nAs many as 1,159 parks have been developed on 4,288 acres across the country under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) a flagship programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, more than 4,288 acre is being enriched as green spaces and parks under the mission, a flagship programme of the central government. “So far, a total of 1,159 parks have been developed across the country under AMRUT,” the official said.
He said the components of parks developed include children friendly equipment, divyang (disabled) friendly features, open gym, besides providing park-related softscape and hardscape elements and other horticulture works. “Development of parks and public places is one of the major thrust areas under the mission to increase the amenity value of the cities by developing greenery,” he added.
Around Rs 1,768 crore was allocated for the green spaces and parks sector, and a total of 2,355 park projects costing Rs 1,522 crore was taken up under the AMRUT, the HUA ministry said. In addition to the completed projects, 990 projects worth Rs 812 crore are under progress, it said. The AMRUT was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2015 in 500 cities across the country, covering about 60 per cent of the total urban population.
According to officials, water scarcity will also be addressed through this flag ship programme. In the first phase, 496 ULBs have been identified in 200 districts. In the second phase, between October 1 and November 30, the guidelines will be implemented in 260 ULBs in 55 districts. In all, according to the ministry, 255 districts (India has a total of 725 districts), 756 urban local bodies (ULBs; municipalities and corporations), and 1,597 blocks across the country face a severe water crisis and shortage of drinking water from a rapid decline in ground water levels due to indiscriminate extraction, erratic monsoons, and unauthorised development.