(a) whether the Government have taken a decision to close down some projects after spending huge amount on them;
(b) if so, the details thereof and reasons therefor;
(c) the present status of those projects; and
(d) the manner in which the Government propose to recover the amount already incurred on them?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING, MINISTER OF STATE
IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION,
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND
PUBLIC GRIEVANCES IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES
AND PENSIONS AND THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
DISINVESTMENT (SHRI ARUN SHOURIE)
(a) As on 31.3.2000, 52 projects have been kept in the
list of projects to be frozen/dropped ultimately. Of
these, 3 projects have been sold out to the private
sector; one project has been mechanically completed
but closed due to technology failure; 3 projects have
been replaced; 2 projects have been completed and 6
have been leased. The total original cost of these
projects is Rs.4320.25 crores and the expenditure
incurred till date is Rs.1,034.54 crores.
(b) & (c) Funds constraint is the main reason for projects,
particularly in the infrastructure sector, such as,
Railways and Surface Transport, being frozen /
dropped or given low priority for the time being.
However, some of these projects, particularly in the
Tele-communication Sector, are being executed on
leased basis. Some of the frozen projects have also
become unviable due mainly to market conditions or
low demand for their products and services. They
have been put on the frozen list. These may not be
revived.
(d) The expenditure incurred on many of the projects is a
small portion of the project cost. Some projects are
being disposed to recover the expenditure incurred.
The frozen projects would be taken up after ensuring
availability of funds and their priority.