LUCKNOW: The Cabinet approved water and sanitation schemes worth over Rs 1,000 crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation AMRUT Scheme 2.0.
Under this, Rs 246.17 crore has been cleared for a drinking water scheme in Sarojininagar ward number one and two and Ibrahimpur ward in Lucknow. Under this scheme, 24,363 drinking water connections will be given to about 1.17 lakh people. Currently, people are dependent on handpumps or other personal means in these areas.
Besides, Rs 547 crore has been approved for the Ghaziabad Sewerage Scheme for Karhaira Zone. This will benefit 10 wards, including Gagan Vihar, Bhopra, Rajiv Colony, Kruti, Arthala Sanjay Colony, Karhaira, Pasauda, Garima Garden and Mausam Vihar.
The third scheme for which funds have been approved is the Agra Municipal Corporation Drinking Water Restructuring Plan for the Bundukatra Zone. A sum of Rs 264.32 crore has been cleared. Through this, water availability will increase from 91.69 litres per capita per day to the prescribed standard. This will involve use of 80 million litres per day of Ganga Water.
The Cabinet also approved a scheme for setting up of new townships and expansion of urban areas. This scheme will be in place for five years from 2022-23 or till fresh directions are issued which ever is earlier. Housing and Development Council, Development Authority and Special Area Authority will be part of this.
Urban development minister AK Sharma said that the government would be promoting development of planned townships. The minimum area of a township will be 25 acre, but under special circumstances, this can be reduced to 12.5 acre.
Under the scheme, 50% the cost for acquiring land for setting up a township or expanding one, will be contributed by the state government as seed capital for a maximum period of 20 years.
