The Central government will launch six pilot projects for clean drinking water supply in villages under ‘Swajal Project’.
The project will come up one each in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation will pay 90 percent of the cost and the panchayat concerned will bear the remaining 10 percent.
The scheme will be later on extended to all 115 backward districts identified by Niti Aayog. The first two pilots will start in Uttarakhand (this month) and in Rajasthan next month.
Under the Swajal Project local residents will pay a certain water charge for maintenance of the system. At least one village will be brought under the scheme in all 115 identified districts.
The first pilot drinking water project will be launched in Uttarkashi, and the next one in Karauli in Rajasthan.