Villages to get Rs 1.42 trillion grant for water supply, sanitation

The Fifteenth Finance Commission (15th FC) has recommended a Rs 1.42 trillion tied grant to rural areas and panchayats rural areas and panchayats for five years to ensure water supply and proper sanitation. The amount is 60% of the total Rs 2.37 trillion allocated to the local rural bodies for drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting, and water recycling. It will also be used for sanitation and maintaining defecation-free status in the rural area. Under the Jal Shakti, the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation will determine the eligibility of the rural areas for the 15th FC tied grant and has recommended fund release to the Ministry of Finance. It had recommended the release of the first instalment to 25 states. According to a statement, Jal Shakti told the media that the funds would help panchayats function as local public utilities and focus on service delivery. This year, with the support from budgetary and Centre, Jal Jeevan Mission's share is over Rs 1 trillion available for piped water supply in the villages. The government plans to initiate a drive to sensitise, train, and empower panchayats to use the fund for tap water supply and better sanitation in the villages. The Ministry has prepared a manual for using the funds, and it will distribute to the local bodies in their vernacular languages. The Jal Jeevan Mission and the state collaborates to provide tap water to every household, with an outlay of Rs 3.6 trillion. The government has selected 84 institutions to train the panchayats for ensuring water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. States have to prepare a robust operation and maintenance (O&M) to recover service charges from the households. It will help meet the expenditure on village water supply and sanitation for long-term assured service. Each village will have to plan a five-year action plan for the period as that of the 15th FC. It will have elements of drinking water source strengthening, water supply, water treatment, Water recycling, liquid waste management, O&M, greywater treatment, etc. This plan is also a part of panchayat development. Image Source Also read: Ganga water to reach Greater Noida homes from September Also read: ADB approves Rs 831 cr loan for water supply projects in Jharkhand