1 Oct :The Ministry of Rural Development has cleared a Central Assistance of Rs. 784.8165 crores to the State Governments of Assam, Bihar and Rajasthan under Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) (Normal) during the current financial (2008-09).
An amount of Rs. 91.6215 crore has been accorded to Assam State Government under ARWSP (Coverage-Normal, Swajaldhara and Sub-Mission on Water Quality) towards balance of first installment of funds against the allocation of Rs.246.44 crore during the current financial year.
From the Central Assistance of Rs.239.69 crore to Bihar State Rs.2.00 are being given to meet the rural drinking water supply requirements arising due to heavy rains/ flood situations in the state in 2007. Similarly Rs.25 crore have been earmarked under the same head for the heavy rains/ flood situations of August 2008. All this assistance is provided out of the 5% of of the total Central Rural Supply Outlay earmarked for contingencies arising due to natural calamities/disaster. The fund is released on 100% central share basis. Under the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission Rs.212.69 crore are to be allocated as 2nd installment of funds against the original allocation of Rs.425.38 crores made for the state for ARWSP (Coverage-Normal, Swajaldhara and Sub-Mission) during the financial year 2008-09.
The Rajasthan State Govermment is to receive Rs. 115.87 crore towards 2nd installment of ARWSP-DDP (Drought prone area Development Programme) funds against the original allocation of Rs.231.74 crores for execution/completion of schemes to provide safe drinking water facilities to rural habitations and schools under the Centrally Sponsored ARWSP-DDP Areas as per the priorities indicated in the guidelines.
This release is being made for execution/ completion of schemes to provide safe drinking water to rural habitations and schemes under the Centrally sponsored ARWSP. Priorities set in ARWSP guidelines and through other instructions issued from time to time shall be followed for coverage of rural habitations and rural schools.
States have been requested to delegate powers for management of Rural Water Supply Schemes through the Panchayati Raj Institutions PRIs) as per the Constitutional provisions. As such, the Operation and Maintenance of the completed RWS schemes should be transferred to the PRIs.
