Question : DRINKING WATER SCHEME

(a) whether an amount of Rs.40 crore has been released to Chittoor district for implementation of a Central Government scheme for drinking water in the first phase;

(b) if so, whether the scheme of six years duration will be implemented for 58 districts chosen in the country under the Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Technology Mission;

(c) if so, whether a team of officials visited various parts of the districts and studied the problems of drinking water supply to the people of the said districts; and

(d) if so, the time by which the scheme is likely to be implemented?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT ( SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA )

(a)&(b): The Ministry of Rural Development has informed that the Government of Andhra Pradesh has submitted a project for implementation of Sector Reforms in rural water supply programme in Chittoor district, which is one of the 58 districts identified by all State Governments for institutionalising community participation in rural water supply programme. It has been reported that the project has been approved in principle. The State Government has been reported to have been requested to clarify certain issues before any sanction could be issued.

(c)&(d): The Ministry of Rurall Development has reported that no official from that Ministry visited Andhra Pradesh specifically for the purpose of preparation of the project in respect of Chittoor district. However, no information is available whether any State Government official had visited the district. The project was prepared by the State Government, who were instructed to prepare the project in consultation with Sector partners which includes district level officers. Implementation of the project will commence after the sanction is issued and it is envisaged that the same will be completed in three years` time.