The Hindu : Front Page : More grant sought for schemes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 22, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

More grant sought for schemes

K.V. Prasad

COIMBATORE: With the cost of carrying out projects on the rise, the industry and citizens’ groups in the city are calling for an increase in the Central Government’s grant for various infrastructure schemes that the Coimbatore Corporation is to implement under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

At present, the Central Government is providing 50 per cent of the project cost as grant, while the State Government is offering either a grant or interest-free loan up to 20 per cent. The rest 30 per cent of the cost will have to be met by the civic body.

More than 10 schemes, including those for augmenting drinking water supply, to provide underground sewers, houses for the urban poor and a bus rapid transit system have been planned at Rs.3,186 crore. Half of this amount will be provided by the Central Government through grants. But, the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Residents’ Awareness Association of Coimbatore and other citizens’ groups and trade bodies have called for increasing the grant.

But, sources in the Corporation say that there is no provision for treating Coimbatore as a special case. Leader of the Opposition in the Council V.N. Udayakumar points out that the Council had passed a resolution that either the Central Government or the State Government should bear the 30 per cent project cost commitment of the Corporation.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page