The New Indian Express           08.11.2013

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has proposed to improve  nine storm water drains (SWD) under the transitional phase of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) at a cost of Rs 150 crore.

The GHMC has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for the nine SWDs in the corporation limits and submitted the same to the Centre last month for approval.

The proposed nine SWDs include - Durganagar crossroad to Pallecheruvu, Rajendranagar (`11.36 crore); Qayam Nagar Dargah to ESI  via Chintalmet, Rajendranagar (`7.50 crore); BHEL township to Ramchandrapuram Cheruvu, Serilingampally (`18.81 crore); IDL Cheruvu to Kukatpally Nala (Rs 8 crore); Maisamma Cheruvu to Balanagar (Rs 18 crore); Nacharam Cheruvu to Peddamma Cheruvu in Kapra (`4.50 crore); Chemical nala from Papaiah Yadav Nagar to IDPL in Quthbullapur (`36 crore); Nallagandla Cheruvu to Patancheruvu municipal limits (`25 crore) and Durgam Cheruvu to Malkam Chervu (`20.83 crore).

It may be recalled that the ministry of urban development had approved sanctioning of new projects up to March 31, 2014 as a transitional phase. It has further extended the period of JNNURM for two more years for completion of ongoing projects and reforms. JNNURM  completed its normal tenure of seven years last year.

GHMC officials told Express that under JNNURM, the Central government will provide 35 per cent funds for a project while 50 per cent has to be borne by the corporation and the balance 15 per cent by the state government. These nalas were identified for improvement as a majority of them are free from encroachments and do not have much hurdles for their implementation.

The implementing agencies, mostly civic bodies were given time till 2014 to complete the already sanctioned works. Since there is sufficient time to take up phase II of JNNURM, the Union ministry of urban development has decided to provide funds for various cities under the transition phase, they said. They hoped that the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) would give nod to the nine proposed SWD drains by this month end. Only after getting the nod from the Centre, the GHMC would take up the proposed works.

Under JNNURM Phase-1, GHMC has taken up nala improvements in different parts of the twin cities and they are in different phases of completion.