Parliament panel to look into issues faced by TN in bearing cost escalation to attain JNNURM target

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

As the Union government has asked the state governments to bear the cost escalations arising out of rise in prices of steel, cement, raw materials besides other issues in achieving the target under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), a parliamentary standing committee on urban development will be visiting the city on Sunday to look into the issues faced by the state government in bearing the cost escalation.

The visit comes in the wake of the observation by the committee after examining the Demands for Grants (2013-14) that rise in prices of steel, cement, raw material, non-availability of litigation free land, reluctance of beneficiaries to shift to relocated projects, weak financial position of urban local bodies have been the major constraints in achieving the target under JNNURM.

Since, the Union government is asking the state governments to bear the cost escalations, the parliamentary committee will be looking into the problems the state is facing in bearing the cost escalation if any besides the efforts being made to curb cost escalation of the project, sources told Express.

The JNNURM projects have been extended till March 2014. The committee is also likely to focus on the current status of the projects undertaken by the state government besides on whether it is possible to complete all projects within stipulated time period.

The committee, which will visit Chennai on Sunday, would also discuss with the officials issues pertaining integrated housing and slum development project and Rajiv Awas Yojana,

The committee will arrive on Sunday afternoon from Kochi Airport and would be visiting projects relating to JNNURM, solid waste management, urban water supply and urban housing and urban transport etc, sources said. They will also have informal discussions with officials on Monday.