In pursuant to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Independence Day announcement, the Government on Saturday approved an additional Rs 700 crore for three schemes for improving supply of drinking water in rural India.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the implementation of three schemes -- installation of one lakh hand pumps in water-scarse areas, drinking water in one lakh primary schools in rural areas and revival of one lakh traditional sources of drinking water.
"The implementation of the schemes would require an additional Rs 700 crore to be released in two tranches of Rs 350 crore each in two years," an official spokesperson said.
According to the first scheme, one lakh handpumps would be installed in both drought-hit and other states in the proportion of 75:25. The total cost of the scheme would be Rs 347.50 crore, he said.
Government would also provide drinking water facility in one lakh rural primary schools which would involve a total cost of about Rs 300 crore.
Concerned over the depleting ground water level due to over-exploitation by agri and indutrial sectors, government also decided to revive one lakh traditional sources like tank, khandins, bawli and bavdi, at a cost of Rs 152.50 crore.
{{/usCountry}}Concerned over the depleting ground water level due to over-exploitation by agri and indutrial sectors, government also decided to revive one lakh traditional sources like tank, khandins, bawli and bavdi, at a cost of Rs 152.50 crore.
{{/usCountry}}"While installation of handpumps will address immediate drinking water needs in the scarsity areas, the revival of traditional water sources will pave the way for long term sustainability of drinking water sources," the official said.
If a state is unable to utilise the amount within a stipulated and reasonable timeframe, the balance available would be released to "better-performing" states, he said.