The Union Government is likely to invest Rs 248 crore for the pilot project of the Rs 1,000 crore PURA (Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas).

Currently, the Union Ministry of Panchayat & Rural Development is analysing the EoIs for the projects. It has already received almost 60 EoIs from different corporate entities and will finalise the participants by December 2010.

PURA scheme aimed at holistic and accelerated development of compact areas around a potential growth centre in a gram panchayat and to be implemented through PPP model. Once the pilot project is complete, the ministry is likely to approach the Planning Commission for further projects.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide technical assistance for three years in certain key areas including creation of framework for roll-out of the restructured PURA scheme, assistance to local governments in effective utilisation of the established PURA framework and sensitization of the private sector finance providers and operators.

Individual companies or a consortium can participate in each of the Rs 50 crore projects. The government is likely to take up community development schemes like water and sewerage, drainage, solid waste management, road construction under the scheme.