CCA sanctions Rs 305 cr for Ganga basin waters

New Delhi, Oct 16 (UNI) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCA) today sanctioned the revised scheme amounting to Rs 305.03 Crore for anti-erosion works in Ganga basin states.

Out of this Rs 216 Crore is for taking up critical anti-erosion works in the basin by the state governments concerned and Rs 89 Crore for Farakka Barrage Project to be spent during the 10th plan period, an official spokesperson here said.

The share of the Central Government for Ganga basin's anti-erosion work will be 75 per cent of the total outlay to be provided as grant and rest will be provided by state governments.

For the Farakka project, the Centre will provide 100 per cent of the total funding.

Besides, the CCA approved following measures too: Secretary(Water Resources) would sanction projects/works below Rs 3 Crore in exceptional cases, strictly on 'operational consideration' on a case to case basis in consultation with Joint Secretary and Financial Advisor of the Ministry; The Ministry would come back with a larger scheme during the 11th Plan through the Planning Commission for approval of EEC/CCEA.

Execution of the scheme would help in protecting the towns, industrial establishments, vital communication links etc and in mitigating the sufferings of the population living in problem areas of Ganga Basin states.

The Ganga Basin covers 11 states of which Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal face the fury of the river and its tributaries year after year causing severe erosion problems.

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