Improve storm water drainage system, directs Naveen

Bhubaneswar: With only a few days left for the onset of the rainy season in Odisha, Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has asked the Housing and Urban Development department to improve the drainage system in Bhubaneswar and ensure proper discharge of storm water during the monsoon.

Reviewing projects and development work undertaken by the department in the last two years, the CM on Wednesday expressed his concern over water-logging in the capital city.

“The CM has asked for a detailed project report (DPR) on the storm water drainage system (in Bhubaneswar) for which neither the Centre nor the State government has any funding provision. He also expressed concern over the water-logging in ULBs including the capital city,” Housing and Urban development department minister Pushpendra Singhdeo told media persons after attending the meeting.

The minister said the department will submit the DPR very soon.

While taking stock of the low-cost housing project for urban poor under the Odisha Urban Housing Mission, Patnaik directed the Collectors to submit a report on land required for the project in their districts. Official sources said the mission will supplement the central scheme Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY) that proposes to make houses available to all urban poor. On its part, the State government will contribute land free of cost and grant permission at no cost and on war footing.

Of the Rs.6.5 lakh to Rs.7 lakh to be spent on construction of every housing unit, Rs.1 lakh to Rs.1.5 lakh will come from PMAY, the beneficiary will contribute up to Rs.1.5 lakh and the rest will come from the State government’s coffer, the sources added.

The minister informed that a number of slums in Bhubaneswar and other parts of the State have been included under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme.

“The CM has asked to expedite the process,” Singhdeo stated.