(a) whether the Government has urged the State Governments to hand over the responsibility of rural drinking water projects to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs);
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps being taken by the Government thereon?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA )
(a) and (b) Yes, Sir. As per the information entered by the State Governments on the Integrated Management Information System (TM1S) of the Ministry the total number of Schemes handed over to the Panchayati Raj institutions State/UT wise is at Annexure,
(c) Under the national Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) incentive has been provided to the State governments to hand over the responsibility of rural drinking water projects to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRTs). In the criteria for allocation of funds to States/ UTs, 10% weightage has been given for `rural population managing rural drinking water supply schemes weighted by a Management Devolution Index (MDI). This criterion for allocation is used as incentive to States for decentralization and reforms in the sector.