VISAKHAPATNAM: As many as 49 cities negotiated and signed the urban reforms agenda for getting funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, N. Venugopalan, Deputy Secretary, JNNURM in the Urban Development Ministry of the Union Government, has said.

Addressing a press conference after a workshop on "Credit rating and progress review under JNNURM" here on Wednesday, he said though there was timeframe for implementing the reforms it differed from State to State and from city to city.

The release of funds under the second instalment would depend upon where each State stood on the progress of reforms.

The reforms relate to implementation of the 74th Constitutional amendment, devolution of funds and repeal of the Urban Land Ceiling and Rent Control Act, he said. Though it was not insisted upon as a precondition, metered water supply was preferred to avoid wastage. Responding to questions, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Meena said the metering was meant to supply water at reasonable cost and recover overhead and maintenance costs. Officials from 14 local self-governments from Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh participated in the workshop organised by the credit rating agency CARE.

512 DPRs submitted

Mr. Venugopalan said 62 cities had submitted city development plan and 57 of them were appraised.

As many as 512 detailed project reports were submitted, 225 appraised and 205 approved. Detailed project reports have been submitted by 28 States. Andhra Pradesh was ahead in submitting DPRs as were Gujarat and Maharashtra.

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