Centre may pull out funds from 3 ‘non-starter’ projects in state

The first installment of funds for the three projects was released before March 31,2009.

From all indications,the state won’t be able to submit utilisation certificates for the first two projects by the deadline set by the Centre.

The Centre’s position has been conveyed to the state in a letter from the JNNURM Director P K Srivastava. Following his letter,the state government has asked the director of urban local bodies to conduct a review and fix accountability for the delay.

The Centre had approved the solid waste management project for Lucknow in 2007. Its sanctioned cost was

Rs 42.92 crore.

The Centre agreed to fund 50 per cent of the project and released the first installment of Rs 5.36 crore in 2008. The project was to be completed in 2008,but the deadline kept getting extended. The last extension was up to March 2011. The fact,however,remains that the project has not even begun.

The Lucknow district administration had acquired 88 acre land in Dashehari village,but following objections from mango growers over cutting of trees and their environment concerns,the district administration has changed the plan and is now looking for another site.

The STP for Kanpur’s Old City area was approved in 2008 with an estimated cost of Rs 101 crore. The Centre soon released the first installment of Rs 12.62 crore. The project was to be completed in March 2012,but work is yet to begin.

For the storm water drainage project in Mathura — estimated to cost Rs 87.20 crore — the Centre released 25 per cent of its 80 per cent share of cost before March 2009. The project was to be completed in May 2011. Official sources said this the only project where work is actually going on.

“The first installment was utilised on time but it was not communicated to the Centre properly. The Centre has been told about the progress in the project and submission of the utilisation certificate,” said Alok Ranjan,Principal Secretary of Urban Development department.

He claimed that the state was not going to lose the other two projects. “Tenders have been finalised for Kanpur STP and work will start in the next few days. For the Lucknow solid waste management project,alternative sites have been seen,” he said.