Quick off the blocks in the race towards becoming a smart city, Puducherry has bested competitors by becoming the frontrunner in submitting the first-stage compliance report to the Urban Development Ministry.
Rare show
In a rare show of alacrity, Puducherry has managed to file its nomination for Stage-1 of the ‘City Challenge’ competition in less than a month of launch of Smart City Mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and well before the month-end deadline.
Manoj Kumar Parida, Puducherry Chief Secretary has forwarded the nomination along with all the forms and documents including the details of evaluation of all the five urban local bodies in the Union Territory as required in the Stage-1 of ‘City Challenge’ competition.
Committee oversees process
The High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) constituted as per the Mission Guidelines and headed by Chief Secretary oversaw the process of first stage intra-state competition and submitted its recommendations to the Urban Development Ministry of the Government of India.
Puducherry which has a population of 6,57,209 has done well in respect of several Stage-1 evaluation criteria and scored 75 of the possible 100 marks.
The HPSC has reported that Puducherry Municipal Corporation achieved 18 per cent improvement in provision of Household sanitary latrines since 2011, increased internal revenue generation continuously over the three year period 2012-13 – 2014-15 marking an improvement of 14 per cent and paid salaries of staff till last month.
Accounts audited
It had also got Accounts audited up to 2012-13; realised 63 per cent of budgeted receipts from tax revenue, fees, user charges, rents and other internal resources during 2014-15 and met 23 per cent of its capital expenditure from internal resources.
On the operation and maintenance front, the Corporation had met about 80 per cent O&M costs of water supply through user charges; administrated an operational online grievance redressal system and published monthly e-news letter; and posted details of municipal budget expenditure for the last two financial years on its website.
As required under the Smart City Mission Guidelines, the Puducherry Government has also furnished a copy of the Order constituting an Inter-Departmental Task Force to advice and coordinate preparation of Smart City Proposal for the capital city besides assisting the High Powered Steering Committee.
An official closely involved with the project said it was now up to the Government of India to examine the nomination and communicate a decision to the Union Territry.
For the stage II of the competition, Puducherry has to select a consultant from a panel constituted by the Urban Development Ministry.
The consultant will assist the UT administration in preparing a detailed project report for a smart city. Simultaneously, Puducherry will also be collating data on industrial and social infrastructure, land availability, and other indices.
"It is an elaborate and long-drawn out exercise," the official said.
According to a press note, M.Venkaiah Naidu, Union Urban Development Minister, complimented the Government of Puducherry for being the first to send Smart City nomination and urged the Chief Minister N.Rangaswamy to keep up the momentum.
As per the criteria for assigning Smart City slots for each State and UT based on equal weightage for urban population and number of urban local bodies and to ensure geographical equity, Puducherry has been assigned one slot under Smart City Mission.
The Urban Development Ministry is in regular contact with all the States and Union Territories regarding progress of the Stage-1 of ‘City Challenge’ competition ever since they were asked to send their nominations by the end of this month, the press note said.
