Karnataka: Cut in grants may hit toilet project under Swachh Bharat Mission
Belagavi: The Centre’s decision to cut the grants for Swachh Bharat Mission by 15 percent may hamper large scale construction of toilets in rural areas under the mission. So far, the Centre had provided 75 per cent while state government shared 25 per cent for construction of toilets.
With cut in grants by the Centre, the state will now have to share 40 per cent of funds against 60 from the centre. According to sources, the beneficiaries of the mission will not be affected by the cut as the state government is expected to meet the excess expenditure from its treasury. Until the state government takes a final decision on the issue, the project of constructing toilets may get affected for sometime in the state, sources added.
Until now, the centre contributed Rs 9,000 on every toilet against state government's Rs 3,000. After the new orders issued by the centre to cut its grants, the Centre will share Rs 7,200 and state Rs 4,800 on every toilet that costs the governments Rs 12,000. How the state government will mobilise funds to bear the burden is something officials concerned are yet to clarify.
The grants released for construction of community toilets have also been reduced by the centre. As per new orders, the centre will share 60 per cent of the community toilet cost while state government will pay 30 per cent and beneficiaries 10 per cent. The new system of cost-sharing by the centre and state government will come into effect from the coming financial year.
The government is yet to deposit its share of fund in bank accounts of beneficiaries who got toilets constructed starting from 2015 fiscal.
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