Little funds for drinking water but can source some: Birender Singh

Drinking water’s allocation is Rs 2,611 crore for 2015-16, down from Rs 9,250 crore in 2014-15 (revised estimates), while sanitation’s Rs 2,625 crore is slightly lower than last year’s Rs 2,850 crore (revised estimates).

After MPs pointed out the cuts, the minister asked them “not to go by the budget estimates”. “We have five other identified resources where we are thinking that we may get good support. The Finance Minister in his budget speech made it clear that there might be a situation where he might impose a cess on drinking water and sanitation during budget time 2015-16. That is one source where we are expecting we may get sufficient funds,” he said.

“The other thing is Swachh Bharat Kosh. I do not know how much amount would be coming into Swachh Bharat Kosh… In somebody’s assessment which was conveyed to me, if it is followed in the right spirit, then it may swell up to Rs 20,000 crore.”

He then added that under the devolution of funds as per the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, “Rs 2 lakh crore-plus would be going to gram panchayats”. “What we want is that the funds should also be utilised at least for drinking water purposes. If the state government is capable of taking waterworks to a particular point, then let that particular gram panchayat decide to share the burden of taking it from that point to their village… If this arrangement is there, then there would be no dearth of funds.”