Centre prods NE States to fast-track AMRUT

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Oct 26: The Centre on Thursday asked Northeastern States to expedite the process of executing the Atal Mission for Rejuvetion and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) on war footing after receiving reports that majority of NE States were lagging behind in its implementation.

Union Minister of State (I/C) Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri after reviewing the progress of missions/schemes under his ministry with the concerned ministers and officials of eight NE States here told newspersons on Thursday afternoon that NE region has to accelerate the pace of AMRUT implementation. He, however, said the review meeting was very positive and NE States have assured effective execution of all schemes undertaken by his ministry.

Earlier on Wednesday, AMRUT tiol Mission Director Shiv Das Mee had expressed serious concern over inordite delay in preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) and transfer of funds to the Mission Directorates by NE States. Barring Mizoram, Mee asked all other NE States to expedite the process. The concern was raised by the official during a meeting to review the progress of missions/schemes of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Even though AMRUT was launched 2 years back, major NE States Assam and Aruchal Pradesh are yet to submit even a single DPR. Transfer of Central funds and the corresponding share of States by NE States like Manipur, galand and Aruchal to the AMRUT directorates in these States also remain incomplete till date.

Mee regretted that the people of NE States have not been able to reap benefits of the schemes under AMRUT due to tardy progress of work.

AMRUT was launched by Prime Minister rendra Modi in June 2015 with focus on urban renewal projects and building infrastructure. The main components of the mission are water supply, sewerage, storm water draige, green space and parks and urban transport. Mizoram is the only State in Northeast to have performed satisfactorily under AMRUT.

Sources said under AMRUT, Assam has planned to take up water supply projects for Dibrugarh, Silchar and gaon, as well as develop three public parks each in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Silchar and gaon.

Besides AMRUT, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri who reached Guwahati on Thursday morning also reviewed the progress of implementation of Prime Minister’s Awas Yoja (Urban), Smart City Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban). After the review meeting, the Minister released funds to the tune of Rs 182 crores to NE States including Rs 128.53 crore for Tripura, Rs 22.89 crore for Mizoram, Rs 18.13 crore for Assam, Rs 2.73 crore for Meghalaya, Rs 2.98 crore for galand, Rs 5.35 crore for Sikkim and Rs 1.65 crore for Aruchal Pradesh.

Singh said under the Prime Minister’s Awas Yoja (Urban) the Centre has planned to build 3.5 houses for urban poor. Out of the total target the Centre has already sanctioned funds for construction of 1.5 lakh houses. Funds for the remaining houses will be sanctioned within the current fincial year.

The Minister said the Centre has approved Rs 14,124 crores under the Smart Cities Project to execute 464 projects in Guwahati, Imphal, Agartala, mchi & Gangtok (Sikkim), Kohima, Aizawl and Passighat (Aruchal Pradesh). He said 24 impactful projects including the Brahmaputra riverfront development in Guwahati, ropeway project in Kohima are being executed under the same project.