Urban Development Ministry gives advance approval to long-term projects

New Delhi, Nov 19: Seeking to ensure timely implementation of basic urban infrastructure projects, the Urban Development Ministry has started approving investments in water supply, sewerage networks etc for the next three financial years under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), an official statement said on Friday.

"Against the business as usual approach of approving action plans every year and that too towards the end of a financial year, the Ministry has decided to accord approvals under Atal Mission for the next three financial years so as to enable advance planning and timely execution, necessary to meet the mission targets by 2019-20," said Urban Development Secretary Rajiv Gauba, according to a ministry release. 

An inter-ministerial apex committee of AMRUT, chaired by Gauba on Friday approved investments of Rs 5,815 crore during 2017-2020 in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar and Tripura," it said.

The committee approved investment of Rs 2,279 crore for Gujarat, Rs 1,232 crore for Rajasthan, Rs 1,200 crore for Punjab, Rs 1,042 crore for Bihar and Rs 62 crore for the next three financial years.

The total central assistance approved for these five states is Rs 2,461 crore. 

Before approving these investments, the Committee reviewed progress of launch of projects under State Action Plans approved for the last and current financial years, according to the release.

Gauba further said that with these advance approvals, accountability for realising mission objectives squarely rest with state and city governments. He urged them to ensure implementation of reforms mandated under AMRUT.

Under AMRUT, providing water taps to all urban households is given top priority followed by improving sewerage networks, storm water drains, public transport while developing at least one park or green open space in each city every year is mandatory.

The committee also approved State Annual Action Plan of Arunachal Pradesh with an outlay of Rs 46.67 crore and of Sikkim with an outlay of Rs 13.33 crore for 2016-17.