New Delhi: A restructured programme of
Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA), the pet
scheme of former President A P J Abdul Kalam, was on Thursday
cleared by the government for its implementation as a pilot
project in the country.
"Union Cabinet has approved the restructured PURA scheme
with a plan outlay of Rs 248 crore. The scheme will be
implemented in public private partnership (PPP) mode," Union
Minister for Rural Development C P Joshi told reporters here.
Joshi said that seven to eight clusters will be
identified during the 11th five year plan period and the
pilot project will be implemented and managed by the private
sector with the involvement of the respective panchayats.
The PURA scheme had been implemented on the pilot basis
from 2004-05 for a period of three years in seven clusters --
one each in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra,
Rajasthan, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh.
The framework of bringing together public funds and
private capital for creation of infrastructure in rural areas
and leveraging upon private sector expertise to manage and
maintain the same during the concession period, forms the
essence of the re-structured PURA scheme, a Rural Development
Ministry official said.
PURA proposes that urban infrastructure and services be
provided in rural hubs to create economic opportunities
outside cities, the official added.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, January 21, 2010, 18:23