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Swajal Dhara : G.O. No.

No.W-11037/51/2002-TM.III
Government of India
Ministry of Rural Development
Department of Drinking Water Supply
(Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission)

8^th / 9^th Floors, Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Complex
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003
Tel: 011-4361043; Fax: 4364113
E-mail: jstm@water.nic.in

Dated, the 16^th November 2002

            The Secretary
            in-charge of Rural Drinking Water Supply
            All States / Union Territories.

Subject : Implementation of Participatory and Community-led Swajaldhara Rural Drinking Water Projects

I am directed to state that Government of India has been emphasizing the need for taking up community based rural water supply prograqmmes, and has now decided to open up the reform initiatives in the rural drinking water supply sector throughout the country. This Programme, which will be called Swajaldhara, will have the following key elements: (i) demand-driven and community participation approach; (ii) panchayats / communities to plan, implement, operate, maintain and manage all drinking water schemes; (iii) partial capital cost sharing by the communities upfront in cash; (iv) full ownership of drinking water assets with Gram Panchayats; and (v) full Operation and Maintenance (O&M) by the users / Panchayats. Gram Panchayats and Blocks adopting the reforms principles will be eligible for Swajaldhara projects.

2. Accordingly, States can implement Swajaldhara in Blocks / Gram Panchayats / Beneficiary Groups following all the fundamental reforms principles. This need not be taken up in the entire district at the initial stage, but may be extended subsequently. The Beneficiary Group (BG) should be a registered society and would submit proposal through Gram Panchayat or Block Panchayat as the case may be. The Swajaldhara projects will be sanctioned by the Department of Drinking Water Supply, if the proposals are found to have (a) the commitment of the concerned District Implementing Agency and the State Government for compliance of reform principles; (b) 10% of the estimated capital cost of the Schemes (5% in case of SC and ST Gram Panchayats / villages where 50% of the population is SC / and ST as per 2001 Census) is paid by the community, in cash, as their contribution to the Implementing Agency.

3. The cost of the Project, excluding community contribution, will be fully met by Government of India. State Government / State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) will engage the existing agency undertaking rural drinking water supply programmes and will be termed as the District Implementing Agencies (DIAs) for these Projects. For the implementation of the projects, the sanctioned funds will be released in two equal installments to the District Implementing Agency (DIA) which will be responsible to release the same to concerned Block Panchayats / Gram Panchayats / Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSC) / BG, and also for proper management of funds. Where the period of implementation of Swajaldhara project is more than one year, number of installments for the release of funds will be decided by the NSSC at the time of sanction. DIA would also be responsible for (a) the formulation, implementation and management of the project; (b) receipt and management of Central funds for the project; (c) selection of agencies for project implementation by Block / Gram Panchayats / VWSC / BG; and (d) sanctioning of the schemes and entering into bipartite/ tripartite agreement between BG / Gram Panchayat / VWSC / Block Panchayat.

4. Providing water supply facilities in schools and Not Covered, Partially Covered and water scarcity habitations and revival of traditional water sources to ensure drinking water sustainability can also be implemented under Swajaldhara. The Swajaldhara Projects can be implemented at the village / habitation / hamlet / levels. They will apply to Department of Drinking Water Supply, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India through District Implementing Agency and State Government in the enclosed form (Enclosure – I). Block / Gram Panchayat / VWSC / BG if so desire may send an advance copy of the Application to Department of Drinking Water Supply. However, District Implementing Agency will send its views within 15 days to the State Government which shall examine the proposal and transmit their recommendation or otherwise (with specific reasons) to Department of Drinking Water Supply within 15 days of the receipt. The National Scheme Sanctioning Committee will consider within 15 days of the receipt, these proposals for sanction.

5. Block Panchayat / Gram Panchayat / VWSC / BG will be responsible for

execution of the sanctioned schemes;
place the progress of scheme implementation in each Gram Sabha meeting;
ensure community participation in scheme activities;
arrange community contribution towards capital cost, in cash;
open and manage bank accounts for management of project funds;
procure construction materials / goods and select contractors for construction activities;
supervise construction activities;
commission and takeover completed water supply works; and
collect funds, and manage O&M of water supply works.

6. After the completion of the scheme, the same shall be commissioned and taken over for operation and maintenance by the Gram Panchayat / VWSC / BG in a Gram Sabha meeting. In case of implementation of schemes by any Government agency, no centage / Departmental / administrative / overhead charges will be admissible.

