Big project for cities launched
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03/12/2005
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Hindu (New Delhi)
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launched on Saturday a Rs. 1 lakh crore Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for integrated development of infrastructure services. The Mission makes it mandatory for the States and municipal bodies to undertake reforms to avail themselves of Central funds.The Centre will initially give a grant-in-aid of Rs. 50,000 crores over seven years. The States will have to raise the rest of the funds from market borrowings. Initially, 63 cities, with over one million population, and 23 cities of religious and tourist interest, will be covered. Two sub-missions will focus on infrastructure, governance reform and basic services to the poor.