Four states sign MoU with Centre

Hyderabad, Nov 17 (UNI) Chattisgarh, Haryana, Rajasthan and West Bengal took the lead in entering into a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Government to access funds under the ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

The MoUs were signed in the presence of Union Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja and West Bengal Muncipal Affairs Minister Ashok Mohan Bhatacharya at the ongoing National Conference on Housing and Human settlement here.

Explaining the salient features of the understanding, JNNURM Joint Secretary P K Mohanty, who signed on behalf of the Centre, said the signatory states should carry out urban sector reforms, including earmarking 40 per cent of the city development plan for the poor and ensure seven basic amenities, including housing, water, sanitation, education, health and social security for the poor within the next seven years.

The objective of the ambitious programme was to achieve slumless cities in the country by 2012, he said, adding that signing of the MoU was a must for any state to access funds from the JNNURM.

Dr Mohanty said other states, including Andhra Pradesh, which was already in the forefront in implementing urban sector reforms, were set to sign the MoU during the the two-day conference being held as a precursor to the forthcoming Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference to be held at Vigyan Bhavan, in New Delhi from December 13 to 16.

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