Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Apr 17: Amidst reports that the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is positively considering the proposal for sanctioning of two Smart Cities Projects in Jammu and Srinagar, the State Government today accorded sanction for constitution of a State Level Advisory Committee and Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for review of Smart City Mission and implementation of the Smart City Development Projects.
The State Level Advisory Committee, headed by Chief Minister as the chairperson, shall review the implementation of Smart City Mission in the State periodically for resolving inter-departmental issues, if any, while Special Purpose Vehicles for Jammu and Srinagar cities for implementation of Smart City Development Projects in both the cities will ensure operational independence and autonomy in decision making.
Formal orders in this regard were issued today by the General Administration Department, according to which, the Advisory Committee shall be serviced by the Housing and Urban Development Department.
Ten Ministers, including the Minister for Tourism, Minister for Culture, Minister for Floriculture and Parks, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Power Development, Minister for Industries and Commerce, Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology, Minister for Finance, Labour and Employment, Minister for PHE, I&FC and Minister for Transport will be Members of the Advisory Committee with Administrative Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department as the Member Secretary.
According to separate order, the Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for Jammu and Srinagar Cities, headed by Administrative Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department as Chairman and with Chief Executive Officer (to be appointed by the Government, not below the rank of Special Secretary) as convener, shall be comprising of respective Board of Directors and Independent Directors (to be appointed by the Minister for Housing and Urban Development).
These SPVs shall approve and sanction the projects, including their technical appraisal, execute the Smart City proposal with complete operational freedom, take measures to comply with the requirements of MoUD with respect to the implementation of the Smart Cities Programme, mobilize resources within timelines and take measures necessary for the mobilization of resources, approve and act upon the reports of a third party review and monitoring agency, overview capacity building activities, develop and benefit from inter-linkage of academic institutions and organizations and ensure timely completion of projects according to set timelines.
The SPVs shall also undertake review of activities of the Mission, including budget implementation of the projects and preparation of SCP and coordination with other mission/schemes and activities of various ministries, monitor and review quality control related matters and act upon issues arising thereof, incorporate joint ventures and subsidies and enter into PPP as may be required for the implementation of Smart Cities Programme.
Besides entering into contracts, partnership and service delivery arrangements as may be required for the implementation of the Smart Cities Mission, the SPVs shall also determine and collect user charges as authorized by the Urban Local Bodies and taxes, surcharges etc, as authorized by the Urban Local Bodies.
The Board of Directors of SPV Jammu shall be comprising of IGP Jammu, DC Jammu, Vice Chairman JDA, Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museum, J&K, Commissioner JMC and nominee of Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India while the Independent Directors (to be appointed by the Minister for Housing and Urban Development) shall be from Legal, Finance, Technical and Environment fields.
Similarly, the Board of Directors of SPV Srinagar, shall be comprising IGP Srinagar, DC Srinagar, Vice-Chairman SDA, Director Archives, Archeology and Museum, J&K, Commissioner SMC and nominee of Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. The Independent Directors (to be appointed by the Minister for Housing and Urban Development) shall be from Legal, Finance, Technical and Environment field.
Pertinent to mention that the State Government had submitted application to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for Smart City Projects to Jammu and Srinagar cities and a formal announcement on Central nod to the proposal is likely to be announced by May-June this year.
Sources said that the Centre has already conveyed its positive response to the State Government’s proposal for both the cities.
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