Tamil Nadu: Meet checks status of smart city work

CHENNAI: Days after union ministry of housing and urban development submitted its report on states' spending of smart city funds and pointed out Tamil Nadu is lagging behind, state minister for municipal administration and special projects S.P. Velumani conducted the first meeting to review the status of the project.

Defending himself, S.P. Velumani told mediapersons that all the states in the country, including Gujarat, were  are lagging in implementing smart city project. "However we are in second position in implementing Amrut projects," Velumani said.

 The minister conducted a meeting in Chennai on Monday to review the developments in smart city and Amrut schemes. The meeting took place days after a report was submitted in Rajya Sabha, stating Tamil Nadu government has only spent one per cent of the total funds of Rs 196 crore allotted by the central government. In addition to this, the state's allocation of Rs 200 crore is lying untouched, the report said.

"This is the first coordination meeting organised to discuss the implementation of smart city and Amrut scheme," Velumani added.

In the meeting attended by top brass officials of various departments, the minister Velumani urged them to expedite the smart city work. 

He also blamed the norms for the delay in implementing the project. "Smart city project does not allow us to spend on drinking water facilities. As drinking water is the major problem in the state, we are requesting the Centre to relax the norms," the minister said.