Only 15.70 % of the ₹284.64 sanctioned under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) projects by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs had been spent in Kozhikode city till last week.
Kozhikode is one of the nine cities where the Centre’s flagship project is implemented in the State. The slow progress is in executing the projects in different components such as water supply, sewerage, stormwater drainage, urban transport, and development of parks.
The State average is 23.10 %. Kozhikode and Kollam (15.63 %) corporations are the worst performers, while Guruvayur municipality (35.56 %) tops the list in implementing the projects.
In Kozhikode, 39.21% of the project funds have been implemented in the water supply component. Nothing has been implemented under the sewerage programme.
A total of 26 main projects have been conceived in all these components. However, the total will come to 50 considering several sub projects. Just ₹45 crore has been spent so far, while work has been awarded for another ₹148 crore, officials said.
Twenty-eight projects (₹96.32 crore) have been drawn up for water supply; three for sewerage (₹120.81); 10 for storm water drainage (₹41.43); one for urban transport (₹11.35) and eight for parks (₹4.92 crore).
The projects should have been implemented through a five-year period till 2020.
Many of the projects, envisaged during the fiscal 2015-16, in fact, were submitted last year through an Annual Action Plan for 2017-2020. The contribution of Kozhikode Corporation is 20 % while the State government shares 30 %. The Centre contributes the remaining funds.
Sources said that the reasons for the tardy progress were many such as re-tendering or running into controversy at different stages. Opposition parties have raised a hue and cry in awarding the Kozhikode-based Ram Biologicals the contract for preparing a Detailed Project Report for a proposed sewage treatment plant at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital.
The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is carrying out the water supply projects including replacing old pipes and valves, interconnecting new lines with existing lines and providing water meters in Kozhikode Corporation. However, the onus of executing some projects is on the local self-government body, the officials said.
