The Times of India 16.11.2009
PCMC yet to get Rs 163 cr JNNURM funds from state
PUNE: The state government is yet to pay dues amounting to Rs 163 crore for the projects undertaken in the Pimpri-Chinchwad township as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission(JNNURM).
Speaking to TOI on Saturday, Ashish Sharma, municipal commissioner, PCMC, said that the civic administration was conducting a follow-up to get these funds.
Under the JNNURM, the Union government provides 50 per cent of the project cost, while the state government has to provide 20 per cent. The remaining 30 per cent has to be borne by the municipal corporation.
According to official sources, the PCMC has not received any funds from state government for JNNURM projects in the current financial year since the election code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections came into force. The civic body has sent letters to the government to obtain these funds.
Officials said that the PCMC has received sanction for projects with a total expenditure of Rs 2,546 crore. So far, the corporation has received grants of around Rs 600 crore, with which it has undertaken road development projects, four sewage treatment plants, augmentation of water supply and solid waste management projects.
Meanwhile, Sulabha Ubale, group leader of Shiv Sena corporators in the PCMC, said that, "the corporation is spending more than its share of funds for implementing JNNURM projects. As a result, small ward-level works are not being implemented.
Independent corporator and social activist Maruti Bhapkar also said that the PCMC is not undertaking ward-level projects like repair of roads, gutters and footpaths "as it has no funds. But it is spending more than its share on the JNNURM projects. The small ward-level works are important for the common man."
Sharma, however, refuted the allegations that ward-level projects are affected due to the expenditure on JNNURM projects. "There are different budgetary allocations for JNNURM projects and ward-level works. The PCMC has not diverted the funds allocated for ward-level projects to JNNURM projects. PCMC is implementing the ward-level projects and they are in progress."