10 corporations to have land banks for water, sewage projects

The Urban Development department (UDD) will create a separate land bank for the construction and expansion of various sewerage and water-related projects in the 10 municipal corporations of the State.

Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake said directions had already been given to create the land bank, to commissioners of all the corporations, and to immediately embark on the acquisition process.

“The land bank will be created, based on the recommendation of the water board in each of the corporations. The financial support will be given by the water boards, as for many corporations, it is impossible to fund such acquisitions,” said Sorake after hosting a review meeting of corporation commissioners and mayors.

The minister said that the land banks will be created keeping in mind the population projections in these cities for 2040.

On whether the government can assure that the land will not be misused for any other purpose, Sorake said that it was earmarking land as per the requirements for the expansion of a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) or the construction of a drinking water unit.

Sorake said that the UDD has received several requests to construct public urinals in the 10 corporations and is looking into them for providing assistance.

He said that the department is also looking at giving more impetus to creating awareness against urinating in public.

Sorake said the department is also looking at developing the corporations on the lines of heritage cities, by restoring the historical buildings and monuments in their limits.

The minister said that the department will soon host a convention under the chairmanship of the chief minister to generate awareness among mayors of these corporations to maximise the utilisation of funds at their disposal.

The UDD has sought assistance from the Centre under the Urban Infrastructure Scheme for Small and Medium Towns, up to Rs 7,281 crore.

The monetary assistance has been sought for close to 234 projects which the department intends to implement, Sorake said.

Under JnNURM, the State has sent 113 projects for approval from the Centre, which amount to Rs 6,841.5 crore. Of these, 75 projects worth Rs 3,404 crore have been approved, he said.