(Tribune)
Reeling under fund-crunch, state civic bodies have sought 90 per cent funds from the Centre for smart city projects in Shimla and Dharamsala on the ground that Himachal is a special category state. According to sources, it is difficult to fund 50 per cent of the cost of the smart city projects from their kitty as per provisions of the smart city guidelines issued by the Ministry of Urban Development. Rest of the 50 per cent fund will come from the Centre. The Centre will give Rs 500 crore while smart cities will give the matching grant. “The state government has yet to take a call on funding the projects,” he added.
