The Hindu 28.02.2013
Corpn. pins hopes on funding from Centre
Just as anybody else the Coimbatore Corporation also
eagerly awaits the Union Budget, to be presented by Union Finance
Minister P. Chidambaram on Thursday.
The reason for
the wait is not difficult to fathom – the Corporation expects the
Minister to announce the second part of the urban infrastructure
development scheme, in other words, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban
Renewal Mission (JNNURM) II.
At stake for the civic
body are schemes worth Rs. 1,880 crore. According to Commissioner
in-charge S. Sivarasu the civic body had sought funds for the second
phase of the storm water drain project, cleaning the natural drains that
criss-cross the city, improving the eight water tanks and the 24×7
drinking water supply scheme.
The Corporation has
placed a demand of Rs. 490 crore to the Central Government to construct
storm water drains measuring 1,482 km in 81 zones. It has sought Rs. 500
crore to improve Sanganur Pallam, Ganapathy-Singanallur Drain,
Vilankurichi Drain, Karupparayan Kovil Drain and the Kovilmedu Drain.
The civic body has submitted a proposal for Rs. 200 crore to clean the eight water tanks that fall within the city limits.
And, another Rs. 690 crore to supply water round-the-clock to the residents of the old city area (60 wards).
If
Mr. Chidambaram were to announce the scheme and allocate money for the
same, it would take the city to the next level of development.
Coimbatore had gained in infrastructure from the first JNNURM scheme in
that it was able to implement the Pilloor Dedicated Drinking Water
Supply Scheme, solid waste management scheme, underground drainage
scheme and the storm water drainage in a part of the city.
It was to have taken up the tanks cleaning project as well but could not do so for a variety of reasons.
Mr.
Sivarasu says that the Corporation is confident of securing funds from
the government. But his optimism appears misplaced if media reports are
anything to go by. The reports say that the Minister may cut spending to
focus on reducing the budget deficit and ensuring fiscal discipline.