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The Minister for Water Resources Shri Priyaranjan Dasmunsi has asked the State Governments to identify the schemes to be included under Bharat Nirman and prepare a Plan of Action, which has to be sent to the Ministry of Water Resources by the end of October 2005. He was addressing the valedictory session of the Conference of Principal Secretaries/ Secretaries (Irrigation and Water Resources) and Command Area Authorities of States in New Delhi. He advised States to make honest efforts in achieving the goals outlined in the National Common Minimum Programme. The Minister said that a pilot scheme on National Project on Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies directly linked to agriculture on pilot basis has already been approved. One-tenth of Bharat Nirman target is expected to come out of this scheme.
In the two-days conference, which concluded in the capital today, the Minister said that a Committee has been set up to give its recommendations in the next six weeks on the basis of which States would approach World Bank for assistance. Funding pattern of Bharat Nirman would continue to be on the revised AIBP guidelines. The Minister stressed that the stepping up of AIBP programme is required. He also said that Ground Water Legislation should be enacted by the States and State Ground Water Authority should be constituted for regulation and management of ground water.
SS/AKS/CK
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