Fund for Haryana's major infrastructure projects

Chandigarh, Aug 2 (UNI) The Haryana Government has created a fund for the development of major infrastructure projects in the state like National and State Highways, projects for inter-city Mass Rapid Transit System, Metro and major water supply and power projects.

The fund has been put under the disposal of Haryana Town and Country Planning department.

A spokesman of the Department said that the finances to this fund would be contributed in the form of Infrastructure Development Charges by the private colonisers, HUDA, HSIIDC, the SEZ project and other government agencies involved in the land development.

He said that the Department had achieved the annual receipt of Rs 2205.92 crore in the year 2007-08 against a target of Rs 1000 crore which includes Infrastructural Development Charges (IDC).

The annual receipt for 2005-06 was Rs 716.94 lakh, whereas, the receipt during the year 2006-07 upto January 31, 2007 was Rs 1722.15 crore including IDC and other service charges.

He said that this substantial increase in the annual receipt had been made possible by the department by pioneering the concept of Public-Private Partnership to develop urban infrastructure in the form of housing, commercial and industrial colonies.

The Department grants licences to the private colonisers for development of well planned model townships inclusive of all the social infrastructure and sites for public utilities.

He said that the operation of licenced colonies was limited to a few townships of Gurgaon, Faridabad and Sonepat till 2004. However, in the year 2006, it had spread to Panipat, Rohtak, Karnal, Faridabad, Sirsa, Jhajjar, Panchkula and many other areas in the state. From 540 acres in the year 2004, the licenced area grew to 1469 acres in 2005, 3079 acres in 2006 and now has scaled to 10263.66 acres in the current year.

UNI PS MMS1849