Centre assures all possible steps to tackle water crisis

The government on Monday said it is initiating all possible measures to help states facing a water crisis and drought-like situation.

"Faced with water crisis, states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Kerala have sought assistance from the Centre. Relief is being provided to them based on recommendations of a high-level committee," Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Bharatsinh Solanki said in Rajya Sabha.

Replying to a short notice question by Purushottam Rupala of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he said Rs 1,006 crore was available with the Gujarat government to tackle the situation but so far the expenditure there had only been Rs 561 crore.

He said the state had sought an assistance of Rs 834.83 crore and added that a high-level committee, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, would decide the quantum of assistance to be provided.

To another query, Solanki said a central team had visited Kerala to assess the situation and has submitted its report. A second team would visit the state shortly and based on its recommendations, steps for relief would be initiated, he said.

Answering another question, he said the ministry has prepared a project for credit from World Bank for rural drinking water supply in Uttar Pradesh.

The proposed project would be implemented in four states, where the coverage of piped water supply is low, including in ten districts in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The proposed total outlay is nearlyut Rs 5,400 crore, out of which Rs 2,700 crore will be World Bank assistance, while the remaining will be funded from central and state resources.