PROJECT REPORTS OF 7 TOWNS APPROVED-KALIA

Chandigarh March, 8, 2008

Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Local Government Minister, Punjab announced here today that Detailed Project Reports for 7 towns at the total cost of Rs. 272 Cr. towards Water Supply / Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Plants in Ferozpur, Majitha, Malout, Pathankot, Patiala, Zirakpur and Bathinda have been approved under Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT).

He informed that the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) at the estimated cost of Rs. 621 Cr. for Water Supply / Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Plants were in the advanced stage of being finalized and thereafter should be posted to Government of India for funding for Bathinda, Faridkot, Muktsar, Jalandhar, Rajpura, Adampur, Dera Baba Nanak, Fatehgarh Churian, Kapurthala, Nakodar, Sunam and Nurmahal.

Mr. Kalia further informed that Water Supply Project for improvement and augmentation of water supply in Amritsar has been approved for Rs. 19 Cr. The work was in process. The Elevated Road Project for direct access to Harmandir Sahib for Rs. 150 Cr. has also been approved Rs.71 Cr. has been spent as on 29th February 2008. The work was expected to be completed by December 2008. Further, a project for Rs. 360 Cr. for providing 100% sewerage in the entire Amritsar city has also been approved.

Mr. Manoranjan Kalia stated that the State Government has taken keen interest and initiative for rehabilitation of slum dwellers. A Housing Project for construction of 32 dwelling units for economically weaker section was posed to Government of India which has since been approved for 3 slum clusters at the total cost of Rs. 5.79 Cr.

Further, Housing project for construction of 4823 dwelling units for slum dwellers have been approved for 4 slum clusters in Ludhiana at the total cost of Rs. 66.64 Cr.

Under Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP), Housing project for rehabilitation of 22 slum for constructing 1755 dwelling units has been approved for Rs. 42.40 Cr.

On the Insistence of the State Government, SAS Nagar (Mohali) Urban Agglomerations consisting of Kharar, Kurali, Naya Gaon, Zirakpur, Dera Bassi and Banur have been included under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The Consultant has already been engaged by the Department of Local Government for preparation of City Development Plan for SAS Nagar.

SAS Nagar (Mohali) has formulated project proposals for worth Rs. 360 Cr. for Urban Infrastructure Development which includes setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants, Kajauli Augmentation, Solid Waste Treatment Plant, Multi-storied parking and widening of roads etc.

Mr. Kalia informed that the Department has also formulated a Concept Note for availing World Bank Assistance for Urban Renewal of Small and Medium Towns for Rs. 927 Cr. a special mention was made by the Minister towards the personal initiative and efforts put in by S. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab for getting the projects approved from Government of India.