The Hindu 18.01.2011
Central panel urged to release JNNURM funds
GVMC to make a presentation on the progress of various projects taken up under the mission
The cash-starved Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation will make
out a case before the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee for
conditional release of part of the Rs.434 crores due to it from the
Central and State Governments for projects taken up under the Jawaharlal
Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
At the meeting scheduled towards the month-end, it would
make a presentation on the progress of various projects taken up under
the mission and urge the committee to release the funds with a
commitment to accelerate the implementation of reforms in GIS-based
property tax, solid waste management and collection of user charges for
underground drainage, Municipal Commissioner V.N. Vishnu told reporters
here on Monday.
The corporation was hoping that around 80 per cent of funds due would be released by March giving it a huge relief.
While no condition on implementation of reforms was
insisted for release of funds earlier, this time the Finance Department
was particular about implementation.
Total outlay
The total outlay for the JNNURM projects, including the
increased cost of the housing units, is around Rs.2,011 crores. Of it,
Rs.1,052 crores has been released so far and the Central and State
Government’s share came to around Rs.744 crores and the remaining that
of GVMC. The contribution of GVMC was much better compared to other
ULBs, he said.
RAY meet
Mr. Vishnu said to clear the pending bills of Rs.170
crores and also to prepare for the remaining part of the works, the
corporation would go in for another Rs.100 crores as loan from Hudco.
Mr. Vishnu said the detailed project report for the
implementation of Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) for a slum-free city would be
ready by the month-end. The DPR is being prepared by Mahendra and
Mahendra Consultancy in four parts.
The readied information would be presented at a national meeting on RAY in Hyderabad to be held on January 19 and 20.