Dehradun, May 21
The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) aimed at arresting urban decay in some of the burgeoning cities seems adrift and Uttarakhand may even lose this opportunity of converting its dingy hovels into model centres of growth and development.

“Basic Service for the Urban Poor (BSUP)” that forms part of the JNNURM programme was taken up only in 2007 after a memorandum of understanding was signed between the state government and the Government of India, exactly two years after the project was unveiled by the UPA government.

This delay has cost the state dear. Not only have the costs on two main projects escalated, it is also feared that the targets set under the project may not be met. The project tenure ends in 2010.

Already, the state government has sent a proposal for fund enhancement regarding two projects at Kaath Bungalow and Khala Basti. As such no work has begun on any of the projects.

The central government’s response to urban crisis came in the form of the BSUP project that is aimed at finding a solution city problems, managing the urban mess by providing funds and helping the urban poor get houses that other basic facilities.

For this purpose certain areas of Dehradun, Nainital and Haridwar were earmarked for growth and renewal.

Prior to starting of these projects, urban local bodies were expected to take up reforms.

These included e-governance setup, shift to accrual-based double-entry accounting system, 90 per cent effectiveness in property tax collection, 100 per cent cost recovery in water supply as well as in solid waste management.

In these areas too the Dehradun Corporation has been rather slow.

“The quality of staff and skills in urban local bodies is appalling. Senior and key management posts are occupied by deputationists,” said Manorama Sharma, former Mayor of Dehradun.

Despite stress on reforms in urban bodies and right institutional structure as envisaged in under the JNNURM, the main stake-holder, the municipal authorities, are hamstrung in their efforts to speed up implementation of the project primarily owing to absence of skilled and trained manpower.

“Despite our best efforts, a project management unit has not been set up at the corporation. It is evident that we began late, but once we got going, the pace of work picked up and we have been able to prepare DPRs of six BSUP projects for which money has been sanctioned ,” said Neeraj Kumar Pandey, assistant executive officer, Dehradun MC.

Not satisfied with the survey undertaken by the implementing agencies to ascertain actual beneficiaries and the project, critics point out that no proper survey was undertaken.

The authorities have determined the number of beneficiaries on the basis of a 2007 record that lists 102 slums in Dehradun with a population of 2,13602

Kaath Bungalow, a slum area that came into existence some 20-25 years in Rajpur, has been selected under the BSUP plan. The sanctioned cost for the project is Rs 6.22 crore. The central government has released the first installment of Rs 1.55 crore.

Under the scheme, 148 houses are proposed to be built. There was a problem pertaining to 15 houses but that has been sorted out. Only BPL card- holders belonging to economic weaker sections will benefit,” said Rajeev Pandey, project officer, Urban Development Directorate.

The DPRS have been prepared on behalf of the Nagar Nigam by Delhi-Based Metro Infrastructure Privates.

While the total cost for upgrading Khala Basti slum area in Ajabpur Khurd is pegged at Rs 3.72 crore, a sum of Rs 2.46 crore has been released by the central government.

In a unique sharing agreement, the Centre is expected to foot 80 per cent of the cost, the state and the corporation 10 per cent and the remaining 10 per cent by the beneficiaries themselves.

There are a total of 148 beneficiaries for the Kath Bungalow (Rajpur) renewal scheme and 80 under the Khala Basti ( Ajabpur Khurd) renewal scheme.

The cost incurred on a single house is expected to be around Rs 1.22 lakh, comprising two rooms, a kitchen and a toilet. followed by Community center and a PHC.

The other projects in the pipeline sanctioned in 2009 under the BSUP are Rotary Club Lepers Colony (situated on Mohini Road, which will benefit 34 persons)

In the Shanti Lepers Colony, 10 persons will benefit, while 27 will benefit at Ram Mandir Lepers Ashram (Chander Nagar). In Chaksha Nagar Malin Basti, a total of 160 beneficiaries will be benefited.

Under all these schemes, infrastructure will be enhanced and community drainage built. “All these four projects were undertaken under the Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAMBAY) now subsumed with the JNNURM.

“The houses were built by the Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) costing around Rs 45,000 comprising a single room.

“These will be upgraded and roads and a drainage system with storm drains likely to be built,” said Subash Gupta, deputy director, urban 
development. 

Haridwar, May 21
The dresses seemed designed by professionals, the embroidery work had unusual finesse and the models sashaying down the ramp had oomph and confidence.This was not an event held in a metro city but our own temple town of Haridwar.

Young pass-outs from the city’s International Academy of Fashion Technology showcased a fusion of traditional and western wear and drew applause from the visiting faculty, the audience and prospective buyers, who seemed to show much keen interest in the designs.

The traditional wear of Garhwal and Kumaon was combined with contemporary jewellery. The students kept in mind the wear- ability of the dresses.

The designs were simple yet chic. Sunita Mahabar, an NRI from New York, lauded the designs and the professionalism exhibited by both designers and models. She placed orders for some of the creations.

“The efforts and talent of these students is laudable and they only need the right platform as they have in them to be in the fashion league” opined Sunita.

Budding designer Abhishek Chaudhri was upbeat. “ We had no access to national/international designers but our creations are innovative and trendy,” he said.

Pearls, beads, stones and net was used well as embellishments. These lent a glamorous look to models and earned appreciation of the
spectators.

President of the academy Suman Lata Pal said young girls and boys were turning to fashion designing and making a career of it which was a good sign for city’s fashion 
conscious.

Dehradun, May 21
Lakhs of people due to poverty, ignorance and unhygienic living conditions continue to suffer from polio.

Dehradun-based Dr BKS Sanjay, an eminent orthopaedic surgeon, with a motive to spread awareness regarding the latest facilities and progress made in the field of polio and cerebral palsy (CP) will organise a camp from 10 am to 5 pm on May 24.

Dr Sanjay featured in the Limca Book of Records in 2004 and Guinness Book of World Records in 2005 for removing the largest bone cancer tumour of the right femur weighing 16.5 kg from a 35-year-old male patient. He set a new world record under the category “largest bone tumour”.

Elaborating on his latest project regarding polio and CP awareness, he said, “In spite of the ongoing polio camps, polio still manages to raise its ugly head because people live in unhealthy conditions. It is imperative to spread awareness regarding the facilities available to cure polio completely so that India as a nation develops,” he said.

Back pain is one of the main ailments in Uttarakhand due to its terrain and the practice of carrying heavy loads on the back.

Dr Sanjay has operated upon 765 patients of spinal surgery for various complicated back problems in the past 10 years.

“Polio and cerebral palsy are the common causes of paralysis and disability in children. Our main endeavour is to help people of the state who generally suffer from back pain due to ignorance and money constraints.

“Patients suffering from polio and CP will be evaluated and later treated. We won’t be charging any fees for surgery as we want the mission to be a big success,” said Dr Sanjay.