Question : POTABLE DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

(a) whether a sum of Rs. 2000 crore was given to his Ministry during 1996-97 to provide potable drinking water and sanitation in the country;

(b) whether only three per cent of the amount was utilised in the first 11 months ;

(c) if so, whether the Government propose to enquire into the matter;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether this is one of the reasons that the potable drinking water has not yet been made available in all the villages in the country and the sanitation conditions remain poor; and

(f) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI ANNASAHEB M. K. PATIL)

(a) & (b): No, Sir. It is not correct to say that Rs. 2000 crore were allocated in 1996-97 and only 3 per cent of the budget allocation was utilised during the first 11 months for potable drinking water and sanitation. In 1996-97, Rs.1170 crores were allocated for both Rural Water Supply and Rural Sanitation, and an amount of Rs. 1035.63 crores was released during the first 11 months. During March 1997, Rs. 117.90 crores was released. The expenditure during the entire year 1996-97, as per the reports received from the State Governments was Rs. 1031.25 crores.

(c) & (d) : Does not arise.

(e) : No, Sir.

(f) : Does not arise.