Out of Rs 650 cr withheld assistance, Rs 150 cr released
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 2: Union Ministry of Urban Development has extended time-frame up to 2013-14 for completion of projects and reforms under Urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG) and Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) of Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
On the hectic persuasion of the State Government, the Centre has also released about Rs 150 crore out of total withheld amount of Rs 650 crore. However, it has been made clear that remaining amount of Rs 500 crore would be released only after the State Government carries out pending reforms within shortest possible time.
Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that Union Ministry of Urban Development vide its communication No. K-14014/04/2012-NURM-I has conveyed to the State Government that with the approval of the competent authority it has been decided to extend Mission period by two years up to 2013-14 for completion of projects sanctioned till March 2012 and reforms under UIG and UIDSSMT of JNNURM.
The JNNURM was actually launched in the year 2005 for reforms driven and fast tract planned development of urban infrastructure and basic services in identified cities and the duration of Mission was seven years beginning from 2005-06.
“However, majority of the projects sanctioned under JNNURM could not be completed within the stipulated time-frame as State Government failed to carry out all the reforms, which were imperative to get next installments under the Mission”, sources said.
While conveying extension of time-frame by two years, the Union Government has also asked the State Government to expedite the implementation of the projects and reforms and submit an Action Plan for the same at the earliest, they informed.
“As the State Government was continuously pressing for release of withheld amount for completion of the projects, whose fate is hanging in balance in absence of financial assistance, the Union Government has also released around Rs 150 crore out of total withheld amount of Rs 650 crore”, they said.
However, while releasing Rs 150 crore, the Union Ministry has made it clear that remaining amount of Rs 500 crore would be released only after the State Government carries out the pending reforms within the shortest possible time as committed by it a number of times during the past quite sometime, sources said while expressing hope that State Government would leave no stone unturned in translating its commitment repeatedly made with the Union Government ever since the withholding of next installment under the Mission.
According to the official data available with EXCELSIOR, under UIG component, work on comprehensive sewerage scheme for Division A of Greater Jammu is under progress while as the comprehensive sewerage scheme for left out area, Phase-II of Division A of Greater Jammu City is yet to take off.
Similarly, work on comprehensive sewerage scheme for Zone-III (Sector-I) of Greater Srinagar, augmentation of water supply for Zone IV of Greater Srinagar including Central Water Testing Facilities and water supply scheme for Tangnar (Srinagar) under UIG component of JNNURM is under progress.
As far as UIDSSMT is concerned, none of the 47 projects started in Akhnoor, Anantnag, Baramulla, Bhaderwah, Doda, Ganderbal, Kathua, Kupwara, Poonch, Samba, Sopore, Sunderbani and Udhampur towns have so far been completed.
In Akhnoor town, 95 per cent work on two projects has been completed till March 31, 2012 while as another one is yet to take off. In Anantnag town, work on one project is yet to take off while as only 5 per cent work on another has been carried out. Similarly, only 18 per cent work on one project in Baramulla district has been carried out so far.
As far as five projects in Bhaderwah are concerned, work ranging between 45 per cent to 85 per cent has been completed till March 31, 2012. In Doda, 43 per cent to 55 per cent work on three projects has been completed while as work on third one is yet to take off. Out of three projects in Ganderbal, only 21 per cent work on one project has been completed. Barring one project, substantial progress has been made on three others in Kathua.
In Kupwara, only 38 per cent work has been completed on one project while as in Poonch, substantial progress has been made on three projects while as not even one per cent work has been carried out on remaining two. Out of six projects in Samba, work ranging between 32 per cent to 56 per cent has been completed on five projects.
As far as six projects in Sunderbani are concerned, progress ranging between 22 per cent to 90 per cent has been made while as 56 per cent work has been carried out on lone project in Udhampur district.
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