The Hindu 05.02.2014
MP seeks State funds for water supply
‘No need for World Bank funded project under PPP’
BJP State chief Pralhad Joshi, MP, has urged Chief
Minister Siddaramaiah to fund the project on extension of 24×7 water
supply project to all wards under the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal
Corporation (HDMC) from its own resources, rather than permitting a
World Bank-funded project.
In a letter written to the
Chief Minister, which has been released to the media, Mr. Joshi pointed
out that the scheme had been implemented in eight wards of the twin
cities on pilot basis, and approval was given for extension of the same
through private partnership back in 2008.
In his
letter, Mr. Joshi drew the Chief Minister’s attention to the Government
Order dated November 7, 2013, through which the State government
permitted the implementation of the 24×7 water supply scheme in Hubli,
Dharwad, Belgaum and Gulbarga at a cost of Rs. 2,574 crore, under
assistance from World Bank.
Mr. Joshi has said that
through the order, Rs. 1,146 crore had been earmarked for the extension
of the scheme to the remaining 59 wards. “Under the project the World
Bank will bear 72 per cent of the total cost of the project, which comes
to Rs. 550 crore. The remaining which comes to Rs. 214 crore has to be
borne by the municipal corporation. Given the financial condition of the
HDMC it is impossible for it to mobilise such huge funds,” Mr. Joshi
said in the letter.
Phased manner
The
MP urged the Chief Minister to take up the project of bringing other
wards of the twin cities under the scheme through State government
funds, and to withdraw the Government Order issued. He requested him to
release funds from the State government’s resources.
The scheme has been implemented in eight wards on pilot basis.
