On Monday, the central government announced that Udaipur and Jaipur have been chosen for the integrated waste management programme under the CITIIS 2.0 Challenge. This initiative falls under the Union government's ambitious 100 Smart Cities project.

As part of this selection, both Udaipur and Jaipur will receive a substantial amount of Rs 122 crore each as a loan grant. The funding comes from esteemed institutions including the French Development Agency (AFD), Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), and the European Union (EU).

The selection process was rigorous, with 84 smart cities initially participating in the challenge. Eventually, 46 cities were shortlisted and invited for an interview before the apex committee, which was appointed by the central government. The final deliberations took place on February 9, 2024.

This integrated waste management programme is a significant step towards addressing the growing waste management challenges in urban areas. It aims to implement sustainable solutions to effectively manage and dispose of waste, ensuring cleaner and healthier environments for residents.

Both Udaipur and Jaipur are expected to leverage this funding to implement innovative waste management solutions, thereby contributing to the overall development and sustainability goals of the Smart Cities mission. 

Source: Click Here