The Centre recently sent a fax message pertaining to this to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a copy of which was also sent to Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Shaktisinh Gohil.

The letter says that considering the historical importance of Porbandar, the national steering group of JNNURM has included it as a ‘Mission City’ under it. The birth place of Mahatma Gandhi has now become the 29th ‘Mission City’ under JNNURM, selected for infrastructure development.

The Porbandar municipality will, however, have to draw up a city development plan and sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) under JNNURM to have access to funds to improve basic urban infrastructure.

The letter sent to the state government has advised the Porbandar municipality to submit a detailed project report through the state level nodal agency for the sanction of projects.

With a population of 1.7 lakh, Porbandar can avail 80 per cent of the central funding and only 20 per cent will have to be arranged by it from its own resources.

State Congress chief spokesperson Arjun Modhwadia, who represents Porbandar in the state Assembly, said that state party leaders, including Ahmed Patel, had taken up the matter with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, PM Manmohan Singh and Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy.

“The Prime Minister ordered Porbandar to be included in the list of the ‘Mission Cities’ as a special case under JNNURM, considering its historical importance,” he said.