Question : Utilisation of Funds for Drinking Water Schemes

(a) whether some State Governments have failed to utilize funds meant for execution of rural drinking water programme despite their reeling under severe drought situation;
(b) if so, the funds released by the Union Government to each State during year2016-17 for providing drinking water to rural habitations along with the percentage of funds utilized by each State for the purpose during each of the last three years and the current year;
(c) whether the Union Government proposes to assist those States which are
Facing unprecedented drought by sanctioning more funds and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Union Government has received any proposals from the States to avail the benefits of Central schemes for providing drinking water to the rural habitations and if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon, State-wise; and
(e) the steps taken by the Union Government to expedite the implementation of drinking water projects particularly in drought affected States?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

(a) to (c) Under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), funds are released to states only after receipt of Utilization Certificate of utilization of minimum 60% of available funds with the States. The State wise details of the funds released by the Ministry to States along with the percentage of utilization of funds during each of the last three years and current year are at Annexure-I.
Under NRDWP, there is no specific provision for release of funds for drought. However, 2% of NRDWP funds are kept aside for assisting the States in the event of any natural Calamity including drought. These funds are released to States only after receipt of recommendations of High Level Committee (HLC) in the Ministry of Home Affairs. During 2016-17, no funds have been released to the States for drought under this component

(d) Rural drinking water supply is a state subject. This Ministry’s mandate is to provide technical and financial assistance to state for providing safe drinking water in rural areas. The schemes for rural drinking water supply are approved by the State Level Scheme Sanctioning Committee (SLSSC) and do not come to the ministry for approval. State-wise details of funds allocated and released under NRDWP during 2016-17, as on 27.03.2017 is at Annexure-II.

(e) Under NRDWP, there is a provision for assisting the States in the event of Natural Calamity which inter-alia includes drought. 2% of the NRDWP allocation is set aside for any natural calamity including drought. On the declaration of drought, Inter Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) visits the affected States and gives its recommendations regarding the quantum of assistance to be given. Funds are thereafter released to State with the approval of a High level Committee constituted in the Ministry of Home Affairs. In addition to this, the states can use Flexi funds to the extent of 25% of the total funds released to them under NRDWP for taking up works for mitigating the drinking water scarcity in an area as per the instructions issued by the Ministry in this regard.