Centre to spend Rs 1lakh cr on devlp of towns

Ujjain, MP, Sep 22: Union Minister of State for Planning M V Rajasekharan said Rs one lakh crore will be spent on development and beautification of 63 principal towns in the country under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Development Scheme.

Mr Rajasekharan told reporters here yesterday that four cities -- Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain and Jabalpur -- from Madhya Pradesh had been selected under the scheme.

However, proper implementation of the scheme could not take place in these districts due to absence of development proposal.

He said it was the responsibility of the state government to prepare the proposal, while the Centre would provide funds required for implementation. The state government had not replied to the Centre's letters regarding the scheme since a long time.

The Minister expected the government to provide information on the progress of the scheme as sought by the Centre from time to time so that pending schemes move forward.

UNI