Over Rs 90 crore spent on smart cities in Karnataka: Minister U T Khader
Belagavi, Dec 12: Karnataka Minister for Urban Development and Housing U T Khader Wednesday said Rs 91.34 crore has so far been spent on seven cities in the state that have been selected under the Smart City project.
The central and the state governments have each earmarked Rs 886 crore for the project.
Responding to a query from BJP MLA K S Eshwarappa during question hour, the Minister said new guidelines and rules have been framed under the project and creation of a special purpose vehicle for it have been the cause for the delay in its implementation in the seven cities - Belagavi, Davangere, Hubballi-Dharwad, Shivamogga, Mangaluru, Tumkuru and Bengaluru.
Noting that central government had launched the Smart City project in June 2015, Khader said this was different from other projects, as it required introduction of new rules which required more time.
Also, cities were selected for the project in various rounds and consultants have been appointed in all the cities, he said.
Further, detailed reports on the project were underway and work was on in all the cities, but in some of them, the project was at the nascent stage, the Minister said adding that special purpose vehicles have been set up in all the smart cities.
To this, several BJP leaders including opposition leader B S Yeddyurappa, Jagadish Shettar and Eshwarappa stressed the need for a supervisory committee to oversee the implementation of the project.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
