Shimla: It was reality check when urban development minister Mohinder Singh during question hour let the house know that in 3 years Rs 5.81 crore had been spent for upgrading the city infrastructure under Jawharlal National Urban Renewal Mission program.
In reply to a question tabled by Kaul Singh but raised in his absence by Gangu Ram Musafir (congress), the minister told the assembly that the central government in three years had sent Rs 27.30 crore for development of Shimla city.
Of the funds spent, Rs 3.04 crore had been spent to purchase 75 buses for improving the city’s transport system and another Rs 2.02 crore had been spent for widening and lowering of Auckland House tunnel, he said.
Work on a Rs 16 crore solid waste management plant that had been stalled because of land problems is beginning to pick pace, said the minister. Environment clearances for it had been received and the High Court had settled the land disputes involving the site, he added. Till date Rs 72.18 lakh had been spent of the waste plant project.
Low cost housing project for urban poor was coming on track after land related disputes at Dhalli suburb had been settled, the minister said. So far only Rs 3.63 lakh had been spent on what has been labeled as Ashiana II project.
Rs 72 crore for revamping century old water supply lines
On the occasion, the minister also informed the house that Rs 72 crore under JNURM funds had been received for revamping the old water supply lines of the city. Plans were being drawn up to utilize the funds and improve the water supply which is plagued by leakages.Additionally, he said another Rs 48 crore funds were marked for providing sewerage lines. This would funded jointly by the centre and the state, with the centre contributing Rs 38 crore towards the project said Mohinder Singh.
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.
