Lok Sabha Question No. 1271 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-09
Subject: Use of Grants for Drinking Water
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: HARISH CHANDRA MEENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1271 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2017

## Use of Grants for Drinking Water

## 1271. SHRI   HARISH   MEENA:

Will  the  Minister  of  DRINKING WATER  AND  SANITATION  be pleased to state:

- (a) the manner in which the Government ensures that grants sanctioned to States for providing    safe    drinking    water    and  sanitation  facilities  in  rural  areas  are utilized in the right manner and within prescribed time period;
- (b) whether the Government has taken action  or  issued  warning  to  States  for misuse or non-utilisation of funds; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise?

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## ANSWER (SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

- (a) to  (c  )  Ministry of  Drinking  Water and Sanitation under the Centrally sponsored National  Rural  Drinking  Water  Programme  (NRDWP)  provides  financial  and technical assistance to States / UTs for providing safe drinking water to rural areas of the country. Under NRDWP, funds to the States are released in two instalments out  of  which  the  2 nd instalment  is  released  to  States  only  after  submission  of Utilization Certificate for at least 60% utilization of available funds along with the Audited Statement of Accounts for the previous financial year. States who do not incur the minimum stipulated expenditure are not released their 2 nd instalment of funds for that financial year.

States are also required to furnish component-wise utilization certificate of funds released to them  and this ensures that the funds are used for the purpose for which they  have  been  allocated.  If  any  discrepancy  is  noticed  ,  the  State    is  asked  to furnish clarification with regard to this and further release of funds to that State is stopped till a suitable explanation / clarification is received .  Further, the States are also asked to enter the expenditure figures along with the physical achievements in the online monitoring portal of the Ministry. Hence, the Ministry ensures the proper utilization of funds released to the States under NRDWP. As and when required, States are asked to expedite their utilization of funds for proper coverage of rural habitations.

In  the  sanction  order  for  release  of  funds  to  States  the  conditions  of  release  and instructions with regard to its utilization are clearly mentioned . States are asked to utilize the funds for the purpose only for which the funds are released. States are also asked to adhere to the NRDWP guidelines for proper utilization of funds.

The  Swachh  Bharat  Mission  (Gramin)  (SBM(G))  has  been  launched  on  2nd October, 2014, which aims at attaining Swachh Bharat by 2nd October 2019. The Government provides technical guidance to the States to ensure proper implementation  of  the  programme.  This  includes  capacity  building  programmes, regular monitoring through meetings and data analysis and evaluations, including third  party  evaluations.  In  order  to  ensure  that  States  observe  better  financial discipline,  a  specific  provision  has  been  made  in  the  SBM  (G)  guidelines  that higher unspent balance in States automatically reduces their eligibility for further fund release in the subsequent year.

The Government regularly takes up the issue of financial discipline with the States.