The Times of India 04.12.2009
Bihar seeks changes in JNURM norms
PATNA: Bihar has urged the Centre to introduce changes in the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) so that cities having a population of two lakh or more could be eligible for being selected under the mission.
Currently, cities having a population of 10 lakh or more are eligible for JNURM funds and the Centre is mulling over the idea of bringing down the population criteria to five lakh.
"The proposed move of the Centre would not be of any benefit to Bihar as except Patna none of the cities in Bihar have a population of five lakh or more," deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who holds the additional charge of the urban development department, said while speaking at the fourth national conference on JNURM at Delhi on Thursday.
He also pressed for enhancing the JNURM fund for Bihar from the existing Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 5,000 crore claiming that the present sanctioned amount was very less for a developing state like Bihar.
Speaking about the fund-sharing formula under which the Centre gives 50% of the fund for JNURM schemes, the state concerned gives 30% and the remaining fund is mobilized by the urban local body (ULB) concerned, Modi said that since the financial condition of the ULBs in Bihar is very poor, their share too is contributed by the state government. Modi pressed for adopting a 80:20 fund-sharing formula between the Centre and the state for the JNURM schemes meant for Patna.
The deputy CM also said that the Centre should compensate Bihar financially for ensuring the state's adherence to bring down the stamp duty to 5% in accordance with the JNURM norms as reduction in the duty would adversely affect the revenue collection.
Modi also pressed for introduction of employment guarantee schemes on the pattern of NREGA for the urban areas.
