42 more urban local bodies included under Mukta scheme

Bhubaneswar: The housing and urban development will include 42 more urban local bodies (ULBs) in the flagship MUKTA (Mukhya Mantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan) scheme in the second phase.
On Monday, chief minister Naveen Patnaik sanctioned Rs 183.81 crore for the 42 ULBs spread across 10 districts -- Nuapada, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Kandhamal Ganjam, Gajapati, Kalahandi and Boudh.
In the first phase, the government had sanctioned Rs. 423.87 crore for 37 ULBs, spread across Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Khordha, Puri and Nayagarh.
A statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office on Monday stated that the ULBs of all the 30 districts will be covered under the scheme in three phases. While 20 districts have been covered in the first two phases, the last leg will cover the rest of the districts.
On Friday, 5T secretary V K Pandian held a discussion with the representatives of all the 42 ULBs of the 10 districts regarding the implementation of the projects under the scheme.
ULBs covered in the first two phases will now get a facelift with the setting up of an array of climate-resilient projects with a focus on improving civic amenities, sources said.
The ULBs will be now see mini parks, open air gyms, playgrounds, walking tracks, vending zones, toilet and drinking water facilities being set up in public areas.
Besides, open space development, creation of place-making sites and water body development will remain the other important focus projects.
Projects like multi-purpose community centres, wall painting and city beautification will also be taken up at the ULBs.
“MUKTA focuses on brining quality in urban life. Already a lot of projects are being implemented in cities like Bhubaneswar and Cuttack under the scheme. The expansion now will ensure people in all the urban areas have a quality living,” department secretary G Mathivathanan said.
“It is a commendable move by the government to shift its focus on urban transformation in other parts of the state. People across the state deserve to have a quality life, especially in the urban areas,” Priyaranjan Jena, an urban planner based in the city, said.