Centre sanctions Rs 19.48 crore for HP rural water supply

Shimla, May 8 (UNI) The Centre has sanctioned a sum of Rs 19.48 crore to the Himachal Pradesh Government as first installment under the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) of the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission.

The amount, sanctioned by Union Ministry of Rural Development, is the first installment against the provisional allocation of Rs.116.90 crore to the state for the current financial year, a senior official, requesting anonymity told UNI here.

He said the balance amount would be released after the receipt of the auditor general report for the 2004-05.

A sum of Rs. 9.33 lakh has been released as part of the first installment of the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) funds against a total allocation of Rs.56.00 lakh for 2007-08, he said.

He said up to 15 per cent of funds released under the programme could be utilized for operation and maintenance and up to five per cent of the funds may be spent for taking sustainability measures.

UNI