Centre accepts to restore funding to Himalayan states in 90:10 ratio : Mahender Singh Thakur

5 Dariya News

Shimla 01-Aug-2019

Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mahender Singh Thakur said that the government of India has accepted various demands of the hilly states of the country including restoring of financial assistance for developmental projects in the ratio of 90:10 and making provision of additional funds for providing tap to every household under the ongoing schemes.He said most of the proposals given by the hilly states have been incorporated by the Centre in ‘Har Ghar Mein Nal Se Jal’ scheme. The decision in this regard was made during a meeting of the Secretaries of various states organised by the Union Jal Shakti Ministry in New Delhi recently before launch of this scheme.Secretary, I&PH Dr. R.N Batta and senior officers of the Irrigation and Public Health department attended this meeting.Mahender Singh Thakur said that earlier, minister level meeting was held in the month of June in which he had raised various concerns of the Himalayan states including restoring provision funding to hilly states in the ratio of 90:10 and providing additional funds for the schemes being implemented for making provision of tap to every household. He had also taken the matter vigorously with the Union Water Resources Minister and the concerned secretaries as a result of which, all the aspects of Himachal Pradesh have been included under these schemes.He said that Himachal Pradesh has already provided water facility to 57 percent of the habitations but there was no provision in the old schemes to provide tap water to every house. Keeping in view the target to provide water to every household, the state had demanded additional funds.The Minister said that the government of India has agreed that the states, which have already made considerable progress in making the provision of tap to the houses, will be given incentives under this scheme. The Centre has also agreed that 28 to 30 thousand rupees per person will be given for the hilly states, whereas for other states it will be rupees 15 thousand under this scheme. The funds would also be provided first of all to the states submitting DPRs earlier.Mahender Singh Thakur said that a detailed project report has already been prepared by the I&PH department in this regard and has been sent to financial institutions for funding. The DPR will be soon sent to the government of India for approval under this scheme.