Fund crunch hits progress of JNNURM housing project

Vijayawada: Vijayawada Municipal Corporation needs Rs 144 crore to complete the pending JNNURM housing project works in the city.
The civic body could not complete the housing works during the last few years due to fund crunch. The Central government under the UPA rule had sanctioned 28,152 housing units to Vijayawada under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Of the total cost, the share of the Central government accounts for 50 per cent, the State government- 20 per cent and the VMC - 30 per cent in the housing project.
Though the construction of houses is the responsibility of the housing corporation of State government, the VMC had taken up the responsibility of mega project to provide housing for the slum dwellers and families living in the high risk areas like hilltops, canal bunds and other dangerous areas.
Of the total 28,152 houses sanctioned, the VMC started construction of only 18,176 houses. Out of which, the construction of 14,176 houses are completed in Vambay colony, Jakkampudi, RR Pet, Ajith Singh Nagar, Gunadala etc.
Due to fund crunch, the VMC could not complete the remaining 4,000 houses. Most of these incomplete houses are located in Ajith Singh Nagar area. A total of 2,688 houses are yet to be completed in the area. In Kabela junction area, 384 houses are at the basement level only. In Jakkampudi colony, 928 houses are yet to be completed.
The VMC has estimated that at least Rs 170 crore is required to complete the JNNURM housing works. Of the total amount, the share of the Central and State governments is Rs 144 crore.
The JNNURM became a white elephant to the VMC for nearly eight years during the UPA rule. The VMC had spent more than Rs 100 crore for the housing works and allocated staff to supervise the housing works. Despite spending huge amount of money and valuable time, the works are not completed.
The TDP government during its 20-month rule has not shown any interest to complete the pending works JNNURM housing project in spite of huge demand for houses in the city.
More than 50,000 applications were submitted by the poor in Vijayawada for sanction of houses during the Janmabhoomi- Maa Vooru programme conducted in Vijayawada by the TDP government. But, the VMC is determined to complete the pending works of JNNURM housing project so that housing problem can be reduced to some extent in the city.
Mayor K Sridhar and Municipal Commissioner G Veerapandiyan have urged the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Principal Secretary Karikala Valavan on Monday to sanction Rs 144 crore to complete the pending JNNURM housing project works in the city.
They told the Principal Secretary that a large number of poor families are eagerly waiting for the allotment of houses in the city. The Principal Secretary along with Mayor and Commissioner inspected the JNNURM houses, which are under construction in Ajit Singh Nagar and Kabela Centre on Monday.
Principal Secretary Valavan said that he would take the matter to the notice of higher officials and try to allocate funds to complete the JNNURM housing project works in the city. The Mayor said the civic body has only Rs 12 crore funds and needs the help of the State government to complete the housing project works.