After the release of 20 per cent of sanctioned grant by the Center under the AMRUT City Scheme, the district administration has geared up the process to expedite various development works here.
The Center has approved Rs 463 crore for Odisha under “Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation” (AMRUT) scheme and the fund, allocated for 2015-16, will have to be spent in the next three years. The scheme would cover Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) along with eight other urban areas - Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Baleswar and Baripada in the State, sources said.
According to information available, the BMC has decided to spend Rs58.11 crore for the purpose of constructing and renovating parks, upgrading the existing water supply scheme and executing solid waste management project to make Brahmapur pollution-free.
According to the terms of the release, the Central Government will release the second installment in favor of the State Government only after the first installment is spent and the utilisation certificate (UC) is submitted to the Center, sources said.
The BMC will finalize the relevant DPR for construction and renovation of four parks and four water supply schemes by March 25. The State Government has reportedly requested the Consultant of the Engineers India limited (EIl) duly approved by the Central Government to expedite the preparation of DPR for the projects. After the preparation of DPR, tender papers will be called for, BMC sources said.
The district administration has decided to spend Rs54.75 crore for water supply schemes, followed by Rs27 lakh for renovation and upgradation of Biju Pattnaik Park located in Corporation Road, Rs26 lakh for development of Priyadarshani Park, Rs28 lakh for renovation and development of the boundary of Dhoba bandh (tank), Rs17 lakh for establishment of a park in Baikunthanagar and Rs2.38 crore for solid waste management plant.
Senior Manager of the Engineers India limited (EIl) Rajnish Agarwal has been appointed as the advisor of the BMC to render technical advice and monitor the schemes, sources said.
According to information available, nearly 87 per cent of the total amount of funds will be utilized for improvement of water supply system in the nine urban areas. The BMC will convene a special meeting of its Corporators to discuss the detailed plan and strategy to expedite the projects. Meanwhile, senior citizens of the city have demanded the authorities to first remove thousands truckloads of solid waste, garbage and dust lying on road sides of the civic body.