MP govt wants more central allocation for NRDWP

Madhya Pradesh government has demanded increase in the Central allocation under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). At present, the state and central government shares equal amount for rural sanitation and drinking water programmes.

"State public health engineering minister Kusum Mehdele had put a demand that central government should increase its contribution in ratio of 75:25 instead of 50:50 for further improvement under the programme," a government official said.

Recently, a review meeting of rural sanitation and drinking water schemes was called at New Delhi under chairmanship of Urban Development Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Under "Vision Document-2018" the state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has set a target to ensure minimum 55 litres of water per person per day. "The target is to be achieved within next five years," the official said.

National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) is aimed at ensuring provision of safe and adequate drinking water supply to all uncovered, partially covered and quality affected habitations in the rural areas of the country. It also aims at ensuring that all schools and anganwadis have access to safe drinking water, and enable gram panchayats to plan, manage, operate and maintain local water sources and water supply. Further, rural communities need to be motivated to monitor and keep surveillance on their drinking water sources.

Mehdele pointed out that the state was expected to invest a whopping amount of Rs 30,000 crore under the programme of which Rs 8,000 crore was yet to be received from the Centre. "The minister has also urged the centre to clearance two pending projects for cluster drinking water schemes costing Rs 25,570 crore," the official said adding, "state has laid emphasis on motivating people with participation of social organizations, if "Swachh Bharat" is to be given a shape."