Top priority for basic amenities in urban areas: Minister

Vijayawada, Oct 27 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja said the Centre was giving top priority for providing basic amenities in urban areas in the country.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for Basic Services for the Urban Poor (BSUP) works at Ekalavyanagar here today, she said the government was committed to improving basic infrastructure in urban areas under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in the next five years.

Ms Selja said a meeting of urban development ministers of all states would be held next month in Hyderabad to discuss strategy to improve the basic infrastructure facilities in urban areas to meet the growing demand.

The Centre was planning to revamp the Swarana Jayanthi Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) during the XI Plan to provide employment to more number of youth in urban areas.

The Minister informed around 80,000 houses would be built in urban areas of the state under the scheme adding about 15,000 units were earmarked for Vijayawda City.

She assured that more funds would be given to the state under the scheme in future.

Referrig to the slum clearance project taken up in the city at a cost of Rs four crore, Ms Selja said 50 per cent of the funding will be given by the Centre.

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