ARWSP funding pattern amended for J

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) The Ministry of Rural Development has amended the funding pattern for the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme in view of the North Eastern States and Jammu &Kashmir increasing the central funding from 75 per cent to ninety per cent.

The rating will now be 90:10 (centre:State) whereas for the rest of the States it is still 50:50. The allocation criteria to the States is now based on factors such as rural population (2001 census), no of DDP/DPAP etc. blocks&no. of VPs managing their RWS programme in the States concerned.

Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has written to the Chief Ministers of North Eastern States&J&K informing them of the special dispensation.

The sustainability component has also been increased to 20 per cent at 100:00 funding pattern basis.

The decision was taken keeping into account the difficulty faced by these states as the under implementation criteria of 50:50 (centre:State) funding pattern basis in these States was compelling some of them who are unable to lift their full share of allocation in the last few years.

Moreover, the emphasis on including components of "Sustainability" in the Rural Water Supply Projects implemented by the States was quite low in the past. It was based on 5 per cent allocation at 75:25 (Centre:State) funding pattern basis.

UNI AJ SB NS1910