Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: In 2026, the acronyms are the real architects of our cities. Here’s what’s driving the ‘sponge’ policy from the top down.
Amrut 2.0 (The Finisher): The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 is the primary engine. Its ‘water secure cities’ mandate has forced 4,378 towns to map every drop of water that enters and leaves their boundaries.
Sujalam Bharat Framework: Launched in December 2025, this digital public infrastructure (DPI) provides a ‘Sujal ID’ for every water asset. In 2026, city mayors can see the water level of every sponge park and rejuvenated lake on a single dashboard.
‘Super Swachh League’: A new tier in the Swachh Survekshan 2025 awards, it specifically ranks cities on ‘hydrological resilience’ It’s no longer just about picking up trash; it’s about how well your city manages its ‘blue’ assets.
Urban Greening Policy: Championed by states like Tamil Nadu, this policy mandates that at least 15 per cent of municipal areas must be reserved for ‘blue-green’ infrastructure, effectively outlawing the 100 per cent concretisation of new townships.
