Developing Nambul and Naga river high on Govt agenda for JNNURM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 15:
Following the launching of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission in December last year, which aims at developing 63 cities spread across the country, the State Government has begun the spade work for a proposal to be submitted to the Centre placing top priority on cleaning up Nambul and Naga river.
The launching of the Mission was announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in December last year.
Speaking to The Sangai Express an official source said that since Imphal is among the 63 cities identified under the Mission, the State Government is set to stress on protecting and improving the environment of Nambul and Naga river which run through the heart of Imphal city.
The Mission is to be taken up with Rs 5000 crores.
The priority has been placed on developing the two rivers keeping in mind the estimated population of Imphal by 2050.At the moment, the population strength of Imphal is 2.5 lakhs.
To study what other projects can be taken up under the Mission, a State level Steering Committee with the Chief Minister as the Chairman has been set up, said the source and added that the seven MLAs of Imphal Municipal areas, one MP and IMC Commissioners are members of the Committee.
The source said that the State Government is expecting to receive about Rs 300/400 crores under the Mission for which different projects will be prepared and submitted to the Centre.
The Mission is aimed at developing and improving water supply, roads, play grounds, parks, street lamps, drainage etc of the 63 cities.
To successfully implement the Mission in the North East States a meeting was held at Guwahati on January 9.Developing Kangla is also on the agenda of the Govt under the Mission.
The Public Health Engineering Department, Public Works Department, IFCD and Imphal Municipal Council are working to bring out a detailed project report on how to beautify and develop Imphal, said the source and added that once the detailed project report is finalised, then work on the Mission may be taken up.
The Steering Committee which has been set up with the Chief Minister as the Chairman to work out the details of the Mission, is likely to hand over the implementation task to the Imphal Municipal Council.
The fund to be given by the Centre for the Mission will be worked out according to the needs of each of the 63 cities.