Massive programme to provide basic amenities to urban poor

Hyderabad, Dec 26 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Government plans to spend a sum of Rs 5357 crore including Rs 2509 crore of Central funds to provide drinking water, sanitation, health, education and housing for urban poor in all towns in the state.

While reviewing the activities of Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said Andhra Pradesh must be put on a rapid development path to provide the urban poor living in slums at all towns basic amenities, to improve their quality of life and contain their migration to cities.

The State Government had already allocated Rs 1848 crore in the current year's budget and the Centre had sanctioned aid of Rs 2509 crore for projects to benefit the urban poor in all municipal areas.

The State had received sanction for 36 projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission at an outlay of Rs 1883 crore as against the 65 projects worth Rs 4186.10 crore for the cities of Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, for which the first instalment of Rs 144.54 crore had already been released.

The Chief Minister asked officials to give priority for increasing drinking water supply in towns to 1750 MLD by 2009 from the present 1235 MLD per day. During the last year, the per capita availablity of water had increased from 61 litre to 74.40 litre and the target was to achieve 100 litre. The WHO standard was 80 litre.

He said the Government would spend Rs 370 crore in the next four years under the newly created AP Integrated Solid Waste Management Board for scientific management of municipal solid wastes and to promote door-to-door collection of garbage in all urban local bodies.

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