Madhya Pradesh lags on AMRUT 2.0 as water risks grow in cities

As drinking water concerns intensify in Madhya Pradesh, the state’s own performance under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 is under scrutiny. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) data shows that, as of November 2025, only 21 percent of water supply works and 6 percent of sewerage works have been completed in the state.

The lag is stark when compared with other large states and comes at a time when urban networks are already under pressure from rapid growth.

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What the official numbers say

According to MoHUA:

• Water supply: Projects worth Rs 5,965.19 crore have been grounded, but work completed stands at Rs 1,256.01 crore, or 21 percent.

• Sewerage: Projects worth Rs 2,849.57 crore have been grounded, while only Rs 164.26 crore, or 6 percent, has been delivered.

By comparison:

• Uttar Pradesh reports 44 percent completion in water supply and 46 percent in sewerage.

• Tamil Nadu leads with 72 percent in water supply and 45 percent in sewerage.

• Gujarat shows 55 percent and 56 percent respectively.

These gaps position Madhya Pradesh among the slowest performers on a flagship national urban infrastructure programme.

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Why the slowdown is alarming for cities

Indore, the state’s largest city, illustrates the risk. Officials and planners warn that rapid population growth has already strained supply lines. With AMRUT 2.0 projects delayed, fears are rising over intermittent supply, quality lapses and contamination in densely populated areas.

Across urban Madhya Pradesh, unfinished sewerage works also raise concerns about untreated discharge, environmental stress and public health vulnerabilities during monsoons and heat waves.

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From strong delivery to stalled progress

The slowdown is particularly striking against the state’s earlier track record. Under AMRUT 1.0, which covered 34 statutory towns including Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Sagar, Dewas and Satna, authorities completed nearly all grounded water supply and drainage works, with sewerage reaching about 95 percent completion.

Under AMRUT 2.0, coverage expanded to all 400+ statutory towns in the state. The broader scope, however, has not translated into timely execution. Major cities and smaller towns alike now face delays, exposing residents to mounting water security risks.

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What this means for public safety, governance and the economy

Public safety: Incomplete water and sewerage systems heighten the risk of waterborne disease, leakage and cross-contamination.
Governance: The low completion rates raise questions about project management, contracting capacity and inter-agency coordination at a critical stage of the scheme.
Economy and households: Service disruptions increase household costs, affect businesses dependent on reliable water, and strain municipal finances through stopgap measures such as tanker supply.

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What officials and experts point to

• MoHUA data confirms the 21 percent water and 6 percent sewerage completion in Madhya Pradesh as of November 2025.

• Urban infrastructure analysts say the numbers indicate execution bottlenecks, not a lack of sanctioned funding.

• City planners caution that without a time-bound push, delayed assets may fail to deliver benefits within the scheme period.

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Why this matters right now

AMRUT 2.0 was launched in October 2021 and enters its final year in 2026. That leaves a narrow window to bridge the gap between projects “grounded” on paper and infrastructure actually serving homes. Without rapid acceleration, today’s water worries could harden into a systemic urban crisis.

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What to watch next

• Whether the state announces time-bound targets to fast-track AMRUT 2.0 water and sewerage works.

• Any MoHUA review or corrective action on low-performing states.

• City-level updates from Indore and Bhopal on interim measures to protect water quality and supply.