HP seeks parity with NE states in funding of central project

Shimla, Jul 2 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today said his government would seek parity with North-eastern states in funding of the developmental project by the Centre Union government under the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM).

Presiding over a meeting to review the progress of projects sanctioned under JNURM for Shimla town, he said the Centre's share was 90 per cent in the projects for north eastern states, while in Himachal the share of union government was eighty per cent. Mr Dhumal said the state was being discriminated by the union government with regard to the funding of special category states and maintained that Himachal also deserved similar treatment as far as allocation of funds was concerned.

The matter would be raised with the Prime Minister, Union Urban Development Minister and Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission for removing the anomaly, he said, adding that the state had more hostile and harsh geophysical conditions as compared to north eastern states.

The Chief Minister disclosed that the state government had proposed construction of 636 flats at an estimated cost of about Rs 24 crore under the Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) in Shimla town.

The process of identification of the urban poor had already been completed and efforts were afoot to identify suitable land in and around the Shimla town for the implementation of the scheme for the benefit of eligible people.

He said the scheme had been split into two phases named as Ashiana-I and II under which 252 and 284 flats would be constructed he said, adding that there was need to dovetail the scheme for the benefit of the scavengers of the Municipal Corporation, Shimla.

Projects worth Rs 85.58 crore had been sanctioned for the state, which included Rs 30.66 crore Urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG) project, Rs 17.44 crore Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP), Rs 21.29 crore Urban Infrastructure and Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) and Rs 16.19 crore Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP), he added.

Mr Dhumal said more projects relating to solid waste management, water supply scheme, road improvement and sewerage schemes had been posed for funding to the Union Government and were being pursued at the appropriate level.

UNI AS PS SR CS2110