Tuesday, 28 July 2015

ATAL MISSION FOR REJUVENATION AND URBAN TRANSFORMATION



The flagship scheme of Modi Govt. launched in Jun this year is in news as the states have started giving names for the development of cities under this scheme. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) is under the ministry of URBAN DEVELOPMENT. This is new avatar of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) but with significant differences.

DIFEERENCES BETWEEN AMRUT AND JNNURM

1) In JNNURM reforms were implemented by State governments and urban local bodies for improving urban governance and specific projects for infrastructure and public service delivery but it was found that even after fund allotment the progress was slow; so under AMRUT 10 per cent of the budget allocation would be provided as an incentive based on the progress on reforms.
2) Here in AMRUT, the government would be allocating funds for the pending projects under JNNURM and extend the deadline for their completion.
3) A major shift from the previous scheme is ending the system of central approval for individual projects and the state governments would only have to submit a State Annual Action Plan based on which they would be allocated funds.
4) With the government vision to develop small towns across the country this scheme will cover 500 cities and towns each with a population of one lakh and above unlike JNNURM in which only 63 cities were given assistance.

PROVISIONS

1) AMRUT is to ensure basic infrastructure services relating to water supply, sewerage, storm-water drains, transportation and development of green spaces and parks with special provision for meeting the needs of children. These amenities will lay the foundation of enabling cities developed under AMRUT to eventually grow in Smart Cities.
2) It would cover some cities situated on banks of main rivers, a few state capitals and important cities located in hilly areas, islands and tourist areas. Until now the main focus has been on the development of the capital region only.
3) In this scheme states are given the freedom of designing  ,implementing and monitoring area specific schemes and projects. This provision is to cater particular need specific to that area.
4) Central assistance will be to the extent of 50% of project cost for cities and towns with a population of up to 10 lakhs and one-third of the project cost for those with a population of above 10 lakhs.
5) Under the mission, states will transfer funds to urban local bodies within 7 days of transfer by central government and no diversion of funds to be made failing which penal interest would be charged besides taking other adverse action by the centre.
6) Rs.50,000 crore is the total budget approved by the cabinet over the next five years for this scheme with states and urban local bodies arranging 50-60% resources. In addition to this PPP model would be mobilized by states and urban local bodies to meet project total costs .
7) It will be implemented through ‘area based’ approach consisting of retrofitting, re and new development.

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Author: Palak Tiwari, a freelancer writer based in Bhopal

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