The Hindu Business Line : AP working on integrated urban development strategy

Announcing this here at a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Koneru Ranga Rao, Minister for Municipal Administration, Urban Development and Sericulture, said each town would have a development strategy and action covering prioritising developmental issues, investment, public-private partnership and revenue enhancement strategy.

The development plan was backed by both the World Bank and the UK. The World Bank-funded AP Urban Reforms and Municipal Services Project (APURMSP) aims to improve the living conditions of the poor through sustainable development.

The Bank would contribute Rs 1,290 crore to implement the project in all the municipalities and municipal corporations.

The assistance, however, came with certain riders.

The civic bodies should conform to the prescribed administrative and financial norms.

For one, property tax collection efficiency should be more than 75 per cent in the last financial year.

As part of this project, 1,057 infrastructure works worth Rs 287 crore had been identified in 87 municipalities.

The DFID (Department for International Development, UK) had agreed to give a grant of Rs 745 crore for the Rs 1,407 crore AP Urban Services for the Poor (APUSP). The State Government would share the rest of the burden.

Under the UPADHI (Urban Programme for Advancement of Household Income) scheme, the Government planned to equip 12,000 unemployed youth every year with necessary skills and give them gainful employment.

The scheme would run for three years.

The Union Government had approved the Rs 339.08-crore project for conserving the Musi river.

Four STPs (Sewage Treatment Plants) would be taken up in this regard.

In connection with the Hussainsagar restoration works, Mr Ranga Rao said a memorandum of understanding would be signed with Japanese International Cooperation Agency to secure assistance of Rs 247 crore.

The Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) would develop 22 new townships along the proposed Outer Ring Road around the twin cities.

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