The Hindu 13.08.2010
Rs. 600 crore for urban infrastructure: Minister
Staff Correspondent
| Two-day State-level conference of civic bodies begins |
About 34 per cent of people are living in urban areas in the State
Chief Minister's scheme to focus on roads, drains, water supply
Udupi: Minister for Municipalities and Local Bodies Balachandra Jarkiholi said on Thursday that the Government had allocated Rs. 600 crore for infrastructure development in urban areas of the State under the Mukhyamantri Nagaroththana Yojana this year.
He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day conference of civic bodies as part of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC), here.
Mr. Jarkiholi said that over 34 per cent of people in the State lived in towns and cities. This figure was increasing every year. Besides Bangalore, there were seven city corporations, 44 city municipal councils (CMCs), 94 town municipal councils (TMCs) and 68 town panchayats in the State. All this made it essential to draw up a proper plan for providing better infrastructure in these places. The Chief Minister's scheme would focus on development of roads and drainage systems, and drinking water supply in urban areas, he said.
The funds meant for the welfare of weaker sections such as the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in urban areas had been increased from 18 per cent to 22.75 per cent. The Government was releasing about Rs. 6 crore to Rs. 7 crore to all urban local bodies, every year. These civic bodies should develop municipal wards in their jurisdiction in a phased manner. Distribution of funds equally among all wards made no sense as it would lead to lopsided development, he said.
The flow of funds to urban local bodies had increased since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in the State. The urban local bodies in the coastal districts had a good record in tax collection and usage of funds. “Udupi should become a model CMC in the State,” Mr. Jarkiholi said. Home Minister V.S. Acharya, who released ‘Abhivridhiyatta Dapugalu', a souvenir, said that the Government had allocated Rs. 1,441 crore for the development of towns and cities. It had released a special grant of Rs. 25 crore to Udupi CMC for its platinum jubilee celebrations.
Urban local bodies should be given state-of-the-art equipment to keep pace with the changing times. “Auditing of all civic works is essential,” he said.
The conference should culminate with an “Udupi declaration” of suggestions for improving urban infrastructure, Dr. Acharya said.
President of the Udupi CMC Dinakar Shetty welcomed the gathering. MP D.V. Sadananda Gowda, MLAs Raghupati Bhat and Lalaji Mendon and MLC Kota Srinivas Poojarywere among those present.
