Shimla: No dream hill city that envisages an investment of Rs 3898 crore for developing world class infrastructure by utilizing funds under Jawharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Since launch of the mission in 2005, while the broader city development plans stands approved but only Rs 50 crore funds have seeped down and the municipal corporation awaits approval of another Rs 120 crore for 11 projects that have been submitted to the central urban development ministry.
Presided over by Anand Sharma, minister of state for external affairs the Shimla mission sensitization workshop was informed that so far only four projects worth Rs 50 crore had been approved.
PK Srivastva, joint secretary urban development informed that two urban poor housing projects worth Rs 24 crore, a Rs 16 crore solid waste management plant and Rs 10 crore for tunnel near Auckland school to decongest traffic stand approved for the hill capital.
Municipal commissioner Amitabh Awasthi stressing on the need to augment water supplies said that a Rs 650 crore water scheme was being envisaged to meet present and future needs of the city. He said that the corporation was awaiting approval of 11 other projects worth Rs 120 crore under JNNURM. A city development plan worth Rs 3898 crore that was submitted to the central urban development ministry had been approved, said Awasthi.
Giving details about funding for other towns, Srivastva disclosed 55 other small towns in the state were eligible for funds improving urban infrastructure. He said a Rs 1.9 crore nallah channelisation project in Dharamshala, a Rs 3.34 crore storm water drains project for Hamirpur and a Rs 12.82 crore road construction and nallah channelisation project for Mandi had been already approved.
DS Negi, director with the housing and urban poverty alleviation ministry said, incomplete project proposals and faulty detailed project reports was responsible for delay in sanctioning of projects for the hill city.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
