Land acquisition is a major hurdle for most of the master projects proposed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Rural Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. Of the nearly 15 projects that fall under the JNNURM, so far only four have been completed or are nearing completion.

Work on 10 projects is still in their initial stages.

The Central Government had already given an ultimatum to the Corporation to complete the work before 2012. If the work is not undertaken on a war footing, the Corporation will fail to reap the full benefit from it.

As per the JNNURM plan, out of the total project estimate, the Centre will bear 50 percent of the total cost, 30 percent will come from the State Government and the Corporation must find sources to fund 20 percent of the cost. With nearly 10 projects proving to be non starters, the Corporation is yet to utilise nearly Rs 650 crore that have been sanctioned under the JNNURM and Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Plan (KSUDP).

The projects that have been completed include the Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant. The fund allocation was Rs 63.47 crore. Among the other projects, building of new houses under the DSUP project, which is intended to provide basic services to the poor, is progressing. The total fund allocation is Rs 130 crore.

The Corporation has initiated steps to speed up the implementation of public transport system project under which it will run 200 buses to improve the transport system. The total JNNURM allocation is Rs 73 crore.

The main project that is yet to start is the Maradu water treatment plant.

The total fund allocated for the plant was Rs 201 crore. Even though the Kerala Water Authority awarded the tender, land acquisition for laying the pipeline is a big challenge. An official from the Corporation said that the main obstacle in front of them was finding a source for the enhanced cost. “Land acquisition is a major barrier for which the Corporation will have to find an additional amount of nearly Rs 1000 crore. So there should be provisions for long-term loans.

Otherwise the projects will face unexpected delay,” he said.

Among the other major projects that are yet to be initialised is the sewerage project plan for which Rs 78.40 crore has been allocated under the JNNURM scheme. Some other projects like Atlantis Railway Overbridge are still in the initial stages.

The total estimate of the project was Rs 10.30 crore. The Corporation has set aside Rs 50 lakh for land acquisition, but so far no steps have been taken in this regard.

Opposition leader A B Sabu said that the main reason for the delay was the absence of a time-bound mechanism in implementing the projects.

“The delay in executing projects and finding revenue for the extra amount are affecting the progress of the projects,” he added.