The Hindu 03.08.2009
Rs. 15-crore draft plan for development of Madikeri
Staff Correspondent
| Funds will be allocated under the Chief Minister’s Small and Medium Towns Development Project |
Madikeri: A draft action plan of Rs. 15 crore has been prepared by the Madikeri City Municipal Council (CMC) authorities for the comprehensive development of the city.
Funds will be allocated under the Chief Minister’s Small and Medium Towns Development Project (CMSMTDP).
An ambitious programme to develop 20 headquarters of urban local bodies (ULBs) in two years and 199 taluk headquartered and other town panchayats in one year at a cost of Rs. 1,411 crore was prepared by the State Government under CMSMTDP recently, according to information received here.
Of the Rs. 15 crore, Rs. 8 crore will be utilised for construction of drains in the city. This is expected to avoid water stagnation during monsoon, which is one of the reasons for damage of roads. Two of the four slums in the city will be developed at a cost of Rs. 3 crore. The four slums are Indiranagar, Chamundeshwarinagar, parts of Mangaladevinagar and Tyagaraja Colony.
A sum of Rs. 1 crore each will be used for construction of retaining walls on Gowli Street and in front of the KSRTC bus-stand, building concrete road from Ram Mandir to Convent School junction and for developing the private bus stand area, now proposed to he shifted to the land under the University of Agricultural Sciences. A sum of Rs. 50 lakh will be spent on installing a 12-metre high 10 high mast lamps in parts of the city. An identical amount will be utilised by the CMC for the Kundamestri drinking water project. The draft plan is being prepared under the supervision of CMC president P.D. Ponnappa and Commissioner of the CMC Srikanth Rao.
Projects that will be taken up on priority under CMSMTDP are drinking water supply, sewerage lines, drains, solid waste management, roads, footpaths, upgrading slums and street lights. At least 20 per cent of the sum should be spent on the welfare of the poor. Funds for roads and footpaths should not exceed 50 per cent of the allotted grants. The draft development plan will be submitted to the district in-charge Minister for approval.
