Date:11/05/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/05/11/stories/2003051100511300.htm

National

Nod for over 1,700 drinking water schemes in A.P.

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 10. Andhra Pradesh has received the largest number of approvals for proposals under the "Swajaldhara Scheme", launched by the Rural Development Ministry in December last year.Of the 4,912 proposals cleared so far in 15 States and one Union Territory, Andhra Pradesh has received approvals for 1,728 proposals. The total expenditure of 4,912 projects is Rs. 293.81 crores and so far Rs. 48.47 crores has been released as first instalment for 1,421 project proposals in seven States.

After Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra has received clearance for 821 projects followed by Uttar Pradesh where the figure is 655. Assam has received 54, Chhattisgarh 102, Haryana 2, Himachal Pradesh 473, Karnataka 62, Kerala 129, Orissa 378, Tamil Nadu 35, West Bengal 8 and Dadra and Nagar Haveli 1. Ironically, the drought-affected States of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have got 30, 35 and 44 respectively.

Cleared by the National Scheme Sanction Committee, the projects are meant for augmentation of drinking water. They are to be executed within a year of receiving the first instalment from the Centre. While ninety per cent of the project cost is met by the Centre, the beneficiaries have to contribute the remaining 10 per cent.