Rs 23,443 crore released for MGNREGS for Mission Water Conservation

The Ministry of Rural Development has released Rs 23,443.09 crore to the States today as first tranche for Financial Year 2017-18 under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The amount released includes all pending liabilities as on March 31, 2017. It is also to ensure priority work on water conservation measures.

The government is laying considerable emphasis on Water Conservation and Water Management works under MGNREGS. All States have been advised to ensure that such works are taken up wherever required with appropriate technical and scientific scrutiny. In collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources, a few Mission Water Conservation Guidelines have been developed and shared with the States.

A list of 2264 water-stressed Blocks, as ascertained by the Ministry of Water Resources, has been prepared. These Blocks are located in 324 districts of 21 States. In a recent communication to the States, the Ministry has advised the States to ensure not less than 65% expenditure on Natural Resource Management (NRM) Activities. There are 155 kind of works permissible under MGNREGS. Of these, 100 works are NRM related.