Smart City scheme lacks clarity: NGO

INDORE: Centre for Environment Protection Research and Development (CEPRD), local NGO on Monday moved an application before the high court asking the central government, state government and the municipal corporation to produce the documents through which the smart city policy was implemented.

CEPRD's counsel AM Mathur moved the application during hearing into a petition challenging the smart city scheme alleging that the government has mobilised funds to the tune of over Rs 5000 crore to areas that are already developed, while sidelining under-developed sectors needing immediate attention.

Mathur argued before the division bench of Justice PK Jaiswal and JK Jain that the approval of the President is important before any scheme to be introduced.

"Under article 77 of the Indian constitution, all executive action of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the President. But here no such notification was issued which could express the approval of the President," Mathur said.

However, government counsel AK Sethi said that the smart city scheme was mentioned in the Union Budget by the Finance minister.

"The scheme has been approved in the Union cabinet and funds toward its implementation were announced in the budget," he said.

Mathur also said that while the Prime Minister had announced that smart city scheme would cover the entire selected city, the officials have reduced it now only to a few areas.

"There is no clarity on the scheme, hence we have asked the court that concerned authorities shall submit documents that can explain how this policy was introduced," Mathur said.

Mathur earlier had filed a PIL seeking a stay on the scheme. Mathur in his PIL had alleged that several schools in the city do not have toilets, electricity and benches, yet the government expenditure is mobilised towards already developed areas.