The demand for providing smart city status to Brahmapur has gained momentum with NGOs and civic societies coming together to sensitise people about the facilities available under the Centre’s Smart City scheme.
The Youth for Social Development (YSD) led Bibhu Prasad Sahu with the CAC conducted a workshop on ‘Smart City Mission’ at a hotel here on Tuesday in which many academicians, journalists, human right activists and senior citizens joined and kept their opinions.
They urged the BMC and the State Government to provide ‘smart’ services to city residents as required for inclusion of a city in the Smart City scheme. YSD secretary Sahu made a presentation on parameters required of the Smart City scheme and the position where the BMC (the claimant) stands now.
He viewed that fulfilling the criteria to become a smart city is tougher as a ‘competitive challenge method’ has been adopted by the Union Government. He too discussed various deficiencies of Brahmapur city vis-à-vis Smart City criteria.
Many of those who were present urged the BMC to take immediate steps for improvement of sanitation, water supply and other basic services in the city.
The BMC is now facing shortage of 8 MlD water and has failed to manage 4589 TDP of waste materials being generated every day.
According to YSD estimation, only 6.3 per cent of households are currently connected with the drains and 39 per cent of them have toilets. Around 59.5 per cent goes for open defecation. The YSD report also revealed that 26,270 households living in slums have poor housing conditions. Besides, bad road condition, poor traffic management and poor transport system in all 40 wards are major concerns.
The YSD, however, argued that in spite these deficiencies, there is a strong justification for Brahmapur to be included in the Smart City scheme as the city is the oldest municipality of the State constituted in 1867 and is the commercial, cultural, education, and tourist hub of the entire south Odisha.
Among others, MASM coordinator Abani Gaya, Durneeti Birodh Manch convenor Gurucharan Patra, Prof KC Panda, educationist Shyamsundar Khadanga, Mahan Sangh president Sushant Sabat, journalists Rabi Rath; BC Choudhury gave their opinions. S
They urged upon the citizens to fight collectively to include this heritage city under the Smart City scheme.