Orissa delegates powers and functions to ULBs

Bhubaneswar, Sep 14 (UNI) The Orissa government today decided to delegate powers to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to make them eligible for project funding from the Centre under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a cabinet meeting agreed to delegate the Urban Planning, regulation of Land use, water supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes besides Urban forestry, protection of environment and promotion of ecological aspect to the ULBs besides the 18 subjects envisaged in the 12th schedule of the Constitution.

Chief Secretary Subash Pani told reporters the ULBs as required by the 74th amendment, would entail transfer of powers and function of departments to the control and management of the ULBs along with deputation of personnel. Mr Pani the ULBs would immediately take up a comprehensive city development plan for Bhubaneswar and then for Puri under the JNNURM.

He said the CDP for Bhubaneswar with an estimated cost of Rs.3300 crore had been cleared by the Ministry of Urban Development. The state government had cleared the CDP for Bhubaneswar adding that a detailed project report on each component would be prepared soon for their implementation, he added.

The government had submitted the Integrated Sewerage project for Bhubaneswar at an estimated cost of Rs.660 crore. This apart, a Rs.110 crore project for solid waste management, Rs.10 crore for renovation of Bindusagar Pond, Road projects worth over Rs.110 crore and Green Bhubaneswar project at a cost of Rs.50 crore would be submitted for funding.

The Chief Secretary said the government would submit a Rs.6600 crore proposal for Mass Rapid Transit System for Bhubaneswar city for which the RITES would prepare another project report within a month.

The cabinet, Mr Pani said had also decided to establish special cell under the Employment Mission in which retired army personnel would be recruited to impart special training for the youths for recruitment in the army. The focus of the cell would be to give orientation training to the tribals, he added.

In another decision, the Cabinet decided to set up Apparel Training and Design Centre in Bhubaneswar for creation of skilled human resources for apparel industry in Orissa. The centre, the Chief Secretary said would upgrade the skill and generate employment in the handloom sector where more than 4 lakhs people had adopted weaving as their profession.

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