Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune submitted city development plans to the steering committee headed by CM, which promptly granted its sanction to all three.
MUMBAI: The state has expedited its planning process for infrastructure projects despite the Centre making it clear that it won’t sanction funds unless the state repealed its Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) Act.
On Tuesday, Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune submitted their city development plans to the steering committee headed by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, which promptly granted its sanction to all three.
Mayors, MLAs and MPs, along with municipal commissioners of these cities were present when these plans were submitted.
Mumbai, along with Nagpur and Pune, will bid for a chunk of the Rs1,00,000 crore the Centre proposes to spend on its ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in 60 cities.
The state government said it would officially make a pitch to the Centre to release funds under the JNNURM for three projects—upgrading storm-water drains, the Middle Vaitarna Dam project and upgrading the city’s sewage disposal system. These projects, which will collectively cost Rs2,376 crore, have a deadline of 2013.
If Mumbai is given the green signal for the funds, the Centre will meet 35 per cent of the cost of these projects, while the state government will give 15 per cent of the money.
The remaining 50 per cent will have to be raised by the BMC, which was allowed on Tuesday to use its bank deposits and reserves for this purpose.
Mayor Dattaram Dalvi, Municipal Commissioner Johny Joseph and other civic officials presented briefs of the three projects to Deshmukh and urban development department officials on Tuesday.
The team also presented a list of reforms undertaken by the municipal body to become eligible for funds as per the JNNURM. The BMC has undertaken a revamp of its accounting system; prepared a plan to attract new-age businesses to the city and boost employment; increased the use of computers in its paperwork and routine business; and promised to release quarterly financial statements for public scrutiny.
It also plans to involve citizens in deciding how municipal funds should be spent. Still, there is no guarantee that Mumbai will get the funds it desires. Five cities from the state that have been selected for this project included Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Nashik and Nanded.
In addition, the JNNURM mandates the scrapping of the Urban Land Ceiling Act, which the state government is reluctant to do.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}