Union Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister M Venkaiah Naidu will review the implementation and progress of various schemes related to his Ministries in the Union Territories on Wednesday. The directors of five urban missions will undertake detailed review of progress and implementation issues with officials from UTs concerning AMRUT, Smart City Mission, Swachchh Bharat Mission (Urban), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(Urban) and Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Urban livelihoods Mission (NUlM).
Naidu has convened a meeting of lieutenant Governors of Delhi, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nager Haveli, Daman & Diu and lakshadweep on July 6, 2017 for a high level review for evolving a way forward for speeding up implementation under various missions. According to sources, UTs have failed get benefit from centrally sponsored scheme. Even In Delhi, the state government have taken steps to get benefit from these schemes.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and of Puducherry V Narayanasamy have also been invited for the review. These are the only two UTs with elected legislatures. Issues relating to urban transport will also be discussed. The ministry has already approved investments for the five year mission period for all the seven UTs under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and smart city plans of New Delhi Municipal Council, Chandigarh and Port Blair. Special focus will be on sanitation with only three of the 16 towns in these UTs having been declared Open Defecation so far. Capacity building issues will also be discussed to enable speedy execution of projects. Issues relating to urban transport will also be discussed.