In next four days the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission programme will come to an end. The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has failed to keep its promises and set targets if the statistics doled out by the CPI(M) were to be believed.
Many of projects spilled beyond the set date of completion, and some are yet to be completed. Only 62 percent of the works envisaged under the JNNURM programme were only completed so far. In all, the Corporation took up developmental works worth of Rs. 891 crore, according to CPI(M) city secretary Ch. Babu Rao.
For instance, the municipal solid waste (MSW) project, including scientific dumping yard, works worth of Rs. 58 crore were planned. However, only 39 per cent works were completed, and the scientific dumping yard remained on paper for want of land. Much hyped Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) remained on papers though some infrastructure was created with a cost of Rs. 81 crore. The BRTS project was supposed to be completed by May 2009.
The city, in fact, received a raw deal and incurred colossal loss of Rs. 513 crore. The government has not released stamp duty to the tune of Rs. 50 crore; Rs. 50 crore towards non-plan grants etc.; Rs. 60 crore burden of cost escalation on housing projects; Rs. 111-crore loan component under the JNNURM. Above all, Rs. 242 crore towards the employees' salaries during last five years.
'Major condition'
The VMC employees were deprived of government salaries as it was one of the major conditions that the VMC should be financially self-reliant and pay the salaries of its employees, he said.
The CPI (M) leader said more so, the VMC had to mortgage its assets and take loans worth Rs. 100 crore. By the time the loans were repaid, the Corporation would have coughed up Rs. 200 crore including interest.
“In a nutshell, the JNNURM programme has turned out to be a bane on the city. The party is ready for open debate on it, and would take up massive campaign in days to come,” he added.
