BENGALURU: Ever since the BJP government took office at the Centre, the state government has not received any funds for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM), UPA’s flagship programme, Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said here on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, the minister said the state government, which was supposed to get financial assistance from the Centre to the tune of over Rs 3,000 crore, has been unable to support various works being executed in Bengaluru and Mysuru cities.
When this was brought to the notice of Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, he said, “I was told that the Centre is contemplating to rename the scheme.” Sorake said he has decided to convene a meeting of the Lok Sabha members from the state on the issue.
He rued that the state has not received any communication on the smart cities project so far.
To popularise Transfer of Development Rights, which has been introduced in Bengaluru and Mangaluru, he said it will be extended to all towns and cities. The Town and Country Planning Act would be amended to incorporate the provisions, he said.
The minister said there is a proposal to make it mandatory for private land developers and builders to reserve a minimum 25 per cent of sites and flats exclusively for the economically weaker sections at an affordable price.
“The modalities are being worked out,” he said.
