Is Karnataka Not ‘Smart’ Enough? Data From Ministry Reveals State Reluctant To Spend On Building Futuristic Cities 

Karnataka lacks behind in using funds for building smart cities, reports the Deccan Herald. Despite the Centre releasing Rs 886 crore to implement the Smart Cities Mission in Karnataka, the state has merely spent 9.70 per cent (Rs 86.02 crore) of the funds.

The NDA government, in 2015, had launched the Smart Cities Project. Under the project, the Centre would assist selected cities with Rs 500 crore for implementing various projects. The funds are released on conditions like satisfactory physical and financial progress shown by utilisation certificates that cities submit.

The Karnataka government recently submitted the latest utilisation certificate to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. According to the declaration, the Centre, to implement various projects, had sanctioned Rs 886 crore for seven selected cities - Belagavi, Davangere, Hubballi-Dharwad, Shivamogga, Mangaluru, Tumkur and Bengaluru.

However, Karnataka only spent Rs 86.02 crore, of which Rs 38.47 crore was spent on office and administrative expenditure and the remaining funds to implement projects. Davangere and Belgaum were able to spend only Rs 14.41 crore and Rs 23.63 crore respectively. The state capital, Bengaluru, has spent only Rs 3.79 crore till now.

Various smart cities like Surat, Indore, Nagpur, Udaipur and Varanasi are all ahead in executing projects under the scheme. The review by the ministry reveals that Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab are all lagging in implementing plans.

The Centre had also told the states to accelerate the implementation of projects. An official from the ministry said slow progress in the implementation of projects in states including Karnataka is because of various reasons like setting up special purpose vehicle, finalising tenders and identifying works to do.