The state Department of Urban Development is facing a difficulty in selecting one city out of the three probables (Dehradun, Haridwar and Roorkee) for the Central government’s smart city project.
According to the guidelines of the project, three potential cities will have to compete with each other by presenting proposals for the smart city project.
“The selection of the smart city will be based on a two-stage competition called city challenge. While states will first compete to name their cities, the second stage will be about cities making the cut. The evaluation of the cities and towns will be based on a criteria framed by the Ministry of Urban Development in consultation with states. The Centre has mandated every state to be made part of the smart city universe,” said Preetam Panwar, Minister for Urban Development.
The core infrastructure facilities in a smart city will include adequate water supply, assured electricity supply, sanitation including solid waste management, transport system, affordable housing, e-governance IT and good governance, sustainable environment and safety and security for citizens.
The term of the project will be five years during which, under the centrally-sponsored scheme, the state will get Rs 500 crore over five years ie Rs 100 crore every year for the selected city while the state government and the local urban body will have to raise matching funds.
However, the government that was banking more on the smart city project (ie inclusion of at least three cities) would have to look towards AMRUT, another city specific central project for strengthening infrastructure in small towns.
For small towns, however, AMRUT gives hope as for cities with a population of one lakh and above will be included and may comprise all existing municipal corporations such as Haldwani, Haridwar, Kashipur, Rudrapur, besides Dehraudn, and Roorkee.
CM seeks more funds for rural development
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Harish Rawat has sought more funds from the Central government for rural development schemes in the state.
The Chief Minister, who met Union Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birendra Singh in New Delhi today, apprised him about the rural development concerns of the state and handed over a letter of demands to him.
He said the National Rural Drinking Water Programme and the Swach Bharat Abhiyan were being implemented in all villages and sought more funds for these schemes.
The Chief Minister told Birendra Singh that the state was yet to receive the first installment of Rs 43.20 crore for drinking water schemes. The state Drinking Water and Sanitation Department was managing 363 rural drinking water schemes and required central assistance for their successful implementation. He said Rs 708.17 crore was required to complete the work on several under-construction schemes.
He said under the Swach Bharat Mission the state government had sent projects of Rs 202.16 crore to the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation for grant of Central assistance.
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Quelle/Source: The Tribune, 27.06.2015
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