Urban Development Ministry has approved the first batch of state level Action Plans under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) aimed at providing water supply and sewerage connections to all urban households. An inter-ministerial Apex Committee of AMRUT chaired by Urban Development Secretary Madhusudhan Prasad cleared plans worth around 2,786 crore rupees in this regard for 89 cities in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Mr Prasad has urged all the states to ensure water meters for all consumers in urban areas for efficient management of water supply. An official release said, this is for the first time that the Ministry approved state level plans unlike the past practice of appraising and approving individual projects.<br/><br/>The Apex Committee of AMRUT approved State Annual Action Plans (SAAP) for the three states for 2015-16. Gujarat proposed SAAP entailing an investment of around 1,200 crore rupees followed by Rajasthan 919 crore rupees and Andhra Pradesh proposing an investment of around 660 crore rupees. <br/><br/>Under AMRUT, Central Government will provide an assistance of 50 per cent of project cost for cities with a population of up to 10 lakhs each and one third of project cost for cities with a population of above 10 lakhs each. Rest of the project cost has to be borne by the states and urban local bodies.