H&UDD Makes Significant Stride in Transforming Lives of Urban Poor through Citizen Centric Initiatives 

Bhubaneswar: The Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) have made a significant stride in transforming the lives of Urban Poor through its revolutionary citizen centric urban initiatives.

In her Budget Speech in the Assembly, Housing & Urban Development Minister Usha Devi said, “Progressively moving ahead realizing the commitment of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Housing & Urban Development Department have made a significant stride in transforming the lives of Urban Poor through its revolutionary citizen centric urban initiatives”.

She said that the Chief Minister gave the vision of Citizen Centric Governance based on 5T frame work in 2019. The Department is operational under the mandate of 5T Governance Mantra. In this regard, different sectors like municipal services, building plan approval, common service centers, water supply and solid waste management have been identified as key intervention for implementation of 5T vision of the Chief Minister, she added.

The Housing & Urban Development Department is committed to develop the cities and towns in a planned manner to make it liveable, economically vibrant, sustainable with provision for adequate public infrastructure, amenities and services provided to the citizens through the Urban Local Bodies and parastatal agencies, the Minister told the Assembly.

The Department is committed to the transformation of the cities and towns of the State to make it more efficient in the service delivery mechanism, community participation & accountability of ULBs & parastatal agencies towards citizens, in convergent manner, Usha Devi said.

The Urban Odisha have bagged number of National and International awards and accolades and have received laurels across the globe. Providing urban infrastructure facilities and services to all the sections of societies in urban areas are the top priorities of the Government.

Presenting the key highlights of State Budget 2023-24 for the H&UDD, she said that there has been a quantum jump in the budgetary allocation of the Department.

The Budget outlay of Rs 7919,43,09,000 for the year 2023-24 is 28 times higher than the budget estimate of 2000-2001.

Speaking about some of the landmark achievements of the Department under different schemes, the Minister said that 1,75,000 families have been provided with Land Rights Certificates under JAGA Mission, the World’s largest Slum Land Titling & Upgradation Programme. 746 Slums have been transformed to Biju Adarsh Colony.3.89 lakh households in slum areas are having tap water connection. 3.96 lakh households in Slums are having electric connection. 3.26 lakh households which cover around 82% of slum population are having individual household toilet. 2,919 Slum Dwellers Associations (SDAs) are having bank accounts. Also, by December, 2023, 1 lakh Land Right Certificates are to be provided to the people living in slum areas in 5 major Corporations ,i.e, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Rourkela, she said.

107 out of 115 cities have House Hold connections. Rest cities will achieve 100% household connections by December, 2023 under the Urban Piped Water Supply and Drink from Tap Mission.

The house connections have been increased from 3 lakhs to 9.97 lakhs. Odisha has become first Drink from tap state in India. Also Bhubaneswar has become India’s 1st city to have 100% household connection. Puri & Gopalpur are already having 100% Drink from Tap facilities and by December, 2023 Twenty-one cities will be fully drink from tap which includes major corporations like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur. Puri became India’s first city to have 24 X 7 Drink From Tap Water Supply followed by Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur, she added.

WATCO (Water Corporation of Odisha) which is implementing 24 X 7 Drink from Tap Mission in 20 Cities of Odisha has recently received the distinction of Global Water Leader 2021 in the Global Water Summit held in Spain.

Under MUKTA, 52,000 Projects worth Rs 550 crores have been implemented and 180 crores Wages has been paid. Further 62 lakhs man days have been generated under MUKTA 18,500 Mission Shakti Groups/ Slum Dwellers Associations have been paid incentive of Rs 22.5 crore. 37,456 rain water harvesting structures have been developed in 111 ULBs under MUKTA.

Recently Odisha bagged WRI Ross Prize for CITIIS for recognition of MUKTA achievement in international level 2022.

In UNNATI Scheme 400 Kalyan Mandaps will be constructed by December, 2023 in all ULBs; 10 in each Municipal Corporation, 4 in each Municipality and 2 in each NAC. Also 1200 KM kachha roads in ULBs to be upgraded to paver roads in 115 ULBs under UNNATI Scheme

In Ama Pokhari, Budget provision of Rs. 120 Crores have been made for development of water bodies. Under this scheme 100 water bodies are to be rejuvenated and public space for entertainment are to be created in 2023-24.

In Urban Sanitation, Focus is being given on “Waste to Wealth”. 252 Micro Composting Centres (MCCs) and 214 Material Recovery Facility (MRF) are now operational across the State. 4,557 Metric Tonnes of “Mo Khata ” has been produced resulting in 6.86 crore revenue. 5,061 women from 2,650 Self Help Groups have been deployed in Solid Waste Management value chain.

Further, with a vision to Improve the sanitation scenario in Odisha by 100% toilet-waste treatment through de-centralised Faecal Sludge & Septage Management, 110 Septage Treatment Plants are operational in 110 ULBs which will be scaled up to 115 ULBs across State.

300 Mission Shakti Self Help Groups and Transgender groups are involved in Feacal Sludge and Septage Management value chain. Out of 110 operational Septage Treatment Plants, 88 Septage Treatment Plants are handed over to Self Help Groups and Transgender groups for operation and maintenance.

GARIMA Scheme ensures Protection & welfare of all Core Sanitation Worker and their families in the state with zero fatalities. Here there has been increase in wages by 49% for highly Skilled & 33% for Skilled Core Sanitation Worker, 30 Garima Gruha has been constructed and made operational. 14,420 Helpline numbers are operational in 98 cities Provision of health & life insurance, free education for children.

Smart LED Street Light scheme has been launched with a vision to illuminate and transform the cities and make it more safer for the commuters, more than 4.5 Lakh of Smart LED Street Lights have been installed across Urban Odisha.

In Urban Housing Scheme, Under affordable housing programme of the Government, 1,61,530 houses have been sanctioned under Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) out of which 1,38,573 houses have been grounded and 1,02,305 houses have been completed.

Mission Shakti- Self Help Groups are operating and maintaining 167 Aahaar Centres Further, they are executing 22,000 public works through MUKTA 850 Jalasathis are functioning at 105 ULBs, the Minister stated.