The Hindu 15.04.2010
No urban renewal scheme for Kozhikode city
Staff Reporter
Kozhikode: The Kozhikode Corporation is seeking alternative means of funding for development activities in the wake of the Centre deciding to put on hold a proposal to provide funds to 200 cities in the second phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme.
Mayor M. Bhaskaran said here on Wednesday that the government was working out a proposal with the Centre to obtain financial aid from a scheme under the French government.
France had evinced interest in offering monetary support for improving urban infrastructure in four cities provided that these cities had some historical connection with France, he said.
“It is true that the French had reached the Kappad shore after the Portuguese and the Dutch to establish trade and commerce in Malabar. But we never knew of erstwhile French settlers and families in the city. Interestingly, a road in the city has been named after a French family,” Mr. Bhaskaran said.
Earlier the Kochi-based EMB Planners and Designers had prepared a draft of the City Development Plan (CDP) for Kozhikode. Projects estimated at Rs.3,915.38 crore had been envisaged for the city, including Beypore, Nallalam-Cheruvannur and Elathur, grama panchayats which were recently merged with the Corporation, and Olavanna grama panchayat on the outskirts of the city.
The government had added three grama panchayats to Kozhikode so that the city would secure funds under the phase II of the JNNURM scheme. The Union Ministry for Urban Development had last year proposed that a sum of Rs. 1,00,000 crore would be allocated to 200 cities having a population of five lakh. The population of the city was 4.36 lakh as per the 2001 census.
Mr. Bhaskaran said the Union Urban Ministry had called a meeting of Mayors in New Delhi to apprise that funds would not be available for the phase II of the JNNURM scheme. “So, we decided to get assistance from France after knowing that the country wished to select four cities for a project. Later, Local Self-Government Principal Secretary S.M. Vijayanand held talks with the French authorities. It is not clear whether the aid will be in the form of grant or loan,” he said.
The Mayor said that the City Corporation Council would hold a meeting next week to approve the CDP for Kozhikode to be submitted to the government. The same proposals could be presented to the French government.
Twelve sectors had been identified for implementing the projects in the short term (2010-15); medium-term (2015-20); and long-term (2020-30). Already Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram have secured funds under the JNNURM scheme in the first phase envisaged for 63 cities. “Kozhikode city is desperately in need of funds for development activities,” he said.
