Srinagar, Apr 16: With less than a year left for the completion of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission projects, the members of the local bodies from all over India on Friday debated its implementation during the past four years and scope for the remaining period.
 More than 120 delegates including mayors, deputy mayors, commissioners and directors from 18 states appraised the scheme’s implementation in their respective states during the second day of the five-day training workshop -JNNURM, The way forward—organised by All India Institute of Local Self-government at Centaur Hotel.
 “Since there is only a year left for the scheme now, our aim is to sensitize the members of the urban local bodies for effective implementation of the scheme for they are directly involved in the implementation of the programme,” said A N Shetty, Senior Consultant and Advisor, AIILSG and the Programme Director.
 He said officials from local bodies and policy makers and academicians would be discussing the concept of urban reforms.
 “We aim at facilitating urban local bodies to adopt methodology for participatory urban planning and to equip them with knowledge to explore the opportunities for urban renewal under JNNURM.”
 The programme, he said, would promote responsiveness among those who are “meeting here towards good governance practices and reforms”.
  “The interaction amongst members of ULB and exchange of papers will surely help in better implementation of project.”
 Special session was also held on the alleviation of poverty and providing housing facility to slum dwellers in urban areas. 
 The mission completed four years in December last year. Around 481 projects have been sanctioned under the urban infrastructure and governance at a total approved cost of around Rs 52053.35 Crores.  
 Pertinently, on Thursday, when the programme was inaugurated, the Minster of Law, Parliamentary Affair and Rural Development, Ali Muhammad Sagar said JNNURM has not been “effectively” implemented during the last four years.
 “Had the mission been effective, the twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar would have been benefited from the otherwise massive urban renewal project,” Sagar said.
 The minister impressed upon the institute management, functioning for the last 84 years, to conceive such schemes and projects for the urban areas, the benefits of which would percolate down to the common people.
 He said Srinagar City needs priority on this account.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST