DPRs under JNNURM being prepared on priority: Thakur

Shimla, Sep 5 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Irrigation and Public Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur today asked the councillors, engineers, experts and other officers to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the development of Shimla town under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for submission to the Centre.

Presiding over a meeting convened to discuss priorities, strategies and various development issues for Shimla town under the scheme here, he emphasised the need for close coordination between the officers, engineers and councellors for the development of the town.

Mr Thakur said the state government was committed for the systematic and planned development of the town and other adjoining areas.

The Centre had selected Shimla town among 63 cities and towns to be developed under the Mission, he said adding that Rs 3,900 crore city development plan for the development of the town has been approved by it.

Priority areas under the Mission were solid waste management, underground tunnels, parking, water supply, sewerage, roads and housing for urban poors, he said.

Special attention would be given for the development of merged areas of Shimla town which were earlier under SADA so that these areas could be developed at par with other urban areas and basic amenities will be provided to the people of these areas, he added.

Mr Thakur said separate backward area sub-plan would be prepared for development of these areas.

The approval for installation of Jakhu Ropeway had already been given and renovation work of Gaiety Theatre here was being carried out on war footing and Rs 11 crore was being spent on it, he said.

He added that Rs 66 crore Giri Water Supply Scheme would be dedicated to the people of the town to solve the drinking water problem later this year.

The Himachal Government had also prepared the Rs 680 crore water supply scheme from Pabbar river for Shimla town, he said.

Shimla Municipal Corporation had been asked to prepare estimates to replace water pipes between Dhalli and Mashobra in about three to four km radius as water leakages were more in these areas, he stated.

UNI