The Government has approved 127 projects worth around Rs 295 crore for different urban local bodies (ULBs) in the State under the Odisha Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (OUIDF).
The sanction has been accorded in the Board of Director meeting held on Saturday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi wherein Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development G Mathivathanan outlined the issues regarding financial provision and project implementation.
Giving nod to the projects, Chief Secretary Padhi directed to focus on capacity building and revenue generating ability of the ULBS. Padhi further directed to make the projects outcome oriented and assess their impact.
State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) was nominated as nodal agency to undertake capacity building activities of the personnel in 114 ULBs of the State.
Special Secretary Housing and Urban Development Prem Kumar Jha presented that Greenfield energy efficient street light projects have been helpful for expansion of street lighting in urban bodies. The LED project proposal for 113 ULBs estimated around a total cost Rs 265 crore was approved in the meeting. Chief Secretary Padhi directed to do the ULB wise assessment of the outcomes of LED streetlight projects. Other projects approved by the Board included reclamation and peripheral development of 14 water bodies in five ULBs estimated around Rs 30 crore.
The board also reviewed the progress of the water supply projects in Golapur, Brahmapur, bulk water supply under PPP ( NISER and IIT) energy efficient street light projects in five Corporations, market development projects in Sambalpur, Cuttack and Bhubaneswar solid waste management project in Brahmapur, sewerage treatment projects in Sambalpur and Rourkela; and, water body development projects in 11 different ULBs.
The Chief Secretary directed to fix timelines for each phase of the projects at ground level and ensure timely completion.