SMC awaits funding from Gujarat govt

Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is awaiting receipt of funds from the state government for various infrastructure projects announced by the civic body. The corporation has reportedly planned various infrastructure projects after the Gujarat government announced Rs 2,100 crore grant for the city under Chief Minister's Sadbhavana mission. Standing committee Chairman, Bhimji Patel is learnt to have passed a record Rs 3,600 crore worth of projects before the election code of conduct was announced in year 2012. But media reports suggest that the civic body received only Rs 154 crore of the first installment of Rs 700 crore that is due before March 31, 2013. The civic body seems confident that it would receive the remaining amount in due course and hence it has already completed the process of allotment and approval of tenders for the projects. The civic body passed a budget of Rs 3,150 crore last year. The capital expenditure was fixed at Rs 1,842 crore as against capital income of Rs 1,166 crore. The corporation expected that Rs 700 crore would come from the state government under Sadbhavana mission scheme, Rs 44 crore from Swarnim Gujarat grant and Rs 288 from JnNURM scheme of Central government, reports indicate.