(a) whether the Union Government had accorded administrative approval for Jakhu fishing harbour at a cost of Rs.1143.60 lakhs under Centrally Sponsored Scheme in May, 1993;
(b) if so, whether due to delayed environmental clearance the cost of project was increased;
(c) if so, the details thereof alongwith the increase in cost;
(d) whether the Union Government has released said amount; and
(e) if not, the time by which it is likely to be released?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI TASLIMUDDIN)
(a)to(c): Yes, Sir. The Union Government had in May 1993 accorded approval to the proposal of Government of Gujarat for construction of fishing harbour at Jakhu at a cost of Rs.1143.60 lakhs under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme with 100 percent grant assistance. The project was to be completed within the approved cost before May 1996. The Government of Gujarat could not achieve this target instead approached the Union Government initially for approval of Revised Cost Estimate with cost escalation from Rs.1143.60 lakhs to Rs.2455 lakhs, which has been further revised to Rs.5291 lakhs in May 2005. The State Government reported that delay in obtaining environmental clearance in one of the main factors among the others that attributed for cost escalation.
(d)&(e): Entire approved cost of the project amounting to Rs.1143.60 lakhs has been released to the State Government in six installments by December 1999. With regards revised cost estimate proposal, the Government of Gujarat is to submit a comprehensive revised project report with relevant techno-economic details for evaluating reasonability of the cost escalation.