The Hindu Business Line : AP bid to modernise municipal management

THE Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Friday released 11 modules developed by the Andhra Pradesh Urban Services for the Poor (APUSP) for modernising municipal management.

At a workshop organised here to explain the `nuts and bolts' of the modules to top municipal officials where the project was being implemented, he said the Government proposed to set up land banks in all the districts in order to provide land at cheaper rates for the poor and cooperative associations. This was to encourage housing in satellite townships.

He also said that the fee payable for water connection for the urban poor was brought down from Rs 7,500 to Rs 1,200 and the Government had also offered them the option of paying the amount in 12 instalments of Rs 100 each.

The Chief Minister asked the officials to equip themselves with latest management techniques to offer better services. He also asked them to provide basic amenities for the urban poor.

APSUP Project, a joint initiative of Andhra Pradesh Government and DFID (Department for International Development) of the UK, is being implemented in 42 towns with a total outlay of Rs 745 crore from the UK agency. The seven-year project would close in September 2008.

The three basic components of the project are municipal reforms (Rs 120 crore), infrastructure development (Rs 525 crore) and strengthening of civil society organisations (Rs 100 crore).

So far, Rs 201.34 crore had been spent. "The expenditure will be higher in the second half of the project period as the first half was more focussed on capacity building and planning. By the end of March 2005, the expenditure would be Rs 310 crore," an APUSP official said.

The module on CMAPP (Comprehensive Municipal Action Plan for Poverty Reduction) provided practical guidelines to the project towns for preparation of comprehensive plan for reforms, infrastructure improvement and social development. About 30 municipalities had prepared CMAPP so far.

The Revenue Improvement Action Plan module (RIAP) offered a "simple and step by step approach that helps address the issue of long-term revenue improvement".

The CIIP (Critical Infrastructure Investment Plan) would guide municipalities in identification of critical infrastructure needs.

Mr K. Ranga Rao, Minister for Municipal Administration, released the APUSP Progress Report.

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