PANJIM: The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) on Monday resolved to seek a fresh commitment from the State government over funding of 25 percent of the Corporation’s share for implementation of Smart City Development Mission. The council decided that Corporation of the City of Panaji will handle the maintenance cost of all city assets, which would be created under the Mission.
The newly-elected Council held its first meeting on Monday, wherein Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues apprised them about the Smart City Mission concept and need for upgradation of the Smart City Proposal (SCP), for its sanction in the fast-track competition.
“Our SCP could not get selected in the first phase of 20 cities. The Union Ministry for Urban Development has raised several observations, with prime focus on our failure to highlight as from where we are going to raise funds for implementation of the smart city mission,” Rodrigues told the council.
The Commissioner said the State government, in its Budget 2016-17, has announced to provide necessary financial support for the Smart City project. “We would now take a fresh commitment from the government for funding CCP’s 25 percent share,” he said informing that Corporation of the City of Panaji has already sent an initial financial proposal of Rs 80 crore to the government.
Rodrigues admitted that Corporation of the City of Panaji has no resources to fund the smart city mission and hence is looking for government as well as support under CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). “Corporation of the City of Panaji will have to bear the maintenance cost. Whatever infrastructure is created under smart city mission will be city assets and hence the city corporation will have to take the burden,” he explained.
Panjim failed to find a place in the first 20 cities selected for the Smart City Mission fund in January. The city now ranks 5th in the fast-track competition list, which has 22 cities competing.
“Our strategy for SCP upgradation has been to prepare the draft in light of observations made by the Union Ministry and based on the inputs of winning city proposals,” the Commissioner said.
The upgraded SCP will be placed before the High Powered Select Committee and Council on March 23. The council will clear the new proposal on March 30 and the HPSC on March 31. The deadline for submission of SCP is April 15.
Corporation of the City of Panaji is also in process of submitting its annual action plan under AMRUT scheme for sanctioning for the financial year 2016-17. For the financial year 2015-16, a proposal worth Rs 60 crore was approved, of which the first instalment has been received by the State.
