With just six months left for the six-year term of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme to end, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is hoping that the Union Government extends it by another year so that all pending projects can be completed. This, even as questions are being raised about whether the civic body has utilised JNNURM funds optimally.
According to a senior BBMP official, the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) will soon write to the Union Government seeking more time to complete all pending projects taken up by various civic agencies.
Most of them need at least another year to complete ongoing projects. The official claimed the Union Government may also announce Phase Two of the scheme.
The BBMP had taken up 19 projects under JNNURM, two of which were scrapped. Of the 17 projects, with an outlay of Rs. 1,259.29 crore, only six have been completed. The remaining, including remodelling and strengthening of storm-water drains, are “in progress”.
The official said that the civic authority is confident of completing most projects. “However, the remodelling of storm-water drains will take longer. The project cost was recently enhanced from Rs. 643 crore to Rs. 952 core after approval by the Central Screening and Monitoring Committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Urban Development,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the BBMP's chairperson for the Standing Committee for Taxation and Finance admitted in his 2011-12 budget speech that the civic body has utilised only Rs. 675.58 crore so far on these projects.
He said that so far, the Union Government has released Rs. 342.92 crore, while the State Government had released Rs. 161.68 crore.
Hanumanthnagar councillor K. Chandrashekar, also a former Mayor, charged that the BBMP had failed to optimally utilise funds under JNNURM.
“The Union Government's share is 35 per cent, while the State Government's share is 15 per cent and the BBMP's share is 50 per cent. The BBMP could have taken up more projects and sought approval from the Union Government,” he said.
He said that the total project cost (after enhancement) came up to Rs. 1,379 crore. He claimed that the BBMP had utilised only Rs. 404 crore of the Rs. 954 crore that had been released.
“Going by the pace of work of the on-going projects, the BBMP is likely to lose even the Rs. 200 crore mentioned in the budget,” he said.
