| Infra projects in Mysore on fast track | |
| BS Reporter / Chennai/ Mysore November 26, 2008, 0:14 IST | |
From tardy progress to high gear, the wheels of the projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) have started rolling with the appointment of a special officer to speed up utilisation of funds allocated under the programme for Mysore.
Eight projects will be sent to the Centre for approval and release of money, JNNURM special officer P Manivannan, who is also district commissioner, informed a gathering of officials and elected representatives on Monday.
The eight projects comprise the balance of underground drainage facility (Rs 250 crore), two water supply-related schemes to extend the Melapura project capacity to 50 mld in its third stage (Rs 29.50 crore), strengthening the Hongalli 2nd and 3rd stages (Rs 47.5 crore), construction of intermediate ring road (Rs 20 crore), converting the outer ring road into four-way track on the western section (Rs 19 crore), protection of heritage buildings and improvement of circles (Rs 20 crore), development of parks and gardens (Rs 19 crore) and development of Mysore Zoo.
Giving details of the progress so far on projects sent and financial approvals received, Manivannan said the Centre had given the green signal to seven projects amounting to Rs 744.31 crore. Ten more projects worth Rs 610 crore have been sent for clearance. With these eight, the number of projects submitted to the Centre for approval will be 25.
A decision has been taken to send a delegation comprising elected representatives and officials to New Delhi to press for early sanction of the projects and release of funds from the Centre, so that the JNNURM projects can be put on a fast track.
The delegation, which will leave on November 26, will comprise the housing and urban development department secretary of the Karnataka government, mayor Ayub Khan, deputy mayor Kamala Venkatesh, Mysore City Corporation commissioner R S Raikar and the special officer himself. Government approval will be sought to expand the delegation to include MLAs, MLCs and MPs, Manivannan told reporters after a briefing on JNNURM for legislators and MCC councillors.
He said the Centre had not rejected any schemes, but suggested modifications. Hence, the schemes are pending on technical grounds. Accordingly, project details for a heritage park near the Lalitha Mahal Palace, 9 km ring road and stormwater drainage would be sent after modifications were made to the plans.
A separate, well-equipped JNNURM project office will be set up at the MCC premises. Periodic reviews on the progress of projects will be conducted every Wednesday and regular briefings given to elected representatives, Manivannan added.
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