Centre asks Delhi govt to expedite projects under AMRUT scheme

NEW DELHI: The Central government has asked the Delhi government to expedite implementation of the projects approved under the Centre's AMRUT scheme and complete them by 2020.

Launched in June 2015, the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) aims at ensuring robust sewage networks, water supply and other infrastructures to improve the quality of life of people in urban areas.

In a recent letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kerjriwal, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has approved all State Annual Action Plans (SAAP), totalling around Rs 802.31 crore, submitted by the Delhi government in three rounds under the AMRUT.

The Ministry has released the first installment of 20 per cent of the committed central assistance amounting to Rs 160.46 crore, he said.

"Against the total SAAP size of Rs 802.31 crore, projects worth Rs 143 crore only have been awarded so far. With respect to projects worth Rs 397 crore, even detailed projects reports (DPRs) have not been prepared/approved. Thus so far, projects for Rs 659 crore have not been awarded. This would mean that 82 per cent of the total SAAP size has not been addressed as yet," Puri said in the letter.

In SAAP-I, which was approved on March 15, 2016, the Delhi government had proposed projects worth Rs 217 crore in water and sewerage sector. However, only two projects, costing Rs 142.11 crore have been awarded so far, Puri said. Similarly, he said in case of SAAP-II, approved on December 21, 2016, against the proposal of Rs 251 core, no projects have been awarded so far.

Puri said all projects under the AMRUT scheme have to be completed by March 2020 so that the Delhi government can claim full central assistance. Delay in commencement may result in incomplete projects, depriving Delhi of approved central assistance and also its citizens of the benefits from the projects, he added.