AHMEDABAD: In what may come as a setback for AMC, the union ministry of urban development has sent a report highlighting shortcomings in the JNNURM projects implemented in Ahmedabad city. Union minister Kamal Nath, in his letter of April 25, 2012, has informed the state government to take "immediate actions" based on the inquiry report.

A team of urban ministry officials was in the city recently to inquire into the allegations fielded by the opposition Congress in the AMC. The union ministry has also asked CAG to inquire into the implementation of JNNURM projects across Gujarat cities.

KOCHI: The state government will allocate Rs 750 crore, apart from the Rs 200 crore allotted under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, to solve the water woes in the district, said Water Resources Minister P J Joseph here on Monday.

Speaking after a high-level meeting convened to sort out various key issues, the minister said that together, the projects would provide 290 MLD of water apart from the 240 MLD supplied now. “It has been learned that leaks and breakages in the pipeline are leading to widespread contamination of potable water here.

The UPA’s flagship programme, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), launched in 2005 has been described as a “failure” by none other than a high-level government panel headed by Planning Commission member Arun Maira.

The panel has criticised this `66,000 crores urban renewal programme which was supposed to improve water supply and sanitation and upgrade urban infrastructure across 63 cities of India.

Cities in India are dreaming of becoming New York and London but we seldom worry about as basic an issue as sewage and its disposal in our country. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has brought out a two-volume book titled Excreta Matters: Report on the State of India’s Environment to highlight how only 20 per cent of sewage is being treated in the country. Sunita Narain, director general, CSE, talks about the murky issue plaguing the water sources in this interview to Rashme Sehgal.

GUWAHATI: Every household in Guwahati is expected to have round-the-clock supply of safe and clean water by 2016.

The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has tied up with the Central government, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Asian Development Bank for total funding of Rs 2,713 crore for undertaking four water supply projects which will cover the entire city.

Unless there is a fundamental shift in the mindset away from one which separates the rural from the urban, Indian planning cannot address the challenges of urbanisation in our present stage of deve

Thanks to rider that flow of JnNURM funds would stop, if it is not formed. The State government has begun the process of constituting the much-delayed Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC) for Bangalore.

Under the 74th amendment of the Constitution, MPC is mandatory for a city with a population of more than 10 lakh. Bangalore is home to over 85 lakh (as per census 2011).

The Centre has granted chief minister Prithviraj Chavan a whopping Rs12,300 crore to implement various mega projects in the state.

Vellalore chosen for reconstruction of the 144 dwelling units

For the reconstruction of the 144 dwelling units at Ammankulam, found structurally unstable, the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) has identified a new site —Vellalore. Sources in the district administration and the Board say that after a formal approval and go ahead from the latter's headquarters in the Chennai, tenders will be floated for construction.