Chhattisgarh presses for Underground Sewerage Project

Raipur/New Delhi, July 4 (IANS) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh Friday met Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and urged him to approve the long-pending Underground Sewerage Project for Raipur city.

During the meeting in New Delhi, the chief minister said the proposal for Phase-I of the project at an estimated cost of Rs.485 crore has been sent to the Centre for sanction.

Naidu assured the chief minister that the project will be sanctioned on a priority basis after the budget. Singh also discussed 26 infrastructure projects in 14 towns and demanded sanction for them.

He informed Naidu that solid waste management work in 13 towns of the state is under progress and also demanded assistance of Rs.500 crore for implementation of the scheme in other towns.

Singh said Rs.1,000 crore is required by the state for starting drinking water projects through surface water in 141 local bodies. He also drew the union minister's attention towards providing urban facilities to 19 villages in insurgency-hit Bastar region.

The chief minister also demanded allotment of land for opening a tribal cultural centre in New Delhi. Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, Principal Secretary to CM, Aman Kumar Singh and Joint Secretary (Urban Development Ministry) C.K. Khetan were also present at the meeting.