Mizoram govt to setup UDPA department

Aizawl, Aug 7 (UNI) The Mizoram government today decided to set up an Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation (UDPA) department to fore the issue of constituting civic bodies in the state.

Several organisations here have been demanding to expedite the process of creation of the UDPA for providing municipal facilities to the urban dwellers.

The Centre has ruled out utilisation of rural development funds in the urban areas, which compelled the state government to create an urban development department.

The 74th amendment of the Constitution in 1992 had made it mandatory for all states to have municipalities.

The Zoramthanga led MNF cabinet today okayed the decision for establishment of the department.

The Mizoram Municipal Steering Committee and the Forum for the Implementation of Constitutional Rights have been demanding for such civic bodies in the state.

Chief minister Zoramthanga pointed out that the establishment of the new department would be lop-sided without municipalities in the state and hence the government was going to constitute them soon.

''We are trying to expedite the constitution of municipalities in the state to ensure that the funds for urban development are properly utilised'', he said.

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