Smart City Mission in Northeast: Utilisation of fund is the lowest in Assam

Utilisation of fund released under the Smart City Mission is the lowest in Assam among all northeastern states. The state could utilise only 37.88 per cent of the fund released by the Central Government for its lone smart city- Guwahati, reveals a recent report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs.

The report titled “Demand for Grants(2022-23), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region”, presented to the parliament on March 14 brings to light that till January 21, 2022, Assam could utilise only Rs 74.25 crores of the total amount of Rs 196 crore released by the Government of India (GOI).

Contrary to Assam’s poor performance, three northeastern states Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura has utilised more than 90 per cent of fund allocated during this period. Sikkim has utilised 99.90 per cent of the GOI share of Rs. 537 Crores, while fund utilisation of Nagaland was 97.84 percent of total GOI share of Rs 196 crore released till January. Tripura has utilized 94.80 per cent of 250 crore allocated under SCM during this period.

Photo : River Bharalu flowing through Guwahati/nezine.com

Under SCM, the central government provides on an average Rs 500 crores for each smart city over five years and an equal amount on a matching basis is required to be contributed by the State Government or the urban local body. The central government has extended the period of implementation of SCM till June 2023.

Among the poor performing states, Mizoram utilised 42.47 per cent, while Meghalaya utilized 47.69 per cent of the GOI share under different projects SCM.

The report states, out of 1,862 crores for the 10 Smart Cities in North-East Region, 1,428 crores (77 per cent) has been utilized so far.

Under the SCM 100 cities of India were selected to “provide core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and a decent quality of life to the citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions‘, ” states . 10 cities from Northeast India were selected under the SCM.

States, fund released and percentage of utilization under SCM:

(In Crore)

Smart City Mission: States, projects and fund

The Report further states, “as of 21st January, 2022, these 10 Smart Cities have tendered out 287 projects worth ?7,302 crores. Work orders have been issued in 235 projects worth ? 5,684 crores and 111 projects worth 1,523 crores have been completed.”

In Arunachal Pradesh 41 projects worth 1733.11 crore are in DPR stage, , 6 project worth 202.17 crore in tender state, 13 projects worth 96.11 crore in work order stage, while 11 projects worth 187.10 crore have been completed.

In Assam only one project worth 1 2.60 crore is in DPR stage, 12 projects worth Rs. 901.60 crore are in tender stage, 5 projects worth 54.96 crore are in work order stage. Six projects worth Rs. 52.57 crore have been completed.

In Manipur 34 projects worth Rs. 659.38 crore are in DPR stage, one project worth Rs. 1 10.63 crore are in tender stage, 6 projects worth Rs. 370.28 crore are in work order stage. Four projects worth Rs. 144.93 crore have been completed.

In Meghalaya 14 projects worth Rs. 464.15 crore are in DPR stage, 8 projects worth Rs. 66.00 crore are in tender stage, 14 projects worth Rs. 453.14 crore are in work order stage and only one projects worth Rs. 10.02 crore have been completed so far.

In Mizoram, 45 projects worth Rs. 639.37 crore are in DPR stage, 19 projects worth Rs. 141.12 crore are in tender stage, 27 projects worth 842.44 crore are in work order stage. Fifteen projects worth Rs. 174.80 crore have been completed.

In Nagaland 31 projects worth Rs 965.73 crore are in DPR stage, 8 projects worth Rs. 114.63 crore are in work order stage. Altogether 20 projects worth Rs 334.35 crore have been completed.

In Sikkim 34 projects worth Rs. 1719.15 crore are in DPR stage, 4 projects worth Rs. 89.25 crore are in tender stage, 20 projects worth Rs. 1116.69 crore are in work order stage. Eight projects worth Rs. 324.88 crore have been completed.

In Tripura 2 projects worth Rs. 207.93 crore are in tender stage, Rs. 31 projects worth Rs 1112.38 crore are in work order stage. Altogether 46 projects worth 304.46 crore have been completed.

Nezine Bureau