FUNDS RELEASED TO MAHARASHTRA AND GUJARAT FOR RURAL DRINKING WATER
Ministry of Rural
Development has released funds for rural drinking water to the
State Governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat. An amount of Rs.
78.55 crore has been released to Maharashtra towards first installment
under Centrally Sponsored Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme
(ARWSP) against the provisional allocation of Rs. 157.10 crore
during the year 2003-04.
The Ministry has
released Rs. 28.45 crore to the State Government of Gujarat under
ARWSP as the first installment during 2003-04. Out of this amount,
Rs. 27.68 crore has been released for ARWSP (normal programme)
and Rs. 76.50 lakh has been released as first installment of ARWSP
– DDP areas. About 5 per cent of the annual allocation is earmarked
to states covered by Desert Development Programme (DDP) under
ARWSP.
As per the guidelines
for implementation of Rural Water Supply Program, 15 per cent
of funds under ARWSP is meant for quality-related problems and
5 per cent for taking sustainability measures under Sub-Mission.
States have been requested to delegate powers for management of
Rural Water Supply Schemes through the Panchayati Raj Institutions
(PRIs) as per the Constitution of India. As such operation and
maintenance of the completed Rural Water Supply Schemes should
be transferred to the PRIs. Since the release of first installment
during the current financial year 2003-04 has been delayed, it
has been decided that the second installment will be released
on utilization of 50 per cent instead of 60 per cent of the total
available funds.
The release is being
made for execution/completion of schemes to provide safe drinking
water facilities to rural habitation and school under the Centrally
Sponsored ARWSP. The priority shall be accorded to the coverage
of Schools and Water Quality affected habitations of the State.
