Release of funds gets tough for states slacking on JNNURM implementation

Pulling up states for project execution delays and slackened pace of reforms implementation,the Centre today cautioned that unsatisfactory performance....

Pulling up states for project execution delays and slackened pace of reforms implementation,the Centre today cautioned that unsatisfactory performance under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) will make it difficult for states to get financial aid from it in future.

Addressing the annual meeting of urban development secretaries and principal secretaries of states,urban development minister Jaipal Reddy said that the Centres focus is more on ensuring quality of work being done by urban civic bodies in various cities of the country under the JNNURM. Since December 2005 when JNNURM started,we have been giving funds to states for implementing projects under the mission. The difficult part of ensuring quality of projects and their effective implementation has now begun. For states that have not done enough,there will be no easy releasing of funds, the minister said.

Reddy said the mission,which has reached midway in its tenure of seven years,had a fund worth Rs 1 lakh crore. Most of this amount has been spent,but the implementation has to be effective. We review the performances of states. Since most of the fund has been utilised,we will try to get an additional amount of Rs 5,000 crore from the World Bank next year, he added.

Story continues below this ad

Calling for better cohesion among officials of urban civic bodies,the minister said it will go a long way in ensuring quality of projects under the mission. Reddy said that with private vehicular traffic having increased manifold in metro cities there is a need to think about pedestrians and cyclists.

When the Delhi government had implemented the BRT project,there was a lot of pressure from car owners as the corridors cramped their driving space. We need to withstand their pressure as in urban cities,there is hardly any scope for pedestrians and cyclists. Therefore,we are giving more buses in metro cities, the minister said.

Under JNNURM,almost 50 per cent of funds have been allotted for drainage,sewerage and solid waste management projects. These may look unglamourous things,but these services are class neutral,as they are used by both poor and rich, Reddy said. He added that 20 per cent of the cost of JNNURM projects is being generated through public private partnership (PPP),especially in setting up of metro rail services in various cities. But metro projects are costly and we would also focus on releasing buses for pedestrians,as these projects are cheaper, the minister said.

Tags:
Financial Aid

How BJD steadily lost its old guard, Naveen Patnaik’s trusted aides over the years

Political Pulse3 hr ago

Senior BJD leader Prafulla Kumar Mallik's suspension for criticizing the party's functioning and lack of responsible opposition adds to the growing discontent and resignations within the party. With reduced involvement and recent surgery of party leader Patnaik, there is a leadership vacuum and the party must redefine its role in opposition to regain lost ground.

View all shorts

Live Blog