PM Narendra Modi’s flagship projects in focus in UP

NEW DELHI: Within days of a BJP government coming to power in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet programmes are finally in focus in the state. Uttar Pradesh administration has swung into action taking stock of implementation of flagship programmes, including Swachh Bharat,Smart City and Housing for All.

The flagship programmes have shown very little or no progress in Uttar Pradesh getting caught in the politics between the Centre and Samajwadi Party's state government.

Despite repeated review meetings conducted by urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu, UP was lagging behind in target achievements under all these programmes.

However, with a BJP government taking over and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressing his intentions of good and effective governance on the first day, the projects have got a sudden fillip. Review meetings have taken place over the last two days to check how UP cities can be declared Open Defecation Free – a goal set under Swachh Bharat Mission – by the end of 2017.

Under Smart City mission, UP has a quota of 13 cities but only Lucknow has been able to make it to the final list in the first three rounds of Smart City Challenge. The other 12 would have to compete in the final round this month.

Asenior urban development ministry official told ET, “Divisional commissioners who would not even take our phone calls are proactively calling up and assuring support to initiatives.

Board meetings, which weren’t called for months, have suddenly been wrapped up to push smart city projects implementation.”

Under Swachh Bharat mission, UP has achieved only 30% of target set for toilet construction even after half the mission period has elapsed.

Even in solid waste management head of the mission the progress has been very poor. Housing for All initiative has also shown poor progress. So far, construction of only 12,000 affordable houses has been sanctioned by the Centre after a proposal of the state government. UP had projected a shortage of 16 lakh dwelling units in the initial stages of scheme.