THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The bad reputation the state has in handling
centrally-sponsored schemes for infrastructure development has started
getting reflected in AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation).Going by the progress of the scheme, AMRUT is following
the downward trajectory of its precursor JNNURM with regard to
utilization of funds.

The total central allocation to the state under AMRUT during the
mission period (2015-16 to 2019-20) is Rs 1,161.20 cr. The state and the
mission cities together have to contribute a matching share and the
total outlay under AMRUT Mission
is Rs 2,333.92 cr over a period of five years. Nine urban bodies
including six corporations are covered under AMRUT Mission in the state.

With less than three years left, the state is grappling with the
mammoth task of executing projects worth Rs 2,000cr in nine urban
bodies. According to project officials, change in administration at the
helm of local self-government department led to shift in strategies
which resulted in delay in implementation.

While in 2016, the local self-government department decided to engage a
project development and management consultant (PDMC) as the key
monitoring agency of AMRUT, the decision was later reversed and the
state highpowered steering committee decided to explore various options
of imple mentation without a PDMC. It was also cited that the functions
of PDMC
should be split as project development, quality assurance and project
monitoring. The high-powered committee also mooted the interaction
between government and academic institutions and it was suggested that
expertise of academicians in reputed engineering colleges shall be
utilised for project development, quality check and monitoring. All
these factors led to the need for formation of an expert committee
comprising sector experts for north and south regions. Although the move
was driven by good intentions, the government order regarding formation
of technical committee is still pending and without technical sanction
of the expert committee, none of the urban bodies under AMRUT Mission
have been able to implement projects.

The financial progress of all schemes under water supply , sewerage
and septage management, storm water drainage, urban transport and green
space and parks is zero even for projects that were approved in
2015-16.No tenders have been floated or awarded for schemes envisaged
under water supply , sewerage and septage management. The only nominal
progress has been recorded under small budget works approved in 2015-16
state annual action plan in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram corporations.

State Annual Action Plan (SAAP) for an amount of Rs 973.64 Cr for 201718
has been submitted to the Centre for approval. “The situation is bleak
for the state as the union ministry has mandated that we need to achieve
50% physical progress for works awarded during 2015-16 and 50%
completion of DPRs (detailed project reports) for projects approved
during 2016-17 if the state annual action plan (SAAP) for 2017-18 needs
to be approved. In our case not even 10% has been recorded till now,” an
official said.