Lucknow, Oct. 28 -- The Cabinet approved Rs.2,941.45 crore for seven water supply and sewerage projects in Varanasi and Lucknow, under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT 2.0). The projects comprise four drinking water schemes costing Rs.947.45 crore and three sewerage schemes worth Rs.1,994 crore. The stated objective is to achieve 100% water supply and sewerage coverage in the areas covered by the schemes. Urban development and energy minister AK Sharma announced the approvals after the state cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Varanasi accounts for six of the seven projects, covering three drinking water schemes and three sewerage schemes at an estimated cost of Rs.2,721 crore. The remaining drinking water project will cover parts of Lucknow. In Lucknow, the water supply project will cover Haiderganj and the Keshari Khera ward in Alamnagar, benefiting an estimated 1,56,361 people. Once completed, the project is expected to provide complete drinking water coverage in the designated area. In Varanasi, the three water supply projects will extend and strengthen infrastructure in the sis and trans-Varuna zones, including the newly expanded Lahartara and Chitaipur areas. All three schemes aim to achieve 100% drinking water coverage in their respective areas. The three sewerage projects in Varanasi will address infrastructure requirements across existing and newly expanded municipal zones. The aim is to ensure complete sewerage coverage across all three project areas. The approvals come as expanding municipal boundaries increase the need to extend essential services to newly incorporated neighbourhoods. The projects are intended to strengthen drinking water distribution and sewerage infrastructure while improving urban living conditions....