Polythene to be banned from January 1 next: CM
Bhopal: Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed to impose ban on polythene in entire state from January 1 next. Ban on polythene must be strictly enforced at tourist destinations and holy cities Ujjain, Amarkantak, Khajuraho, Pachmarhi, Maheshwar, Omkareshwar and Orchha from September. The Chief Minister reviewed activities of Urban Development and Environment and Housing Department here today. Departmental Minister Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya and Chief Secretary Shri Anthony de Sa were also present.
Reviewing urban development programmes and schemes, the Chief Minister said that state government’s top priority is to make available clean drinking water in every city of the state in next 3 years. A scheme should be chalked out to implement it in phases. Slum development works should be started to achieve target of making houses available to 5 lakh urban poor by year 2018. He directed to chalk out a scheme for developing a new green field city between Bhopal and Indore.
Urban development authorities to play significant role
The Chief Minister said that urban development authorities constituted in various cities should be activated to play significant role in development. They should be apprised of best practices of urban development in the state and country. Dharmshalas should be constructed at four major cities Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior for pilgrims under Mukhyamantri Tirth-Darshan Yojana. Besides, arrangements should also be made to stay and guidance of state’s pilgrims at pilgrimage centres in other states. Phased programme should be chalked out to complete urban infrastructure development works. Staff of urban bodies should be activated to ensure delivery of benefit of government welfare schemes to weaker sections. Short and long term corrective plans should be chalked out to ensure smooth running of BRTS at Bhopal and Indore. Process to identity land for houses of the urban poor should be decentralized. Allotment of about 1.25 lakh houses constructed in government and private sectors for weaker sections should be complete with top priority in 3 months. It should be considered to increase size of houses being constructed for the urban poor. If necessary, amendments in income limit can be made.
Priority to solid waste management in cities
The Chief Minister said that fire brigade in cities should be modernized and vacancies should be filled. Urban solid waste management should be taken up on priority and run in mission mode by linking it with Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan. Nullahs should be cleaned in all urban bodies before monsoon. Quality should be ensured in all infrastructure development works. Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Company should be made more efficient and funds for urban development should be made available through it. Regarding realization of property tax and other consumer taxes, he said that public awareness campaign should be launched and habit should be inculcated in people to pay taxes. Urban bodies doing outstanding work for recoveries should be rewarded. Benefit of various government schemes should be provided to domestic women helps. Rules should be simplified to promote real estate sector. Reviewing Mukhyamantri Shahari Pey-jal Yojana, Mukhyamantri Shahari Adhosanrachna and Mukhyamantri Shahari Swachchhata Mission, the Chief Minister said that these processes under the scheme should be made simpler. All cycle rickshaw pullers and handcart pullers in the state should be provided their own rickshaws and handcarts during next one year. Poor domestic working women, hair dressers and street vendors should be benefited under urban welfare schemes.
375 urban bodies get fire brigade
The meeting was informed that Unified Metropolitan Transport Council has been constituted for urban transport system. Fire brigades have been provided to 375 urban bodies in the state. Community-based solid waste management arrangements have been made at Sagar and Katni. A sum of Rs. 1358 crore has been sanctioned to 103 urban bodies under Mukhyamantri Shahari Pey-jal Yojana and Rs. 1428 crore to 265 urban bodies under Mukhyamantri Shahari Adhosanrachna Programme. During last 6 years, loans have been distributed to 47 thousand 570 cycle rickshaw pullers and handcart pullers. Loans were distributed to 28 thousand 700 beneficiaries during last 3 years under Urban Street Vendors Welfare Scheme. Similarly, loans were distributed to 6 thousand 505 beneficiaries under Kesh-shilpi Kalyan Yojana. During last 6 years, 51 thousand 142 domestic working women were trained in the state.
ACS Finance Shri Ajay Nath, Principal Secretary to CM Shri Iqbal Singh Bains, Principal Secretary Urban Development and Environment Shri Malay Shrivastava and Commissioner Urban Development and Environment Shri Vivek Agrawal were also present at the meeting.
