The Hindu Business Line : Centre okays 44 infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,314 crore

A special cell to monitor proper utilisation of the Central funds will be created. The Chief Minister has ordered the release of the State's share of Rs 131.42 crore for the scheme.

Hyderabad April 9 The Union Government has sanctioned 44 projects worth Rs 1,314.19 crore to Andhra Pradesh under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT).

The Centre's share of 80 per cent or Rs 1051.35 crore would be in the form of a grant. The balance 20 per cent or Rs 262.84 crore would be shared equally between the State Government and 31 local bodies concerned.

Already, an initial grant of Rs 304.87 crore has been released.

With these funds, two-tier cities in the State would get infrastructure like drinking water, sewerage, storm water drain, roads and solid waste schemes.

A special cell to monitor proper utilisation of the Central funds will also be created, according to the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. He directed the concerned officials to release the State's share of Rs 131.42 crore for the scheme.

State's share

The officials also informed him that the Centre had earlier sanctioned Rs 1354.79 crore under JNNURM for the development of mission cities - Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.

The Chief Minister said the Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Mr Koneru Ranga Rao, should hold a meeting with all the Mayors, Chairmen and Commissioners of Municipal Corporation/Municipalities on April 11 at Hyderabad and apprise them of the Central sanction for urban development.

An official press release claimed that Rs 700 crore was received from HUDCO as loan at 9 per cent interest for drinking water in the last 10 years, while right now the State was getting Rs 1,051 crore as grant.

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