ProMASS News Bureau: Feb 24, 2016:
Ministry of Urban Development approved on Feb 24 an investment of Rs.495.11 cr in water supply, sewerage networks and septage management, storm water drains, urban transport and provision of green spaces in 13 cities in 6 states under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Action Plans for 2015-16.
Out of the total project cost of Rs.495.11 cr, Central Government will provide an assistance of Rs.425 cr. Investments approved state-wise are : Assam-Rs.186.27 cr, Jammu & Kashmir-Rs.171 cr, Goa-Rs.59.44 cr, Tripura-Rs.36.62 cr, Meghalaya-Rs.22.81 cr and Puducherry –Rs.18.97 cr.
In Agartala, Tripura, Rs.32.50 cr will be spent on improving water supply, Rs.2.12 cr on urban transport and Rs.2.00 cr for improving green spaces. Tripura Government has finally agreed to implement Swachh Bharat Mission in urban areas in the state. The state government has all along took the view that central assistance of Rs.4,000 per toilet being provided by the central government was not adequate. In a press release, Ministry of Urban Development informed that the state government decided to extend Rs.12,000 each for construction of individual household toilets in urban areas.
In Assam, water supply will be augmented in Nagaon at a cost of Rs.51.79 cr, Dibrugarh-Rs.46.51 cr and in Silchar at a cost of Rs. 43.20 cr.Another Rs.40 cr, proposed to be spent by the State Government on drainage projects will now be spent on augmenting water supply and sewerage networks in the 4 mission cities including Guwahaty Green spaces will be developed in these 3 cities and Guwahati at a cost of Rs.4.73 cr. The Apex Committee today expressed concern over slow progress in construction of toilets in Assam and urged the state to speed up the same.
In Shillong, Meghalaya, sewerage and septage management project will be taken up at a cost of Rs.22.22 cr and development of green spaces at a cost of Rs. 59 lakhs.
Central Government will bear 90% of the project costs in respect of North-Eastern States and J&K, 100% for Puducherry and 50% of the cost in case of Goa.