Other States - Rajasthan   

Gehlot demands special status

Ashok Gehlot

JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has requested the Centre to accord a special status to the desert State for setting up a permanent infrastructure for supply of clean drinking water in both urban and rural areas and sanction an additional assistance of Rs.3,045 crore every year during the next eight years for the purpose.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mr. Gehlot said the State would be needing Rs.50,000 crore for supply of drinking water in the next eight years. Of the estimated amount, Rs.25,640 crore would be available through the State Government’s own resources, existing Central assistance and other sources.

“The State will still be needing Rs.24,360 crore for building up a permanent water supply infrastructure. The Centre should give a special status to Rajasthan in view of its difficult geography and sanction a special assistance of Rs.3,045 crore every year,” said Mr. Gehlot.

He said though Rajasthan was geographically the largest State in the country, it had an abysmal 1.16 per cent of the total surface water and 1.72 per cent of ground water available in the country.

“With the State depending largely on ground water for its potable water requirement, its level is constantly declining,” he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Doha ship tragedy: 8 from Rajasthan feared dead
Gehlot demands special status

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu