Faridabad, Chandigarh among Centre's National Urban scheme

Fatehabad, Sep 22 (UNI) Faridabad in Haryana and Union Territory of Chandigarh were among 63 cities selected for development under the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM), the Union Minister for Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation Ms Selja said here today.

While taking up development activities in Chandigarh, adjoining satallite town of Panchkula in Haryana, would also be developed, Ms Selja told reporters at the residence of Congress leader Sant Lal Mehta here.

She said that Centre would contribute 50 per cent of the amount spent on development activities under this scheme while the rest would be shared by the state government, local bodies and other agencies.

The Minister said her ministry had also launched a development scheme for small towns and Haryana's two towns, Ambala and Bhiwani, had been chosen under the scheme. The Centre will spent 80 per cent of the money spent on these towns.

Ms Selja directed the Deputy Commissioner, O P Sheoran to send a plan for the development of Fatehabad town to her ministry for approval under the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Project (IHSDP) and Urban Infrastructure Development of Small and Medium Towns (UIDSMT).

The major part of money spent under these schemes was borne by the Centre, she said.

Ms Selja said a budget of Rs 50,000 crore was available for these demand-driven schemes and her ministry would take up all viable projects that came before it for the approval.

Ms Selja also praised the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government saying it had been working towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Haryana.

Ms Selja also attended felicitation functions at the residences of Congress leaders Sushil Bishnoi and Gulshan Bajaj.

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