New Delhi: Lauding it as a flagship project, Finance Minister P Chidambaram has proposed to increase allocation for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) from Rs.54.82 billion in 2007-08 to Rs.68.66 billion for 2008-09.

"JNNURM is the main vehicle for improving urban infrastructure. It has also succeeded in driving reforms in urban governance and urban-related laws", the minister said while presenting the national budget in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

The budget has also increased allocation for the Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission to Rs.73 billion.

The finance minister also proposed to allocate separate funds to install a stand-alone system to provide potable water to each school in water-deficient habitations.

"The (water) mission does not yet have a separate component for schoolchildren in water-deficient habitations. While a detailed plan for four years will be drawn up, we propose an initial allocation of Rs.2 billion in 2008-09 for this programme", the finance minister said.

The budget has proposed to provide Rs.12 billion for the total sanitation campaign in 2008-09.

Source : IANS