Centre releases Rs 54 crore to HP under ARWSP

Shimla, Apr 27 (UNI) The Centre has released an additional sum of Rs 54 crore to Himachal Pradesh under the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP), an official spokesman said today.

The Ministry of Rural Development has released the additional funds to the state for 2006-07, he said in a release here.

The spokesman said up to 15 per cent of the funds released may be utilised for operation and maintenance, while five per cent may be spent for taking sustainability measures.

The states have been directed to delegate powers to the panchayati raj institutions for maintaining rural water supply schemes, he said.

He said the operation and maintenance of the completed water supply schemes should also be transferred to the local bodies.

UNI