CM Naveen Chairs Second Transformational Initiatives Meeting; Praises HUD Department For Bringing In Transformation

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday chaired the second Transformational Initiatives meeting and reviewed the various initiatives of the Housing And Urban Development Department.

The HUD Department Principal Secretary G Mathivathanan gave a detailed presentation on the Transformational Initiatives of the Department taken under the 5T Charter.

Community participation and use of locally available expertise has helped in the implementation of the transformational initiatives. Participation of Women Self Help Groups and poor people in the development initiatives has also helped in improving their livelihoods. The transformation initiatives have brought a massive change in the grassroots level of the society. The Chief Minister praised the initiatives and advised all departments to work in close coordination as a team and bring in successes.

According to the presentation, about 16 percent of the population in the state lives in urban areas and of that about forty percent had no drinking water. 4 lakh houses had no toilets. But after the transformation initiatives started in the state, today 84 percent of the houses have received piped drinking water. While only three lakh households received piped drinking water earlier, now more than ten lakh houses get drinking water in their houses. After the implementation of the Drink From Tap project in Puri, it has been started in 24 cities of the state. The bastis are being given a priority in this project. Supply of tap water has been taken up as a right of the citizens.

Likewise, there has been a significant improvement in solid and sewage waste management in the urban areas. Currently, there are 103 seepage Treatment Plants in 100 cities of the state which treat 1800 kiloliters of Faecal Sludge. Community participation and use of locally available technology have helped I bringing in transformation.

According to the Chief Minister, people are important that the land. Earlier, about 17 lakh people lived in the bastis with many difficulties, but under the Jaga Mission, one lakh 75 thousand families have got their own houses in the last four years. 585 bastis have also been transformed into Adarsha Bastis. While 1540 Bastis have received 100 percent clean drinking water, 1075 Bastis have also been provided with electricity. 589 Bastis have been provided with 100 percent toilet facilities. This could only be possible due to the welfare oriented thinking of the Chief Minister. This has ensured self esteem and citizen rights for the basti people.

Under the MUKTA Yojana, livelihoods have been provided to more than five lakh people who worked outside the state. Under this, 22500 projects have been undertaken and an amount of Rs 2000 Crore has been spent. About 15 thousand SHGs have been engaged to look after these works. This is the best example of Community participation.

Giving the opening speech at the meeting, Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian said that when a critical mass of the urban areas receives the basic amenities, then only the true aim of transformation can be achieved. He said that the urban development should be scientific and there is aneed for giving importance to inclusive and all-round development. Instead of engaging big companies in the development of the urban areas, community participation has been given priority. This is the characteristic of Odisha’s transformation.

Ministers Padmanabha Behera, Sudam Mandri, Ashok Panda, Tusharkanti Behera, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra and other senior officials of the Government of Odisha were present during the meeting.