E-Paper
UDA bid to grab initiative from UMC
THE UJJAIN Development Authority (UDA) seems to be bent upon snatching the driver?s seat in implementation of the ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), though the Central Government has made municipal corporations nodal agency for the same.
THE UJJAIN Development Authority (UDA) seems to be bent upon snatching the driver’s seat in implementation of the ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), though the Central Government has made municipal corporations nodal agency for the same.
Under the scheme announced recently, four cities in Madhya Pradesh - Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjain - would get financial aid from the Centre to develop infrastructure and other public utility services. Each city is expected to receive around Rs 500 crore.
The Centre would give 80 per cent of the amount, whereas the State government and the concerned municipal body would contribute ten per cent each.
Municipal corporations have been asked to submit project proposals. The Ujjain Municipal Corporation (UMC) on Saturday held a meeting of prominent citizens, journalists, officers and politicians to receive suggestions regarding the proposals. But at about the same time, the UDA, too, organised a similar meeting to gather views.
The UDA move surprised many, as it was felt that differences among government bodies had been exposed even on the core development issue.
UMC Speaker Azad Yadav criticised the UDA, saying that municipal corporation was arranging meetings to gather views since it was the nodal agency. The UDA could also submit its views there, and there was no need to arrange a separate show.
Meanwhile, UDA chairman Mohan Yadav maintained that UMC was not competent enough to undertake such a mega project. UMC could do better in sanitation or water supplies area, but UDA holds expertise in construction.
It may be recalled that Congress holds power in the UMC, as both the Mayor and Speaker belong to it, whereas the UDA board is governed by the BJP.
This was the second incident within a month when UDA and UMC were face to face. Construction of shopping complexes by the UDA without obtaining permission from the UMC had already pitted them against each other earlier.
