Centre yet to approve Odisha’s project

While Odisha needs at least Rs 3,700 crore for the  improvement of storm water drainage system in its urban areas, the Union Government is yet to approve an ambitious project, which aims at developing a robust storm water drainage system.

A large number of drainage systems in many urban areas of Odisha have collapsed resulting in flooding.

 This can be seen during rainy seasons in major cities like Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Brahmapur, Puri and Cuttack. Lack of environmental considerations in city planning and unauthorised constructions have led to blocking of natural drainage system.

The State Government as per Service Level Improvement Plan (SLIP) under AMRUT scheme had submitted a project with a cost of  Rs 3,700 crore for development of storm water drainage systems in AMRUT cities.  This was done to achieve bench mark service in these cities. However, after repeated request, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has not approved the project. In these towns, both storm water as well as waste water needs to be considered for the drainage system planning and design.

Proper disposal of surplus rainwater is essential to avoid water logging problems and keeping in view the projected rate of urbanisation, a 50-year planning was done.

However, sources said the projects are not getting through and development of storm water drainage in the urban zones is getting costlier.

Similarly, another proposal for financial support for implementation of municipal cadre in Odisha is yet to get green signal of the Centre.

In order to provide better urban governance, faster project implementation and efficient municipal administration, a dedicated municipal cadre is needed.  Financial burden for grounding municipal cadre in the State is very high and the Central support in this regard is needed.

While the State Government is moving ahead and taking steps to improve services in the urban areas, it had requested the Union Government to provide Rs 86 crore additional funding annually and in total Rs 430 crore for an initial period of five years.

Sources said that the Centre is yet to provide financial assistance for implementing municipal cadre in the State, for which the peoples’ representatives are pressing hard with the Union Government, said sources.

The Members of Parliament from Odisha have raised the issue with the Central authorities and pressed for provision of assistance for implementing municipal cadre system in the State, said sources.