Meghalaya: Rs 14.81cr to meet rural drinking water need

Shillong, June 14: The Ministry of Rural Development has sanctioned Rs 14.81 crore to Meghalaya towards balance of first installment of funds against the provisional allocation of Rs 44.46 crore under Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (Normal) of Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, during the year 2007-08.

Up to 15 per cent of funds released under this sanction may be utilized for Operation and Maintenance and up to 5 per cent of funds may be spent for taking sustainability measures.

The Rural Development ministry had also requested states to delegate powers for management of Rural Water Supply Schemes through the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) as per the Constitution of India. As such Operation and Maintenance of the completed RWS Scheme should be transferred to the PRIs.

This release was being made for execution and completion of schemes to provide safe drinking water facilities to rural habitations and schools under the Centrally Sponsored ARWSP.

Priorities set in ARWSP guidelines and through other instructions issued from time to time would be followed for coverage of rural habitations and rural schools.

UNI