Govt plans to develop townships for MIG, HIG people

Vijayawada: The state govt has decided to develop separate townships with the best of infrastructure to provide relief to middle income group (MIG) and high income group (HIG) people in the urban areas. The govt has asked urban development authorities to identify suitable land to ready the layouts for MIG and HIG people across the state. Joint collectors have been asked to study the housing construction models in other states before readying the blueprint for the housing projects. Kurnool, Ananthapuram-Hindupuram, and Kadapa urban development authorities will take up the housing projects in the first phase.Municipal administration and urban development minister P Narayana reviewed chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu's proposal for development of townships with chairpersons of UDAs, municipal commissioners, and joint collectors on Thursday. He asked the joint collectors of Kurnool, Kadapa, Ananthapuram, and Sri Satyasai districts to identify the land for taking up the township projects. "The chief minister wants urban development authorities to ready the layouts and create the infrastructure first before going for the housing projects. Local urban civic bodies should play a proactive role in development of infrastructure including roads, electricity, water supply, and drainage in the proposed colonies. The chief minister is of the view that development of townships for MIG and HIG people in the vicinity of towns will help spur growth while providing best possible solution to housing issue. Urban development authorities (UDAs) can also become self-sustainable with the income generated from such projects," said Narayana.He asked joint collectors and chiefs of urban development authorities to study the best practices in other states in implementation of such projects. He asked the municipal commissioners to focus on drinking water supply and garbage and drainage management systems, besides monitoring complaints on street lighting and dog menace. "Maintenance of parks should also be taken as a priority subject as providing reasonably good recreation infrastructure in the urban areas is the responsibility of civic bodies. As the state govt is unable to spend huge on creation of infrastructure, urban development authorities and civic bodies should adopt innovative methods to become self-sustainable and take up the projects," the minister suggested. He said the govt has appointed joint collectors of respective districts as vice-chairman and MD of the urban development authorities to strengthen its activities. "The town planning director would be the nodal officer for all UDAs to take up the new projects," he said. Secretary (municipal administration) K Kannababu, town planning director Vidyullatha, public health engineer-in-chief Marianna, director of municipal administration Harinarayan were also present.
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