Question : DELAY IN RELEASE OF FUNDS TO STATES .

(a) The reasons for not releasing several instalments of the funds allocated to various states particularly Rajasthan during the last one year under various schemes like the Accelerated Rural Water Supply project, Drought Prone Areas Project (DPAP) and Desert Development Programme (DDP);

(b) Whether the concerned states have requested the Union Government in this regard;

(c) If so, the details thereof; state-wise; and

(d) The total amount allocated so far to each state on various rural development heads and the time by which the remaining amount is likely to be released with particular reference to Rajasthan?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI A. NARENDRA)

(a) to (c) During 2005-06 both the instalments of allocated funds were released to Rajasthan in respect of Normal as well as Desert Development Programme (DDP) components of Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP). In respect of Jammu & Kashmir, 2nd instalment of DDP component of ARWSP was not released as no proposal was received from the State Government. In respect of Union Territories, no instalment of Normal component of ARWSP was released for want of Utilisation Certificates and Audit Reports. So far as Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) and Desert Development Programme (DDP) are concerned, these are demand driven programmes and no inter-State allocation is made. The sanctions are done keeping in view total degraded area in a State, demands for ongoing works as well as new project proposals received from the States.

(d) Allocation made during 2006-07 under Normal and DDP components of ARWSP is given at Annexure I. Releases made to the DPAP/DDP States during 2006-07 are given in Annexure-II.