Bhubaneswar: Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra has directed departmental officers to prevent artificial flooding in urban areas and give maximum importance to water drainage system during the review of various plans and programs of the Housing and Urban Development Department today.
According to an official release, Minister Mohapatra has directed the officials to give priority to urban development.
He said that urban development is essential for Odisha, which is developed with the goal of a developed India. Hence various NACs, Municipalities and Corporations of the state should be made more active, he added.
Since Bhubaneswar is the capital of the State, the Minister advised to develop it as a global model and focus on infrastructure and urban development of the entire state.
He said that people’s welfare should be emphasized along with development work. Budgeting will be done judiciously without unnecessary expenditure. Efforts will also be made to complete the metro project on schedule timeline, he added.
Additional Chief Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Department G Mathivathanan made a presentation on ‘Successful Journey in Urban Development’ and detailed the achievements of various schemes and programs of the department. He informed about Odisha’s national recognition in the field of solid waste management, Odisha’s good performance at national level in the cleanliness survey index, progress of metro rail project etc.
The Additional Chief Secretary also said that Odisha is the only State in the country to implement the Drink From Tap scheme.
Similarly, 179 food centres in 115 urban areas are managed by women’s self-help groups, while Odisha has received global recognition for its innovation in free food schemes as well.
The Minister has directed to solve waterlogging and drainage problems in cities like Bhubaneswar on a priority basis.
On the direction of the Minister, a guideline has been issued by the Department regarding rainwater/floodwater management in urban areas and all Municipal officials of the State have been advised to strictly comply with it. In the context of the recent outbreak of jaundice in Sambalpur, Minister Mahapatra has directed the CEO, WATCO to go for immediate enquiry on water quality there.
Special Secretary and BMC Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Municipal Director Sangramjit Naik and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
