STRATEGY SESSION: Union Minister of State for Mines T. Subbarami Reddy watching a power point presentation on JNNURM in Vizag on Monday.

VISAKHAPATNAM: Union Minister of State for Mines T. Subbarami Reddy on Monday said the city will become slum-free in three years with assistance under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

A sum of Rs. 1,000 crore will be earmarked to rehabilitate and relocate slum-dwellers and provide alternative opportunities for them in the current year, with a similar amount to be sanctioned in the next fiscal, he told a press conference.

The announcement followed a two-day visit by a Central team and the financial sanction had been agreed to, in principle, he said. While Rs. 1,600 crore was needed to improve roads, drains, sewage systems and drinking water supply in 502 slums, Rs. 600 crore more was needed to build houses to make it a slum-free city.

Proposals were cleared for Rs. 800 crore to augment drinking water supply and refurbish distribution systems, Dr. Reddy said, adding officials had assured him of considering a sanction of Rs. 400 crore each in the next two years and divert unspent funds from other States in November and December.

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development M. Rajamani said any basic infrastructure improvement should include slums. Government was willing to spend Rs. 400-500 crore on rehabilitation and resettlement of slums and it should be part of the citywide infrastructure. The corporation was asked to resubmit some proposals for drainage works, he said.

Transportation

The proposal for a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) from the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation at an outlay of Rs.453 crore was under active consideration as decongesting roads and encouraging public transport in cities with million-plus population was a top priority, Mr. Rajamani added.

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban Housing and Poverty Alleviation P.K. Mohanty said Rs. 187.85 crore to construct 15,500 houses and improve infrastructure was sanctioned. Grant of another 20,000 houses and infrastructure would be considered. Another scheme to train youth in fashion technology, computer courses etc., would be considered with an outlay of Rs. 50 crore, he said.

Of the Rs. 50,000 crore earmarked for a seven-year mission period, proposals for only Rs. 4,600 crore were received. "JNNURM is demand-driven and Andhra Pradesh is ahead while there are no proposals from some States", Mr. Mohanty said.

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