BHUBANESWAR: The state government today launched a new initiative, UNNATI, to bring all round inclusive development of urban areas by synergizing the resources from various schemes, agencies and providing critical gap funding.
Launching the initiative at a function here, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said the state government has decided to provide 100 percent piped water supply in all wards and LED street lighting to all streets in all urban areas of the state.
The new scheme has assumed significance in view of the polls to urban local bodies (ULBs) in September next year. The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has also launched 'Ama Sahara, Ama Unnati' from August 1 to coincide with the government scheme.
Stating that the ULBs work at the cutting edge level in close contact with the citizens, the chief minister said 'citizens connect' is an important aspect of good governance. Social media such as Facebook and Twitter play an important role in providing this citizen connect, he said and asked all ULBs to actively use social media to meet the aspirations and needs of the citizens.
Meanwhile, the Housing and Urban Development department today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Energy Efficiency Service Limited (EESL) in the presence of the chief minister for implementation of Street Light National Programme in 107 ULBs of the state.
According to the provisions of the MoU, 1.12 lakh conventional lights in all the 107 urban local bodies would be replaced by energy-efficient LED lights within a year. The combined impact of the government's initiatives could help the state achieve energy saving to the tune of 35.97 million units annually and a total cost saving of about Rs 26.97 crore per annum.
The Housing and Urban Development department and EESL will invest nearly Rs 75 crore in the next one year for LED street lights in the state, according to the agreement. Maintenance and monitoring for a period of seven years will be taken care of by EESL.
Minister for housing and urban development Niranjan Pujari, secretary in the department G Mathivathanan and senior officials were present.