(a) the unit cost fixed for the construction of lavatories under the Centrally Sponsored Rural Sanitation Programme;
(b) whether the State Governments are facing difficulties in the construction of these lavatories due to escalation of cost of building material;
(c) if so, whether the State Governments have requested the Union Government to increase the share of cost;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SMT RITA VERMA)
(a): As per the guidelines of restructured Centrally Sponsored Rural Sanitation Programme, the unit cost fixed for the Basic Low Cost Household Lavatory (without super structure ) for eligibility of subsidy is Rs.625/- to Rs.1000/-
(b) to (d): Few State Governments like Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Sikkim, Meghalaya etc. have expressed their difficulties in implementing the Programme with this revised unit cost and have requested for its upward revision.
(e): This unit cost was fixed after due consideration and keeping in view the past experience gained in the implementation of the Rural Sanitation Programme. The restructured Programme has come into being with effect from Ist April, 1999 and it may not, therefore, be advisable to review the matter at this stage.