Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on August 6, 2020, called on the Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and presented a copy of the report on the measures taken by his Ministry to achieve water security. Shekhawat also briefed the Vice President on the progress of various initiatives of the Ministry, especially related to piped water supply.
The Minister assured the Vice President that the Centre was supporting the State Governments to take up functional tap connections in the villages across the length and breadth of the country. The Ministry of Jal Shakti is providing 90 per cent funds to Himalayan and north-eastern States and 50 per cent funds to other states to take up rural drinking water supply projects. Apart from regular budgetary allocation, the Ministry plans to utilise 15th Finance Commission grants to rural bodies for providing drinking water to the rural households, according to a PIB release.
When the Vice President enquired from the Minister about providing piped drinking water to all the households in Udayagiri Assembly Constituency in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, the latter assured that the Central Government, in accordance with the policy, will be willing to provide the necessary funds once State Government forwards proposals related to the same.