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.