Denizens of Baleswar city have a reason to feel happy now as the city has been included in the Amrut (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) Yojana.
The Baleswar municipality is one of nine cities of the State selected under the Central scheme recently.
Under the scheme, the municipality would receive Rs 230 crore to Rs 250 crore for infrastructure development for five years from the current year, informed local MP RK Jena on Thursday after holding a meeting with Urban Development Minister Pushpendra Singhdeo.
The expenditure to be incurred under the scheme would be shared with equally by the Centre and the State, he said.
“Some perennial problems, including drinking water, of the Baleswar town will be resolved. Water from Sono river could be brought, treated and supplied to the denizens. Similarly, drains and roads could be strengthened besides a sewerage to be put in place,” said Jena.
The MP said initially Rs 25 lakh would allotted under the scheme to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) and the amounts would come in phases after submission of the DPR. “This is the first occasion the municipality will get such a huge amount. On earlier occasions, it was borrowing money for development. This would pave way for the city for inclusion under the Smart city scheme,” he said.