Centre has earmarked Rs 51.95 crore for Shimla under JLNURM

Shimla, Apr 8 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today said the Centre has earmarked a sum of Rs 51.95 crore for Shimla town to be spent between 2005-2012 under the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JLNURM).

Replying to a question by Suresh Bhardwaj (BJP) and Rajesh Dharmani (Congress) during Question Hour, he said four projects worth Rs 50.13 crore have been approved by Centre and a sum of Rs 5.68 crore has been received from it.

Mr Dhumal said the government had submitted projects worth Rs 113.90 crore to the Centre under the Mission in March month and was vigorously pursuing them.

Under the Urban Infrastructure and Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns, which was a component of JLNURM, all the district headquarters are to be proposed be covered in the phase, he added.

He said in the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme, the towns were prioritised on the basis of their felt need.

In reply to another question by Prakash Chaudhary, Rakesh Kalia and Surinder Bhardwaj, the Chief Minister said an international airport was proposed in Gagret with the facility of international flights with 380 passengers, maintenance of big aeroplanes and a provision of flights within the state also in the project.

He said night landing facility was proposed at Shimla, Kangra and Bhunter airports in the state.

In reply to another question on rising prices, Mr Dhumal blamed the central government for rising prices of essential commodities every day, and said even the food subsidy would fail to deliever over a period of time.

''This will ultimately give rise to the need of giving subsidy to the targeted groups,'' he added.

UNI AS PS PD HS2058