The performance of the Kozhikode Corporation in executing the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) projects appears to be rather poor.
The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is in the process of reviewing the progress of the flagship programme being implemented in nine cities in the State.
For the past two years, the Ministry had been sending reminders on the delay in implementing the projects. In Kozhikode, only two out of the 49 main projects or sub projects have been completed till now. Less than 10% of the funds have been utilised.
The delay has been attributed to bureaucratic hurdles and lack of expertise in government departments.
The Amrut projects have been prepared under five components — water supply, sewerage, stormwater drainage, urban transport, and development of parks. The total cost is ₹274.76 crore, spanning three years till 2020. The contribution of the Kozhikode Corporation is 20% while the State government shares 30%. The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs contributes the remaining funds.
Projects to the tune of ₹71.03 crore and ₹90.10 crore which had been approved for implementation in 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively are still on paper.
The finished projects come under the water supply component. However, in many cases, tenders have been floated and contracts awarded for projects. A main project of ₹41.43 crore has been envisaged under stormwater drainage component. About a dozen sub projects have been designed to prevent flooding in the city.
A sewerage system has been designed in the city with a sewerage treatment plant at the Government Medical College, Kozhikode. City-based Ram Biologicals had been entrusted with the task to prepare the detailed project report for the proposed sewage treatment plant.
However, this ran into controversy though the State high-powered steering committee headed by the Chief Secretary had selected the firm out of nine other companies.