By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: To ensure that the implementation of the major JNNURM projects does not suffer due to the ten per cent cut imposed by the Centre, the State Government has decided to meet the cut from the State fund.
Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh informed this here on Monday saying “the Planning department has agreed to meet gap from the State fund. The Government will augment this ten percent cut on major JNNURM projects only”.
According to the Urban Affairs Minister, the Government would in fact be augmenting the 10 per cent cut only with regards to the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) Phase III and the Storm Water Drains projects.
It may be mentioned that the Centre had imposed a cut of 10 per cent after the State failed to initiate the reform under urban governance which was laid down under the JNNURM.
She said the State has initiated 19 out of the 23 reforms stipulated by the Centre.
“The two major urban reforms which the Government has failed to initiate are holding of elections to municipal board and also implementation of community participation Bill,” Urban Affairs Minister said.
According to Ampareen, the Centre will refund the ten percent cut once all the 23 reforms are in place.
Stating that Rs 193.74 crore has been sanctioned for the GSWSS Phase III project is, she said Rs 19 crore would be deducted from the total cost now (due to this ten percent cut).”With the deduction of such a huge amount the implementation of this important project is bound to be affected,” Urban Affairs Minister said.