7. Under Swajaldhara, one time operation and maintenance (O&M) grant would be released to BG/GP/VWSC/BP within 6 months of take over of the schemes by them. This start up grant is not in lieu of community contribution for O&M but to maintain as O&M revolving fund and will be sanctioned by NSSC on case-to-case basis. The O&M grant will be considered for release only after assessing the operation and maintenance of the scheme.

8. In case BG / GP / VWSC / BP desires the DIA to operate and maintain the scheme, community contribution for the O&M along with the O&M grant shall be remitted to DIA.

9. Block / Gram Panchayat / VWSC / BG will submit Progress Report to DIA which will submit the same to Department of Drinking Water Supply within 10 days of the succeeding month; Progress Report form is at Enclosure-II. Release of second instalment will be made after utilization of 60% of the Project and Beneficiary funds is reported along with Chartered Accountant audited accounts for expenditure incurred. Monitoring of the Swajaldhara projects, training and other arrangements, may be taken up as is being presently done.

This will come into force with immediate effect.

Yours faithfully,

( Ramesh Chandra Panda )
Joint Secretary to the Government of India

Enc: as above.

Enclosure – I

Application Form for Swajaldhara Project

Beneficiary Group/Gram Panchayat/Block Panchayat

1. Applicant for Swajaldhara Project with _________________________

address and Pin code. _________________________

_________________________

State ___________________

____________ Pin

2. Name of Block :__________________________________________________

3. Name of District. :__________________________________________________

4. Detail of Habitation/Village/GP/Block for which scheme is proposed ---------------

(a) Population as per census 2001

M F Total

SC ST Other Percent of SC&ST to total population.

(b) Existing water supply source(s): _______________________

(d) Proposed water supply water level per capita: ___________________ Ipcd

5. Proposed Water Supply Scheme.

a. Scheme location (Habitation/Village/GP)

b. Estimated Capital cost of the Scheme Rs.

c. Scheme Description.__________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(A copy of estimate to be attached duly scrutinized and recommended by Executive Engineer of Panchayati Raj/PHED/ZP.

d. Community Contribution:

(i) No. of Contributors.

(ii) Community Contribution deposited. Rs.

e. Banking details where community contribution is deposited: SB A/c No. :

Bank Name:______________________________________

Branch Address & Code:

6. Certified that the people of habitation/village/GP/Block of ____________________

District have understood the principles of Swajaldhara Project and resolved to undertake the above mentioned water supply scheme with the active participation of community and have contributed Rs.............................. towards community contribution for the capital cost of the scheme. We undertake the responsibility of operation and maintenance of the water supply schemes. Resolution of the GP/BP recommending the proposal is enclosed

Signature with date
Beneficiary Group Chairman/Gram Panchayat Sarpanch/Block Panchayat Chairman

Countersigned and recommended

Signature with date and seal

District Implementing Agency

Recommended and forwarded

(Signature with date)

Secretary to Government.

____________________ Department

Government of ___________________

To:

Department of Drinking Water Supply,
Ministry of Rural Development,
Government of India,
8^th & 9^th Floor, Paryavaran Bhavan,
CGO Complex, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi – 110 003.

Enclosures :

1. Estimates indicating scheme description and approved capital cost and operation & maintenance cost.

2. Resolution of Gram / Block Panchayat recommending the proposal.

Enclosure – II

Swajaldhara Project – Progress Report

Report for the month of

Project Sanction No. :

Date:

1. Name of Gram/Block Panchayat with

address and Pin code. __________________________

State __________________________

___________________________

2. Physical status of the Scheme :

1. Brief of the scheme: ___________________________

2. Physical Progress: ____________________________

3. Expected date of completion: ____________________________

3. Financial Status:

(a) Sanctioned cost: Rs. ________________________

(b) Expenditure incurred: Rs. ________________________

(i) Community Contribution: Rs. ________________________

(ii) Govt. of India share: Rs. ________________________

(iii) Govt. of India share Releases as on date: Date Amount

1^st instalment: Rs.

2^nd instalment: Rs.

(iv) Grant for O&M from Govt.of India Rs.

Total: (iii + iv) Rs.

(Signature with date)

Beneficiary Group Chairman/Gram Sarpanch / Block Panchayat Chairman

Countersigned

(Signature with date and seal)

District Implementing Agency