Rs 1,143 cr for JNNURM projects ‘withheld’, Congress protests - Jakhar says party workers will organise a statewide agitation soon
Saturday, 08/11/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141108/punjab.htm#1
Abohar : The Congress protested the NDA Government’s decision not to reportedly grant funds for the renovation of water supply, sewerage and sewage treatment plants in 25 towns. The UPA Government had approved the projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). It was to grant Rs 1,143.67 crore for the venture. The Centre has reportedly dropped the JNNURM.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader Sunil Jakhar said Congress workers would lead protests in all the affected towns. At a dharna near Aggarsein Chowk, he said the then Union Development Minister, Kamal Nath, on February 11 informed him that the JNURM had been extended by another year. He said the scheme was extended to give relief to various states that had not submitted the projects in the prescribed period. He said New Delhi was then convinced that people didn’t have access to basic amenities in most towns of the state.
The Centre had okayed the release of Rs 66.74 crore to renovate sewerage and construct roads in Abohar, Rs 53.81 crore for Sirhind, Rs 103.89 crore Barnala, Rs 16.76 crore Majitha, Rs 26.53 crore Bassi Pathana, Rs 21.63 crore Sannaur, Rs 78.33 crore Sangrur, Rs 34.15 crore Jaitu, Rs 19.66 crore Maur, Rs 16.69 crore Rampura Phul, Rs 3.19 crore Kot Fatta, Rs 61.27 crore Sangat Mandi, Rs 4.62 Bhucho Mandi, Rs 7.36 crore Goniana, Rs 10.85 crore Raman Mandi, Rs 65.21 crore Nabha, Rs 74.55 crore Faridkot, Rs 90.43 crore Kotkapura, Rs 138.84 crore Phagwara, Rs 9.39 crore Sardulgarh, Rs 34.23 crore Mansa, Rs 28.84 crore Budhlada, Rs 15.79 crore Bareta, Rs 130.98 crore Khanna and Rs 29.53 crore Guru Har Sahai.
Jakhar said Ashok Kumar Gupta, Secretary, local bodies department, had stated in the Punjab and Haryana High Court that no project was pending under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) of the Central Government.
During the hearing of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Abohar councillors, the secretary stated on October 27 that despite his best efforts, no funds had been released for the projects.
He said the state was not in a position to arrange funds to the tune of Rs 1,143.67 crore to renovate sewerage and water supply. On October 16, Sukhbir Badal announced that all the towns in the state would be equipped with sewerage and drinking water facility by December 2015.
