Amenities in Patiala to improve under state annual action plan

Manish Sirhindi 

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Tribune News Service 

Patiala, December 14

The royal city of Patiala is all set to benefit from the state annual action plan (SAAP) approved by the government, under which Rs 3,339 crore are to be spent on 16 cities and urban agglomerations of Punjab over the next five years. 

Being drafted under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), the plan would see funds being spent on improving water supply, sewerage, seepage, storm water drainage, urban transport, green space and parks, reforms management and capacity building that are likely to improve the overall quality of life in urban areas.

A high-level committee under a chief secretary approved the plan, which has been forwarded to the Centre for placing it before the Apex Committee for its nod and release of funds.

The government has already appointed the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC) as the nodal agency for the project and engaged WAPCOS Ltd, a Government of India enterprise, as consultant for preparing the Service Level Improvement Plans (SLIPS) for the 16 cities. 

Mayor Amrinder Bazaz said the primary purpose was to extend basic amenities to all households. He said once approved by the apex committee, enough funds would be released for the city. He said all relevant and appropriate technical and financial norms prescribed in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) would apply to the AMRUT. 

Under SAAP, new projects would be planned to provide amenities while incomplete or already-started projects would not be included, he said. 

The Mayor said under the said plan, cities would be divided into zones and work in these zones would be taken up in phases. 

The plan also proposed that up to 2.5 per cent of the annual allocation might be used to develop parks. Under the plan, recycling and reuse of water would also be promoted, he said.