Pimpri-Chinchwad awaits crucial schemes under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission

Faced with a funds crunch and little help coming forth from the state government, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation(PCMC) is finding it difficult to implement crucial development projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission(JNNURM). If officials are to be believed, the civic body has run out of funds to carry on with development projects like sewerage, river improvement and solid waste management.

"Whatever funds we had have been paid to the contractors. Now we if don't pay the contractors, the key development projects will come to a standstill," said Neelkanth Poman, the civic officer who is looking after the JNNURM projects. Poman said the problem would be solved to a great extent if the state government releases the JNNURM funds passed on to it by the central government. "The funds that the central government sanctions to civic bodies are routed through the state government. Our funds have been passed on to the state government by the central government. For six months, we have been waiting for the state government to release the funds," he said.

Officials said the state government has been sitting on as much as Rs 164 crore which includes both state as well as central government funds. Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma said in the event these funds are not available to the PCMC as early as possible, the development projects would be affected.

"Due to the model code of conduct, the release of funds has been hampered. We have been in contact with the state government, and are now hopeful of early release of funds as the elections are over," he said.

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