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GULF-GOANS e-NEWSLETTER (since 1994)
Presented by Ulysses Menezes, www.goa-world.com
Moderated by Gaspar Almeida
Goa runs risk of losing JNNURM funds
9 Jan 2009, 1941 hrs IST, Raju Nayak, TNN
PANAJI: Bumbling CCP officials and city fathers may have ensured the loss of at
least Rs 300 crore the capital city was to receive from the Centre under
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). And in the process,
the city has also lost out on the development that could have taken place.
Although the Prime Minister announced Panaji's inclusion in the central scheme
in December 2005, the city has not received a single penny so far as lethargic
CCP officials submitted detailed project reports only as late as November 13
last year. Now, it is feared that because of this delay the funds may not be
sanctioned within the remaining few months of this financial year too.
"The projects could not be sanctioned by the central urban development ministry
purely because of the apathy of the corporation. Even after constant and
repeated requests by the state government, CCP did not respond," said a top
official of the government. CCP has also not adhered to guidelines required
under the scheme.
Nandkumar Kamat, member of state level steering committee on the scheme, was
scathing in his comments. "Goa is one of the most inefficient states in India
when it comes to timely and judicious utilization of centrally sponsored
schemes." Panaji could have got more than Rs 300-500 crore if CCP had its
priorities right and projects ready, he said.
Ironically, Panaji is India's 52nd richest town (among 2,500 census towns and
cities) in terms of total bank deposits but it does not have a master plan for
its development, Kamat said.
Though the exact amount for the scheme is not earmarked by the Centre, the
funds are released on a first-come-first-served basis on detailed projects
reports submitted by the states.
The scheme has a provision for disbursing grants to upgrade the infrastructure
of 63 selected cities. According to JNNURM guidelines, CCP was directed to
prepare detailed projects reports (DPR) on May 29, 2007 and submit them to the
Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) to be placed before the state-level
steering committee for onward submission to the Centre for sanction of grants.
"However, CCP took more than eight months to issue work orders for preparation
of DPRs. It was finally done on January 23, 2008," informed sources said.
They added that CCP without consulting the nodal agencyGSUDAgot a slum
development project approved under _Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP)' from
the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee on February 27, 2008 although
this slum project was being opposed by NGOs since it was meant for migrants who
stay in shanties. "While the experts on the committee were looking at important
projects like storm water disposal and the St Inez nallah, the city fathers
were only eyeing vote banks," commented a member of the committee.
As per JNNURM guidelines, CCP has to place the DPR before the elected council.
After its approval it goes to GSUDA and finally to the state-level steering
committee. "This procedure was not followed due to delay in submission of DPR
by the CCP before the financial year 2007-08," sources said.
Senior officials said that despite CCP's apathy, the state government wanted to
accord post-facto approval for the DPR and wrote to the local body on April 25,
2008 in this regard. Reminders were sent on May 5, May 28 and June 5 requesting
CCP to submit the council resolution on DPR. However, CCP on June 10, 2008
forwarded the council resolution and a copy of form I and XIV of the property
bearing survey No. 108 on which the rehabilitation of slum dwellers was to be
implemented under BSUP.
Admitting the delay, Panaji mayor Tony Rodrigues blamed the commissioner's
office. "Except for one, (CCP had seen four commissioners in the intervening
period), all the other commissioners were lethargic and did not take any
initiative to prepare the development plans in accordance with the scheme," he
said. He also blamed the government for not deciding an early date for the
meeting of the steering committee.
Sources informed that CCP as late as November 13, 2008 submitted three
projectse-governance, heritage conservation and urban renewal of parks and to
gardento GSUDA. They have now been forwarded to the state government for them
to be placed before the steering committee.
Expressing dismay over the delay in convening the state-level steering
committee meeting, Kamat said, "The SLSC meeting scheduled for December 12 was
suddenly postponed and the fresh date has not been intimated. In the last
meeting, it was agreed that a daylong session would be held and criteria for
urban poor and policy on urban slums would be worked out. I approached the
GSUDA director on Thursday to urge him to fix the meeting urgently this month
and verify the progress on JNNURM," he said.
GSUDA sources said the meeting is likely this week.
"Every year, approximately Rs 100 crore were earmarked for Panaji. However, CCP
has taken years to submit the projects under the scheme thereby losing the
amount and the development," remarked a government official.
The Centre's urban development secretary who visited Goa last week also
expressed surprise over Goa being the only state in the country that had shown
disregard for the central scheme.
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