Punjab govt signs agreement for urban development schemes

Chandigarh, June 8 (UNI) The Punjab Government today signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Allevation for implementing and housing and urban poverty allevation.

Mr D S Bains, Prinicipal Secretary, Local Bodies penned the agreement onbehalf of the state government, while Dr P K Mohanty, Joint Secretary and Mission Director (JNNURM) signed on behalf of the Union Ministry.

Giving details of the agreement, Mr Bains said that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty would formulate policies, programmes and schemes pertaining to housing and poverty allevation. The Punjab Local Bodies department would be responsible for its implementation and would maintain records of expenditure incurred.

Mr Bains said that the development scheme would be launched from Ludhiana district and then in the second phase it would cover the entire state. He said that CRRID, Chandigarh would prepare a study report regarding identification of slum areas so that safe drinking water and sewerage facilities should be provided.

Prominent among others who were present on the occasion includes Dr Himal Chand, Professor, HUDCO, Chairman CRRID, Dr Bindu Duggal, Senior Research Fellow CRRID, Mr Vikas Pratap, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Ludhiana and Mr Aklesh Sharma, NDC, UNDP, New Delhi.

UNI