandeep Kaur, focused on strengthening water circularity by encouraging the reuse of treated wastewater in sectors including horticulture, industry, construction and urban landscaping.

Officials said the Housing and Urban Development Department is implementing water supply, sewerage and water body rejuvenation projects under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 programme.

Under its Jal Hi AMRIT component, aimed at upgrading sewage treatment infrastructure through performance-based incentives, Jammu and Kashmir has received Rs 10.5 crore to improve wastewater management systems.

The ongoing works include the installation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and tertiary treatment facilities to enhance the quality of treated wastewater before its reuse.

Authorities said the Water Resource Recovery Cell was established to improve coordination among departments responsible for agriculture, horticulture, industry, urban local bodies, water supply, irrigation, forestry and environmental regulation to maximise the productive use of treated water.

During the meeting, Kaur directed officials to prioritise the use of treated wastewater for irrigating parks and gardens, industrial processes, construction activities, automobile washing and kitchen gardens while helping reduce losses in urban water distribution.

She emphasised that wastewater should only be reused after meeting prescribed quality standards and called for robust monitoring and testing mechanisms.

The Housing and Urban Development Department also asked the Jal Shakti Department and the Urban Environmental Engineering Department to explore a dedicated pipeline network for supplying treated wastewater to parks and gardens in Srinagar.

A separate working group will be established for Jammu to examine the feasibility of a similar integrated project.

India has increasingly promoted wastewater recycling under AMRUT 2.0 as part of broader efforts to address water scarcity, improve urban water management and support sustainable development through circular economy practices.