The Chhattisgarh Govern-ment has bagged yet another national award.
This time it is for Central Government’s ‘Amrut Mission’ operated by the State Urban Administration and Develo-pment Department.The award carries a cash prize of `13 crore, officials informed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will give away the award on September 30 in New Delhi.
The State Government had bagged several National Awards in 2016. Prime Minister gave away Best Performing State for pulses production ‘Krushi Karman National Award’ on March 19 this year.
Notably, for nine Municipal Corporations-Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Bhilai, Rajnandgaon, Jagdalpur, Raigarh, Korba and Ambikapur — a master plan of `2,200 crore had been drafted and will be implemented in the next four years. It will cover drinking water augmentation, sewerage facilities, afforestation and children’s parks.
The ‘Amrut Award’ is being given towards the implementation of these programmes in the Municipal Corporation limits.
The schemes include ‘Digital India’ project, single entry of all accounts converted into double entry accounting system and website displaying transparency of all works of the municipal corporations.
The Municipal Corpo-rations had completed 24 of the 28 developmental works. The collection of municipal taxes, collection and balance, minimum 90 per cent collection of water cess, energy and water audit, water treatment plant.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh Government April this year was mulling over plans to mobilise additional financial resources through 14th Finance Commission recommendations for implementation of the AMRUT mission project in nine cities of Chhattisgarh, officials stated.
The action plan drawn up by the Government has already prioritized proposed investment across cities as per principle of prioritisation of AMRUT.
Investment had been broadly distributed across nine AMRUT cities. Distribution of Investment is based on priority for providing 100 per cent universal coverage in primary thrust sectors.
Notably, as many as 27 water supply projects to be taken up across Chhattisgarh under Centre’s AMRUT project would involve an expenditure of 440.95 crore during the current financial year.
The Centre’s funding component in the project would be `212.13 crore while the Chhattisgarh would contribute `137.08 crore with Urban local Bodies (UlBs) share being `91.38 crore, offcials stated.
Overall the Mission Thrust areas under AMRUT Project would be — Water supply, Sewerage and Septage Management, Storm Water Drain, Pedestrian, Non Motorised and Public Transport Facilities, Parking Space, Green Spaces, Park and Recreation centres.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh Government has approved
`13 crore for 89 developmental works to be undertaken by Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC).
Notably, a sum of `10 crore has been approved by the State Government for various wards of RMC, including drain construction, road widening, electrification and pipeline extension, according to an official Press release.
Besides these, around `2.50 crore has been approved for setting up a world class gym in the vacant space at International Swimming Pool at GE road besides other facilities.
Notably, last month, the Central Government had also released the first installment of `55.29 crore out of the approved `573.40 crore for State Annual Action Plan (SAAP) under AMRUT project for the current financial year in Chhattisgarh.
The Union Ministry of Urban Development has already released Central Assistance of `1,062.27 crore to 13 States as first installment under AMRUT project for the current financial year, officials stated.
This is a part of total Central Assistance of `5,311.38 crore committed to 13 States for which the Ministry has approved Atal Mission Action Plans for 2015-16 entailing total investment of `11,671.76 crore in 286 cities in these States.
The Ministry has so far cleared a total of 939 projects for 286 cities with most of them related to water supply and sewerage network services.
AMRUT project launched in June this year aims at ensuring water supply connections and sewer connections to all urban households in 500 mission cities besides supplying water at the norm of 135 litres per capita per day, on priority. Under this mission, construction of storm water drains, promotion of non-motorised urban transport, provision of parks and green spaces also will be supported.
The purpose of AMRUT is to ensure that every household has access to a tap with assured supply of water and a sewerage connection, increase in amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces (parks) and reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorised transport (like walking and cycling).
