[Urbanstudy] Wasted money, wasted projects

[Vinay Baindur]

http://ibnlive.in.com/printpage.php?id=195860&section_id=60

Wasted money, wasted projects
Shibu B S
The New Indian Express

KOCHI: Though funds to the tune of� Rs 590 crore were allotted for various
projects in the last five years under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban
Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the Kochi Corporation has failed to utilise even
30 per cent of the total amount. According to the available statistics,
projects worth Rs 588.93 crore were allocated by the Centre to eight
components for Kochi under JNNURM, but the civic body could so far spend
only Rs 174.20 crore.
The Centre had made it clear that those projects, for which the tenders are
not floated before December 2011, will lapse. With the tenure of the first
phase of the JNNURM projects getting expired by March 2012, City Express
takes a look at the status of various projects under each component.
*Water Supply*
Among the prime components of various projects under JNNURM, an amount of
`201 crore was allotted for water supply projects. An amount of `82.92 crore
has already been spent. But the major project initiated under this
component- the construction of a water treatment plant at Nettoor- is at a
standstill as the Piravom panchayat is against the digging of roads to lay
pipes for the project. As per the project, the water will be drawn from
Muvattupuzha River and will be brought to the treatment plant near Maradu.
The recycled water will be supplied mainly to West Kochi area.
*Solid Waste Management*
Of the Rs 88.12 crore already sanctioned for solid waste management, so far
only Rs 35.95 crore has been used by the corporation. But nearly Rs 20 crore
was wasted by the corporation for the construction of a solid waste
treatment plant at Brahmapuram, which later turned a dumping yard. Though
the present council has plans to construct a new Plant at Brahmapuram,
necessary steps are yet to be initiated in this regard.
*Sewerage*
An amount of Rs 78.41 crore was allotted for sewerage projects. But the
dream project of constructing a sewerage treatment plant at Mundamveli did
not materialise. So far, only a meagre 0.17 per cent of the amount has been
spent under this component. Now, there is little chance for the sewerage
projects to become a reality.
*Urban Road Transport*
The work of five major roads were proposed under this component. A total of
Rs 109.64 crore was allocated and the major works in the sector include the
widening of SA Road, Thammanam-Pulleppady Road, Stadium Link Road,
Edappally-High Court Road and Goshree-Mamangalam Road.
“The work on Edappally-High Court stretch was completed. SA Road west
extension is yet to be completed. We have already initiated tender
procedures for Stadium Link Road,” corporation sources said.
But the work on Goshree-Mamangalam and Thammanam-Pulleppady roads is yet to
be started. “But for both these roads, land acquisition is needed. Though
the government had recently allotted funds to acquire land to widening the
Thammanam-Pulleppady Road, the money is yet to be released,” sources added.
*Heritage and Tourism*
Though `22 crore was allotted in January 2010 for the renovation of
Ernakulam Broadway, the project is yet to take off. However, the corporation
has finally decided to initiate the tender procedures and have entrusted
KITCO with the preparation of the tender documents.
*Other Components*
The procurement of city buses, surface water drainage and e-governance are
three sectors where at least 50 percent of the total funds were utilised. Of
the allotted Rs 9.78 crore for surface water drainage, nearly 50 percent was
already utilised for various drainage-related projects. Nearly 100 buses
(including AC Volvo and Non-AC semi-low floor) were purchased by using Rs
32.70 crore.
�The total amount allotted for procurement of city buses was Rs 71 crore.
*E-governance.*
The e-Governance project is expected to be completed soon. The implementing
team from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is working on the final phase of
the project.
The Rs 8.71-crore project mainly aims at bringing all the major services
offered by Kochi Corporation online.
*Major Hurdles� �*
The corporation authorities said land acquisition is one of the major reason
that delayed various projects. “The JNNURM-KSSUDP funds cannot be used for
land acquisition. It is the responsibility of the civic body to identify the
funds to acquire land. Since the Kochi Corporation is not in a position to
raise fund on its own, it will have to depend on� the state government for
financial support,” said a top corporation official. Local resistance is
another oft-cited reason behind the lack of funds utilisation. “After land
acquisition, local resistance is another major problem.� The water treatment
plant at Nettoor, the sewerage treatment plant at Mundamveli did not
materialise because of this,” said Mayor Tony Chammany.
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