Question : ASSISTANCE OF WORLD BANK FOR WATER SANITATION IN MAHARASHTRA

(a) whether the Government provided 181 Million US Dollars to Maharashtra State for rural water supply and sanitation under the World Bank scheme during the year 2003-04;

(b) if so, whether the utilisation certificates has been received after spending the fund and completion of developmental works;

(c) if so, whether the financial assistance provided by the Government has been spent on rural water supply projects; and

(d) if so, the number of districts in Maharashtra in which rural water supply and sanitation schemes have been completed alongwith details thereof?

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

(a) to (d) : Yes Sir. A project for Second Maharashtra Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation (Jalswarajya) for augmenting drinking water and sanitation facilities in the rural areas in 26 districts of the State at a cost of US$ 268.65 Million with World Bank credit assistance of US$ 181 Million (SDR 128.8 Million) has been launched during 2003-04. The main objectives of the project is to increase access of rural households to improved and sustainable drinking water and sanitation services; and to institutionalize decentralization of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) service delivery to rural local governments and communities. The project would directly benefit 2800 village panchayats in 26 districts of the State covering about 7 Million rural population. The project would be implemented in 3 successive overlapping batches during a five year period from 2004-2009. As reported by the World Bank, an amount of US$ 6 Million has been disbursed by the Bank for the project by February, 2004. It has also been reported that the State has utilised an amount of Rs. 94.14 lakhs (approx. US$ 2 Million) by January, 2004 under the project which includes retroactive period from March, 2003. The project has been implemented in 180 villages of 6 districts namely Thane, Satara, Osmanabad, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Buldhana, Nasik and Sangli in the first stage on experimental basis. Review Missions are sent by the World Bank periodically to monitor and review implementation of the Project.