In an attempt to give a push to all-round development across the country, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government is mulling to put an end to the "culture" of recommendations for opening new government institutions/ projects in the areas of ministers/ MPs for their political gains.
According to the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries (CoS), all new projects would now be sanctioned on the basis of availability of basic amenities and not just on the ground of recommendations made by ministers or MPs of that area. The CoS has set 10 parameters for the scrutiny of new projects and every parameter has a fixed weight. If the proposed project qualifies under the criteria, it would be considered for approval.
The recommendations of the CoS have been made after witnessing a surge in demand from states for opening of new AIIMS and Metro Rail projects and other projects in their "favourable" areas. "The approach would give appropriate weights to relevant parameters and would motivate state governments to identify and offer such sites only, as are seen to be strong candidates," the panel stated in its recommendations.
The parameters that the CoS has recommended for vetting a project include early availability of suitable land, which will get 15 per cent weight, provision of utilities such as water, water supply, etc which will receive 5% weight, and health indicators and gap in tertiary healthcare facilities which will include 20 per cent weight during the scrutiny of any project.
Other parameters such as rail/ airport/road connectivity will have 15 per cent weight, primary and secondary health care facilities nearby will give 10 per cent, accessibility of schoos/ college facilities another 10 per cent, employment opportunities for family members and financial incentives will add 5 per cent each, and unallocated parameter will get 10 per cent in the final tally.
The recommendations were made during a recently held meeting of the Committee of Secretaries comprising the secretaries of higher education, health & family welfare, economic affairs, urban development, Niti Ayog chief executive officer and secretary (coordination) of the Cabinet Secretariat.
Commenting on the development, a senior official said, "The move will help in creating a competitive environment as prior to recommending for opening a new institution, the states would have to fulfill all clauses. There are several government institutions that have been established but are lying abandoned due to lack of public amenities."