Smart city tag: Poor urban infra major hurdle for J-K

Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 28

With none of the cities from Jammu and Kashmir finding a place in the smart city list announced by the Central Government, the PDP-BJP government has to seriously consider implementing ‘not so popular’ urban  reforms in the state to get Jammu and Srinagar on the list when it is announced next.

Incidentally, both parties had opposed reforms while sitting in the opposition, which was the main reason why the state was left out. Politics over development had cost the state dearly during the last 10 years after a massive urban reform process was started in the country.

Crores were withheld by the Union Government, delaying projects to improve basic infrastructure in Jammu and Srinagar, now missing from the ambitious project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The names of cities selected for the Rs 48,000-crore smart cities project was released by the Centre on Thursday pending a nomination each from Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Each of the two states has to nominate one city each, the reason why the list is two short of 100. However, to maintain regional balance and avoid controversy, Jammu and Kashmir is seeking inclusion of both capital cities in the list. A source in the Urban Development Department said a major hurdle was that reforms had not been carried out, a criterion for choosing cities.

“Property tax has still not been levied after the previous NC-Congress government tried to introduce it. Master plans for Jammu and Srinagar are still not complete. Of the 23 reforms, the state has fully carried out 16 while the rest continue to remain partially implemented,” said an official source.

An official said special status of the state would come in the way as there would be greater participation of the private sector. Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, who holds charge of the Urban Development Ministry, was not available for comment.

When contacted, former Urban Development Minister and Congress leader Nawang Rigzin Jora claimed that they had made every effort to carry out reforms, but faced opposition at every level. “Let us see how the PDP and BJP deal with the issue as they were vocal against carrying out reforms,” he said.

The major focus under the project will be on providing quality services such as 24X7 water supply, sanitation, drainage, solid waste management and sewage treatment and improving basic infrastructure by involving the private sector.