The Union Budget 2021 presented by Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister, highlights a significant focus toward water supply across the urban local bodies, sustainable water, and wastewater management with a contribution of INR 2.87 lakh crore for 5 years under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and 1,41,678 crore for Urban Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 respectively.
Speaking on the steps taken toward the water industry, George Rajkumar, Country President, Grundfos India, said: “Grundfos India welcomes the additional allocation towards the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation announced by the honorable Finance Minister. Given that the budget had a very sharp focus on the sustainable economic growth of the nation overall, it was great to see the focus on one of the crucial issues, that is urban water supply. Keeping the growing water crisis in mind, the decision to dedicate INR 2.87 lakh crore outlay over 5 years, for the renowned JJM, which is aimed at a universal water supply in all 4,378 urban local bodies, with 2.86 crore household tap connections and liquid waste management in 500 AMRUT cities is a good one. The move to include liquid waste management backed by the budget allocation of INR 1,41,678 crore for Urban Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 is a great step forward to holistically look at sustainable water and wastewater management in India. We hope that this allocation will encourage public and private players to develop innovative solutions for JJM and provide an opportunity to contribute to resolving water issues in the country through advanced water technologies. Furthermore, knowing the fact that we are rich in renewable sources, it is a rational decision to level up the renewable energy allocations, by proposing an additional infusion of INR 1,000 crore to the Solar Energy Corporation of India and 1,500 crore to IREDA continuing to build on a solarized future.”
