A Times of India report today.
Five projects sanctioned for Varanasi
TNN 30 September 2009, 10:07pm IST
VARANASI: The Union minister for urban development S Jaipal Reddy, through a letter dated 18 September, informed local MP Murli Manohar Joshi that five projects had been sanctioned for Varanasi under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
These projects include water supply component, solid waste management, water supply part-II of cis-Varuna area, storm water drainage works and sewer water for Vranasi trans-Varuna area. The total cost of the projects is Rs 746.54 crore, including Central assistance of Rs 373.27 crore.
Reddy's reply came in response to the matter raised by Joshi under rule 377 in the course of Lok Sabha debates on July 30, 2009 regarding the development work in Varanasi. Reddy further wrote that under the second economic stimulus package announced by the Central government in January last, a total of 146 buses have been sanctioned for the city at an estimated cot of Rs 27.17 crore with admissible Central assistance of Rs 13.58 crore under JNNURM. For procurement of buses, an amount of Rs 14.01 crore had already been released to the state government in February 2009.
According to Reddy, urban sector being a state subject proposals for implementation of various projects under JNNURM are submitted by the state government and additional Central assistance is approved by the Central government as per JNNURM guidelines and subject to availability of funds.
