MP, Madan Lal Sharma, convened maiden meeting of District Level Review & Monitoring Committee (DLRMC) of district Jammu.The meeting was attended by Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture, Raman Bhalla, MLAs, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta, Ashok Khajuria, Prof. Gharu Ram Bhagat, Sham Lal Chaudhary, Sukh Nandan Kumar and Indu Pawar.
During the meeting, District Development Commissioner, Jammu, Ajeet Kumar Sahu, gave a presentation about various schemes under the ambit of the JNNURM, pattern of funding, implementing agencies besides highlighting the role of DLRMC in implementation of projects and reforms under Urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG), Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP), Integrative Houses and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) and Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small & Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) of Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).The Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Jammu as implementing agency of UIDSSMT & IHSDP gave a detailed Power Point Presentation about implementation of programmes in Akhnoor, Khour and Arnia towns in respect of these schemes. It was informed that against a sanctioned cost of Rs. 864.67 lakh under UIDSSMT, Rs. 561.96 lakh have been expended in Akhnoor Town on “Augmentation of Water Supply, improvement of road network, Storm Water and Surface Drainage and Development of Water Bodies, etc.” Besides, construction of Solid Waste Management Plant is yet to be taken up, for which land is being acquired.
Regarding implementation of projects under IHSDP in Khour and Arnia towns, Rs. 357.69 lakh have been spent up to September 2013, against the sanctioned project cost of Rs. 733.70 lakh for construction of 376 houses, 46 roads, Lanes and drains, 124 septic tanks and provision of other amenities in both the towns. Commissioner, JMC, Jammu, Kiran Watal, explained in detail the achievements registered under schemes being implemented under Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP) in Jammu City. It was mentioned that basic services to the urban poor have been provided at Rajiv Nagar, Kusht Ashram at Bhagwati Nagar and at 21 different locations in Jammu City. Under the programme, an amount of Rs. 2092.31 lakh has been incurred up to March, 2013, against the sanctioned project cost of Rs. 4909.18 Lacs.
He also apprised that a mega housing project, envisaging construction of 608 dwelling units at an estimated cost of Rs. 14.25 crore for rehabilitation of urban poor under JNNURM is in progress at Sunjwan. Under the project, Rs. 9.54 crore have been utilized and 64 houses have been completed while work on 272 units is in progress.
During the meeting, the Minister impressed upon the DC and Commissioner JMC to expedite the process of verification of documents of deserving beneficiaries under BSUP so that they could be provided financial assistance for construction of houses at different locations, without further delay. He asked to sort out the issue of release of 2nd & 3rd installments in favor of the beneficiaries under the scheme at the earliest.MLAs also spoke in the meeting and highlighted the drainage, Solid Waste Management problems and requirement of other basic amenities in their respective towns. They demanded that the projects for all left over towns under UIDSSMT / IHSDP should be formulated and recommended to the GOI for sanction.