Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday and requested the Centre to give approval to proposals of several pending drinking water projects and ensure timely release of funds to the Centrally-sponsored schemes.
‘As this practice had been changed since past few years, the states were facing financial issues. The states have to make payments towards salaries and pension on the first date, which becomes very difficult,’ Mr Gehlot said.
He said as per the past practice, the state’s share in Central taxes should be released to the respective states on the first day of the month.
The Chief Minister further requested the Finance Minister that financial proposals of seven drinking water projects, costing Rs 5,473 crore, should be approved at the earliest.
He asked for approval for the proposal for external financial aid for the Phase 3 of Rajiv Gandhi Lift Canal Project costing Rs 1450 crore. This project would provide drinking water to 2014 villages and five towns of Jodhpur, Barmer and Pali districts till the year 2051.
Mr Gehlot told Ms Sitharaman that Rajasthan had several drinking water projects proposed with the help of Japanese aid agency JICA. These proposals are pending with Union Ministries of Drinking Water & Sanitation and Urban Development. He said that several villages of Jhunjhunu and Barmer districts would benefit from these projects worth Rs 2,918 crore.
He said that another scheme worth Rs 1104 crore for Phase 2 of Bisalpur project to provide drinking water to Jaipur city was also awaiting the Centre’s approval. He sought the Finance Minister’s support for these projects, according to a statement here.
