Letter (Ms) No.6, Maintenance of Drinking Water Supply in Rural Areas, 2017
The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department issued Letter (Ms) No.6, dated 20 January 2017, directing District Collectors to prioritise drinking water supply works under the Members of Legislative Assembly Constituency Development Scheme in response to drought. The letter directs the use of up to Rs.105.00 lakh per constituency from specified tied and untied components, applying the restriction to the balance available for 2016-17 and to 2017-18.
Purpose and scope
The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department issued Letter (Ms) No.6, dated 20 January 2017, following a reported 61 per cent deficit in average rainfall during 2016 due to failure of the North-East Monsoon. The Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj reported that poor rainfall had caused almost all water sources in Tamil Nadu to dry up and that additional resources were urgently needed for drinking water supply works.
The letter concerns the use of funds under the Members of Legislative Assembly Constituency Development Scheme. It does not establish rules for land ownership, property registration, land classification or development approval.
Funding direction
Letter (Ms) No.6, dated 20 January 2017, records that the Government had sanctioned Rs.470 crore and allocated Rs.2,00,00,000 per Members of Legislative Assembly constituency for 2016-17. Of that constituency allocation, Rs.1,10,00,000 was earmarked for the tied component and Rs.90,00,000 for the untied component.
Key directions are:
- District Collectors must explain the prevailing drought conditions in their districts to Members of Legislative Assembly.
- Members of Legislative Assembly must be requested to prioritise water supply works using the Rs.90.00 lakh untied component.
- District Collectors must take up water supply works for Rs.105.00 lakh under the scheme.
- The Rs.105.00 lakh consists of Rs.90.00 lakh from the untied component and Rs.15.00 lakh from the tied component already allotted exclusively for water supply works.
Who is affected
Letter (Ms) No.6, dated 20 January 2017, places the main operational responsibility on District Collectors and involves Members of Legislative Assembly in prioritising constituency works. The communication was also sent to the Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, District Rural Development Agencies, local government authorities, treasury and accounts offices, and other listed public bodies.
For residents and property owners in rural areas, the practical effect is that available constituency development funds were to be directed towards drinking water infrastructure during the drought. The letter does not grant an individual entitlement to a water project on a particular property.
Period of application
Letter (Ms) No.6, dated 20 January 2017, states that the funding restriction applies only to the balance amount available for 2016-17 and also to funds for 2017-18.
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Common questions
Does this letter change my land title or property rights?
No property title or land right is changed by the letter. It deals with prioritising Members of Legislative Assembly Constituency Development Scheme funds for drinking water supply works.
How much could be used for water supply works in each constituency?
District Collectors were directed to take up water supply works for Rs.105.00 lakh, comprising Rs.90.00 lakh from the untied component and Rs.15.00 lakh from the tied component already allotted for water supply works.
Who decides which water supply works receive priority?
District Collectors were directed to explain the drought situation to Members of Legislative Assembly and request them to prioritise water supply works. District Collectors were also directed to take up the works under the scheme.
Which financial years does the restriction cover?
The restriction applies to the balance amount available for 2016-17 and also to 2017-18.
