Jaipur: Land disputes, court cases and delays in securing approvals from multiple departments have slowed the implementation of urban infrastructure projects worth Rs11,560.07 crore under the Centre’s AMRUT 2.0 scheme in Rajasthan, the Union govt informed Parliament. Replying to a question by Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal in the Lok Sabha on July 24, minister of state for housing and urban affairs Tokhan Sahu said Rajasthan has taken up 363 projects under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0, with Central assistance of Rs3,552 crore. The projects include 178 drinking water schemes, 48 sewerage and septage management works, 134 water body rejuvenation projects and three parks and green spaces. The Centre said it has released Rs745.12 crore to Rajasthan under the mission till 2025-26. In the current financial year, a mother sanction of Rs250 crore was issued, of which Rs104.44 crore had been utilised till July 20. According to the state govt’s progress report, contracts have been awarded for 109 drinking water projects worth Rs1,428.9 crore, 42 sewerage and septage management projects worth Rs4,656.8 crore, and 129 water body rejuvenation works worth RS443.86 crore. Sahu attributed the delays to land allotment issues arising from court cases and local resistance, besides delays in obtaining permissions from departments such as the forest department, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Railways and the Public Works Department (PWD). He also cited restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in NCR cities and High Court-imposed bans on construction activities. The Centre also acknowledged that ongoing pipeline laying, sewerage works and road excavation have caused temporary inconvenience to residents. “The state govt is regularly monitoring progress and has directed executing agencies to speed up the projects and restore roads immediately after completion of the works,” said the minsiter.
