NEW DELHI: The Government has approved the setting up of the Rs. 1 lakh crore Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission covering 60 cities with a million plus population. Billed as the most ambitious programme ever to be taken up for urban development in the country, the Mission will be officially launched by the Prime Minister on December 3.

Covering all State capitals and other cities considered important from a religious, historical and tourist perspective, the Mission will give focused attention to the integrated development of urban infrastructure and services with special emphasis on providing basic services to the urban poor, including housing, water supply, sanitation, slum improvement, and community toilets/baths.

Setting up the mission was a commitment made by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance in its National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP). According to the NCMP, "the UPA Government commits itself to a comprehensive programme of urban renewal and to a massive expansion of social housing in towns and cities, paying particular attention to the needs of slum dwellers."

The estimated Rs. 1 lakh crore expenditure will be collectively shared by the Central Government, State Governments and urban local bodies. As per the proposal, this combined investment in urban renewal will be made over the next seven years.

However, Central financial assistance has been linked to implementation of reforms by State Governments and urban local bodies. They will have to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Central Government giving an undertaking to implement the reform agenda as per a mutually agreed roadmap. Fund releases will be linked to assessment of the implementation of the reform agenda.

The Mission will be guided by a National Steering Group chaired by the Urban Development Minister and co-chaired by the Minister of State for Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation.

It will have two sub-missions — on urban infrastructure and governance and on basic services to the urban poor.

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