Centre to release Rs 1,100 cr for drinking water: Ramkripal

The Centre has decided to unconditionally release Rs 1,100 crore on May 13 as second instalment to meet water requirements in states, many of which are battling severe heat conditions, Union Minister of State for Drinking Water Ramkripal Yadav said on Saturday.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed us to issue the money without waiting for utility certificate of the previous allocation,” Yadav told reporters here. He said the states should dig well, borewell, install handpump as per requirements with this fund to help the people meet their water need.

As first instalment, the Centre had released Rs 819.67 crore to 35 states and Union Territories, he said. As on May 5, 2016, the states had Rs 2,634.36 crore total available funds with them, the minister said, adding Rs 1,814.69 crore of which remained with them unspent till May 5.

Giving details of Rs 819.67 crore released as first instalment, he said Rajasthan received Rs 85.69 crore, Uttar Pradesh Rs 84.04 crore, Maharashtra Rs 80.26 crore, Jammu and Kashmir Rs 53.26 crore and Bihar Rs 45.93 crore.

Uttar Pradesh, which is locked in fight with the Centre over it sending water train for Bundlekhand region, was allocated a fund of Rs 416.76 crore, of which Rs 332.72 crore remained unspent balance as on May 5, he said. Bihar has available balance of Rs 116.46 crore and Rs 115.27 crore as unspent balance as on May 5, he said.

The Union minister said out of the 13 states facing drought-like situation, Bihar and Haryana have not declared themselves facing drought condition across the state.