Gujarat Science City low on funds

The ambitious 350 crore Gujarat Science City is facing some problem on the money front. Two years ago when the state proposed the concept, the central government was more than keen to be a part of it.

The State Government shelled almost 100 crore for the Phase I (April 2000 - March 2001). In Phase II, it had allocated RS 249 crore for the project. The second phase followed on the built, own, operate and manage (BOOM) basis, has received a major boost with Rs 41 crore being sanctioned by the Union Tourism and Culture Ministry. This sum came over and above Rs 20 crore carried over as surplus from the fund accrual for the first phase of the science city project.

But the Gujrat Science City in Ahmedabad has failed to impress the central government from whom the state had demanded Rs 40 crore to complete the project. The Science and Technology department of the government of India has apparently out rightly rejected the government of Gujarat's plea to allot Rs 40 crore to complete what the government calls as technological wonder.

Interestingly, the department has shown interest in similar projects in other parts of India. Looking at the hostile attitude of the central government, the state has watered down its demand and has renewed its application for Rs 9 crore just to complete its basic infrastructure.

With CIOL Bureau inputs