Naveen meets Reddy, asks funds for ULBs be raised to Rs1000 cr

New Delhi, Nov 3 : Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today expressed concern over ''meagre'' allocation of only Rs 181.79 crore for 101 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the state and urged the Centre to enhance it to at least Rs 1000 crore.

In a meeting with Union Urban development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, the Chief Minister stated that only two cities -Bhubaneswar and Puri- have been included under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and asked for inclusion of Cuttack also under the scheme.

Discussing various issues relating to urban development in the state, the Chief Minister said that Orissa has forged ahead with the implementation of key Urban Reforms and was progressing well in implementation of projects sanctioned under Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT).

He said the Integrated Sewerage Project and Conservation of Bindusagar Project have already been taken up in Bhubaneswar and requested for an early release of the first installment of Central share for the already sanctioned 12 Drinking Water Supply Projects.

He also urged for early release of second installment for the five ongoing Road Projects of Cuttack, Water Bodies Restoration Projects of Cuttack and Berhampur towns and Water Supply Projects of Sambalpur and Koraput towns.

To showcase and promote the rich and vibrant cultural heritage of Orissa at the national level, the Chief Minister requested for allocation of suitable land for establishing an 'Orissa Center' in New Delhi.

The Union Minister agreed to favourably consider the proposals put forward by Mr Patnaik, said an Orissa government statement.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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