SFC recommends funds for common facilities in ULBs

To provide various common facilities to the citizens in the urban areas of the state, the Third State Finance Commission (SFC) has recommended devolution of Rs 11.08 crore for 100 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the state.

This amount is proposed to be spent over a five year period from 2010-11 to 2014-15 for construction of 3 Kiosks in each Munucipality and 2 Kiosks in each of the notified area councils (NACs) in the state.

While Rs 5.7 crore has been recommended for construction of Kiosks, an additional Rs 1.17 crore will be spent for purchase of hardware and peripherals.

Besides,Rs 4.2 crore is proposed to be spent for making payments at the rate of Rs 3000 per month to Kiosk operators who will be engaged to operate these Kiosks, sources said.

Under the scheme, every municipality in the state will be provided with Rs 3 lakh and each NAC Rs 2 lakh for construction of each Kiosk.They will be provided Rs 50,000 for purchase of computer hardware and peripherals to make the Kiosks operational, sources added.

Taking note of the difficulty in the supply of drinking water in urban areas, the Commission has recommended Rs 300 crore devolution for this purpose.While it provided for Rs 113.06 crore for development of integrated sewerage system, Rs 177.95 crore is proposed to be devolved to the ULBs.

As a measure to boost the construction of housing for urban poor, the SFC has recommended Rs 150 crore for the purpose.The state housing and urban development department had requested the Commission to provide Rs 950 crore for ensuring security of tenure, improved housing, sanitation, education, health and social security to about 18 lakh slum dwellers. However, the Commission suggested a devolution of Rs 150 crore which will be spent towards payment of beneficiary contribution.

Taking note of the absence of the auditorium facilities in the Municipalities and NACs, the Commission has recommended Rs 50 crore to 100 ULBs for construction of auditorium cum culture centres.

Each ULB will be provided Rs 50 lakh in the award period. Similarly,it has suggested a devolution of Rs 50 crore for construction of Kalyan Mandaps in towns and Rs 53 crore for the development of bus stands and parking facilities.

“We have tried to give priority on some of the basic needs of the urban people like drinking water, housing for poor, public toilet with water facility,construction of auditorium and integrated sewerage system.The development of tribal museums will also help in preservation of tribal culture”, Sudhakar Panda, chairman, Third State Finance Commission told Business Standard.

He said, with the growth of the population in the urban areas, the Commission has envisaged the construction of children’s parks and suggested a devolution of Rs 5.15 crore for the purpose. An additional Rs 1.3 crore is proposed to be spent for payment to the gardener who will be appointed for maintaining these parks for a period of 5 years.

That apart, the Commission has recommended a devolution of Rs 90 crore for maintenance and improvement in street lighting, Panda added.