The Pioneer  09.11.2010

PNS | New Delhi

Urban Administration and Development Minister Babulal Gaur met Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy during his New Delhi tour on Monday. Gaur informed Reddy about the works being done by the Madhya Pradesh Government for the development of the urban areas and welfare of the poor people.

Gaur informed Reddy especially about the 'Ram Roti' scheme and Shelter Homes running for the poor people, who come to the urban areas looking for work. Under the Ram Roti scheme the inmates of the shelter homes are given good quality food at cheap rates. He said that efforts are being made by the State Government as per directives of the Supreme Court to run shelter homes in the State. Under the Ram Roti scheme the inmates of shelter homes are given quality food in the evening at the rate of `5. The food items include rice, dal, six rotis and vegetables. This is being acclaimed in the State, he informed Reddy.

Gaur also informed the Union Urban Development Minister about inauguration of inter-State bus terminus at Bhopal on the Foundation Day of the State, November 1. He said that modern city bus service has been started at Bhopal, Indore and Ujjain from that day. Gaur presented Reddy the photo album about starting city bus service with 100 buses and brochure of the scheme.

During the discussion, Gaur informed that the State Government is implementing the sanctioned schemes under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission with top priority.

The Hindu       08.11.2010

JNNURM: ‘Government failed in fund utilisation'

MYSORE: Elected representatives are at loggerheads over implementation of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) projects in the city.

Minister for Medical Education S.A. Ramdas, who is also in-charge of Mysore district, had held a review meeting on Thursday, after which he gave an impression that the JNNURM works were going smoothly. He claimed that the eight projects in hand would be completed as scheduled.

However, A.H. Vishwanath, Mysore MP, who had also participated in the review meeting, addressed presspersons here on Sunday, and said that the statements made by Mr. Ramdas differed from what had been discussed. He castigated the Minister for not taking interest in the projects while he was an MLA.

Mr. Vishwanath urged Mr. Ramdas to “get acquainted with the facts and figures of the JNNURM scheme.” He also expressed regret that the State Government had failed to contribute anything under the JNNURM project for development of tourism in Mysore.

He charged that the State Government had failed to utilise the funds released under the JNNURM efficiently. He demanded that follow-up action be taken immediately. Mr. Vishwanath called for expediting the process of executing the JNNURM works in Mysore to utilise the full share of money sanctioned by the Government.

The MP also alleged that the current Deputy Commissioner of Mysore had not shown any interest in the project unlike the previous Deputy Commissioner P. Manivannan, under whom a review meeting used to be held every 15 days.

Hence, Mr. Vishwanath suggested appointing the Director General of the Administrative Training Institute or the Regional Commissioner as the special officer in-charge of the JNNURM. Mr. Vishwanath also pointed out the lack of participation by local institutions and NGOs and called for a separate Ministry to oversee the JNNURM works in both Mysore and Bangalore.

He said the absence of a technical sub-committee to check standards of the ongoing works had resulted in substandard works in Mysore.

Mr. Vishwanath also alleged that no new sites had been planned to handle solid waste and the money was being spent on acquiring vehicles. The MP pointed out that though Mysore was considered under the JNNURM for being a heritage city, and it was unfortunate that not a single heritage project had been prepared.