SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Minus St Inez creek beautification, comprehensive mobilization plan
PANJIM, APRIL 7
Two important projects-St Inez creek beautification and comprehensive mobilization plan worth Rs 37 crores were given a miss in the first slot of proposals sent by Goa to the Centre under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
The state level steering committee (SLSC) led by chief minister Digamber Kamat, last month cleared the projects under heritage conservation, parks and gardens and e-governance and the same has been sent to the union urban development ministry for sanctioning of funds under JNNURM.
“St Inez creek beautification and comprehensive mobilization plan projects could not be approved as they are still pending with the sub committee, who has suggested several changes in the projects,” sources from the sub-committee told Herald.
The St Inez creek beautification project (Rs 17 crore) had been under scanner as issues like concretization of creek took a controversial angle.
The Water and Power Consultancy Service (WAPCO) which has pointed out the serious issues of sewerage, drainage and garbage disposal in their DPR, has also termed the creek as ‘nuisance and environmental hazard’ and as such the committee has decided to have in-depth study of the creek.
Similarly, comprehensive mobilization plan worth Rs 20 crores has been also kept on hold as the committee is not happy with the DPR prepared by the civic body.
“The DPR has not taken care of traffic congestion in the city. Several suggestions like parking lots, fly over near Kadamba bus stand, etc are been made by the committee. The corporation has been asked to prepare a new DPR keeping all this points in mind,” sources said.
Sources maintained that once both the projects get approval from the sub committee and SLSC, they will be forwarded to the centre government for allocation of funds.
Six projects worth Rs 7 crores under heritage conservation, six more projects under urban renewal parks and garden at a cost of Rs 11 crores and E-governance project worth Rs 15 crores has been sent to the union urban ministry for funds.
Under ‘Urban Renewal Parks and Garden’, the main projects include Dona Paula garden and market (36 lakhs), Beautification of Miramar beach (176 lakhs) and the renovation of Chorao and Diwar jetty (335 lakhs).
Similarly the main projects under ‘Heritage Conservation’ include conservation of Cabo Fort (Rs 153 lakh), restoration of Our Lady of Ajuda Church (Rs 71.88 lakh) and conservation of Cistern (Rs 114 lakh).
The Mission Mode Project on e-governance in municipalities focuses on improving citizen services through defining service levels and outcomes.
Official from sub committee lamented that the city has already lost much of the fund under JNNURM by delaying the projects and this is probably the last chance for the Corporation to seek some funds under the Mission.
“There is no deadline set as such for sending proposals but delay in sending these two projects might land us into trouble as the release of fund is being done on first cum first serve basis,” official said.
If the projects get approved, the union urban ministry for the financial year 2010-11 will grant 80 per cent of fund in three different instalments while the remaining funds will be bared by the Corporation of the City of Panaji and the state government.
