Adil Lateef
SRINAGAR, Oct 7: State Government today said that it has recommended both Srinagar and Jammu for their inclusion in smart cities after both secured equal points in civic amenities but none of them have been included so far.
In a written reply to MLC Ali Muhammad Dar’s question wherein he had asked the Government why it failed in persuading the Government of India for inclusion of any city in the Smart Plan, the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, who is also Minister Incharge of Housing and Urban Development Department stated: “The Secretary GoI Ministry of Urban Department issued a DO Number K-15016/10/SC-2015 (Pt-II) dated 8 June 2015 to the State Government where under it was asked to forward nomination of cities/towns for inclusion in Smart City Mission (SCM)”.
Accordingly the State Government constituted a High Power Steering panel headed by Chief Secretary for implementation of SCM in the State. “In its meeting held on 05-08-2015 under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, scores of each shortlisted city Jammu/ Srinagar were discussed and it was observed that both the cities got equal points,” he stated.
As there was tie, Singh stated, it was unanimously decided that the State Government shall recommend both the cities for inclusion in SCM. “Accordingly, the State Government has submitted the proposal to the consideration on 6th August 2015,” he said.
In its proposal sent to the Ministry of Urban Development, the State Government has stated that the Srinagar has a population of 12.73 lakh while Jammu has the population of 6.51 lakh.
As per the points secured by Jammu and Srinagar cities in increase over census 2001 or Swachh Bharat baseline on number of household sanitary latrines, both secured 10 points out of 10.
With regard to making operational online grievance redressal system with response being sent back to complainant, Jammu city secured five points out of five but the Srinagar got zero.
Regarding when first monthly e-newsletter was published, electronically place project wise municipal budget expenditure information for the past two financial years on website and levy of compensatory penalty for delay in service delivery both the cities got zero out of five points each.
Furthermore, in collection of internally generated revenue during the last three years, the winter capital got zero while the summer capital secured 10 out of ten points. However, as per the proposal, both Jammu and Srinagar got five points in payment of salaries by Urban Local Bodies up to last month as well as in audit account for Financial Year (2012-13). But both the cities got Zero in percentage contribution of tax revenue, fees and user charges, rents and other revenue resources and also in percentage of establishment and maintenance cost of water supply.
Both secured ten full points in percentage contribution of internal revenue sources (self generated) used for capital works during financial year 2014-15 and they secured five points each out of 10 in percentage of city level JNURM reforms. The winter capital Jammu got five out of ten points in percentage of completion of projects sanctioned up to March 2012 under JnNURM but summer capital Srinagar got zero.
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