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REWORKING TO RAISE FUNDS
* Raising money on PPP basis through various projects
* Projects also include transport and waste management
* Reworked plan targets raising Rs 291.5 crore from PPP
* Analysis made on smart city proposals of 20 states
* To rectify certain measures as sought by the Centre
* trying to work in terms of user and maintenance charges
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We would like to know whether CCP will play any role in the smart city project or it will be limited to collecting garbage
- Surendra Furtado, Panaji Mayor
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PANAJI: The reworked Smart City Proposal envisages raising funds to the tune of nearly Rs 300 crore from public-private partnership (PPP) model.
The plan was presented to the newly elected Council of the Corporation of City of Panaji at its special meeting convened on Monday. The presentation revealed that Rs 291.5 could be raised on PPP basis.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues said, “We are looking at raising fund on PPP basis through various projects. These include transport and waste management, among others. Bainguinim plant could be taken up on PPP model like how Saligao garbage plant is. So we need not go for funding. If there is good economic viability, they will definitely be taken.”
As soon as the meeting began, CCP Mayor Surendra Furtado sought to know from the Commissioner the role of the CCP in smart city project.
“We would like to know whether CCP will play any role in the smart city project or it will be limited to collecting garbage,” said Furtado.
Later, a presentation was held on the reworked smart city proposal and the key areas that have been reworked.
“In reworked plan, there have been comments made on our existing old proposal by the Government of India which have been placed before the council. We have also explained to them how we are going to rework and rectify them. We have also made analysis of smart city proposals of 20 states which have gone through. The reworked plan will basically work to rectify certain measures which have been sought rectification by the MoUD,” said the Commissioner.
Explaining further, he said, “Each city is different but we are looking at how they have approached different areas like transportation and others. Like how they have linked transportation to funding, whether they are taking any loans and which scheme they have gone under.
When asked about financing by the CCP for the project, he said, “I don’t think the Corporation is in the frame of mind to fund and asking the corporation to fund to a very large extent is also not fair because the corporation is small, the budget is small. But again ownership is again what the centre is looking for. They want the city to own the project. We are trying to work in terms of user and maintenance charges. So we are trying to put it in our proposal that whatever asset is created for the city is maintained and looked after by the City which also requires lot of money which we will take care of from our existing resources.”
