Chhatrapur: Hopes for development of the Silk City got a boost Saturday after both the Centre and state governments sanctioned Rs 6.96 crore in the first phase under the AMRUT scheme.
The funds will be spent on expediting various developmental works in drinking water projects and in improving the infrastructure of parks. The move comes after the Union government included Berhampur and eight other towns in the state under the AMRUT city scheme.
The housing and urban development department of the Union government in a meeting March 13 sanctioned 20 per cent of the funds under the scheme for development of Berhampur. Later, the state government also sanctioned its share for the city.
While Rs 16.20 lakh will be spent on development of three parks under Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC), Rs 6.80 crore will be spent on three drinking water projects. The BMC authorities will soon float tenders for the purpose and work will begin soon on the projects after requisite approvals.
The Centre will release further funds in subsequent phases after the civic body submits utilization certificates of the allotted money.
The Centre has fixed a time limit on utilization of the funds for which the Union housing and urban development department has laid stress on spending of the funds within the prescribed time limits.
Sources said this year a total of Rs 58.11 crore has been earmarked for spending on development of parks, drinking water projects and waste management in the Silk City under the AMRUT scheme.
The fund was sanctioned after both the Centre and a technical committee of the state government approved nine projects for development of the city under AMRUT scheme.
Consultant firm Engineers India Ltd (EIL) of the Centre has prepared a detailed project report for the purpose and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the housing and urban development department of the state government January 11.
Senior manager Rajnish Agarwall of EIL has been designated as the consultant for BMC to oversee successful implementation of the projects. PNN
