BHUBANESWAR: The urban local bodies (ULBs) in the state will now have to spend 25% of the amount under capital expenditure (infrastructure spending) on the development of basic services and infrastructure in slum areas.
The state housing and urban development department has issued a directive to the commissioners of municipal commissioners and executive officers of municipalities and notified area councils in this regard.
It has been done in accordance with the amendments made to the municipal laws through the promulgation of an ordinance in August last year: Later in October, the state assembly had passed a bill on this.
Sangramjit Nayak, the director of municipal administration, had asked the authorities of the 114 ULBs in the state to prepare their annual budgets keeping in mind the amendments.
The municipal authorities had also been asked to strictly monitor the spending on a regular basis by assigning quarterly targets.
Sources said the fund will be utilized for ensuring basic services in the slums like improvement in electricity supply strengthening potable water supply system, toilets, improvement of roads and setting up of community centres.
The move aims to improve the infrastructure and standard of living of the people in the slums.
It will help the slum dwellers get social justice and lead a life of dignity”a senior official of the state housing and urban development department said.
In September last year, chief minister Naveen Patnaik had announced that slums across the state would be converted to adarsh or model colonies complete with basic amenities within three years.
Officials said there are around 3,000 identified slums in various urban are as of the state with nearly 3.5 lakh slum households.
About 16 lakh people live in these slums.
Political analysts said the move could be a well-thought-out strategy to garner the support of the slum dwellers in view of the civic body polls in the state.