State to train local bodies to effectively utilise funds

According to the documentsreleased by the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services (TNUIFSL) the State government will implement KfW (GermanDevelopment Bank) assisted Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure Financing Programme that includes loan assistance. “The projects will include water supply schemes, underground sewage schemes, eco-restoration of water bodies, development of parks and playgrounds,” the document said.

However, the TNUIFSL points out that the urban local bodies in the State have limited capacity to plan, design and implement projects in a timely and cost-effective manner apart from maintaining projects on a sustainable manner.

“As a part of this effort, the State government is already giving training to urban local body officials. In addition to this, another capacity building and training programme is proposed to strengthen the urban governance,” an official said.

The official added that the training would be given on contract and project management, technical quality audit, operation and maintenance and other key areas identified.

Meanwhile, TNUIFSL has invited consultants to prepare ‘training needs assessment study report’ based on which the government would conduct capacity building and training programme. The selected consultant should devise the focus area, type of training and would identify gaps and requirements. It may be noted that the German Development Bank had already agreed to provide funds to the Greater Chennai Corporation to build stormwater drain network in Kovalam Basin.

According to the Greater Chennai Corporation, the German funding agency would fund the 326km stormwater drain project.

In another major boost to the fund-starved Corporation, Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to fund the 763km-long integrated stormwater drain (ISWD) project in Kosasthalaiyar basin.