The Ministry of Rural Development has released Rs.90 lakh to the State Government of Meghalaya towards second instalment of funds against the additional allocation of Rs.1.80 crore to the State under Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) (Normal) during 2006-07.
Up to 15% of the funds released under the scheme may be utilized for Operation & Maintenance and up to 5% of funds for taking sustainability measures. States have been requested 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 & Maintenance of the completed Rural Water Supply (RWS) schemes should be transferred to the PRIs.
No expenditure shall be incurred on tackling water quality problems from the present release, as there is a separate allocation for the purpose.
This release is being made for execution/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 shall be followed for coverage of rural habitations and rural schools.
The Government of India introduced the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) in 1972-73 to assist States and Union Territories with 100% grants-in-aid to implement drinking water supply schemes in problem villages. The entire programme was given a Mission approach when the Technology Mission on Drinking Water Management, called the National Drinking Water Mission (NDWM), was introduced as one of the five Missions in the social sector in 1986. NDWM was renamed the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission (RGNDWM) in 1991.
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