The Times of India 14.03.2013
‘Delhi failed to use urban funds well’
NEW DELHI: The Centre's Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission was supposed to enable local bodies and state governments to take up big infrastructure projects.
However, experts say not many states have benefited from the scheme for
want of knowledge and expertise. Just nine states in India have used
the scheme optimally, according to experts. Unfortunately, Delhi doesn't
figure in this list.
Experts stress the need for
providing technical assistance to local bodies so that projects can be
completed on time. Though a large number of projects were sanctioned in
Delhi under the JNNURM, the civic agencies couldn't finish a majority of
them. Due to lack of funds, local bodies would never take up big-ticket
projects. That changed with JNNURM. "Civic agencies have failed to
complete the projects on time in the absence of technical knowhow. Along
with providing technical support for implementing big projects, we need
to relook the municipal cadres. We need experts at the lowest level,"
said Dr M Ramachandran, former secretary, urban development ministry
while speaking at the 11th international conference on good governance
or safe, healthy, green, inclusive and smart cities — Municipalika 2013.
"There is a need to set up a network of national institutions which
local bodies can consult while planning the project. In the extended
JNNURM scheme, of the Rs 15,000 crore close to Rs 500-1000 crore has
been allocated for capacity building,'' added Dr Ramachandran.
V
Suresh, advisor and convener of Good Governance India Foundation, said,
"With a dramatic increase in urban population in the last few years,
there is a need for sustainable development of cities. Schemes like
JNNURM have empowered local bodies to take up big projects. But the
public will benefit only if the projects are completed in a time-bound
manner." Experts say the focus of JNNURM-II should be on smaller cities,
while big cities like Delhi and Mumbai need timely completion of
projects.
