J&K Governor seeks increase in central assistance

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has urged the Centre for enhancing the central support from 75 to 90 per cent for the implementation of its three flagship missions in the state.
"The Governor has addressed Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and sought his help in grant of special dispensation of central support on 90:10 basis instead of 75:25 for the implementation of Centre's three flagship missions including Swachh Bharat Mission, Smart Cities Mission and the proposed New Urban Renewal Mission" an official Raj Bhawan spokesman said today.
The Governor, in his letter to the minister, has highlighted that the central assistance for the missions is limited to viability gap funding which presently has to be shared in the ratio of 75:25 between the Centre and the state as against the special dispensation of 90:10 which was earlier available to Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

"Observing that J&K is a resource starved state whose financial position has been further damaged by the recent devastating floods, the Governor has requested the Union Minister to sustain the earlier dispensation of 90:10," spokesman said.
Vohra also pointed out the legal and other constraints in the way of attracting private sector investments for the implementation of the flagship programmes in the state.
"The Governor has also sought the relaxation of population norms for the coverage of urban areas so that the towns in J&K having a population of less than one lakh could also be covered under these missions as 50 per cent of the urban population lives in relatively small towns," he said.