Immediately expand financial approval powers to municipal bodies, directs CM Yogi

Lucknow, 22 August: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered to start the implementation of the plan to develop the municipalities of the district headquarters as smart and developed municipalities.

In the review meeting of the Urban Development Department on Friday, the Chief Minister said that the objective of the Smart-Developed Municipality Scheme is to develop the municipalities of the district headquarters in a modern, self-reliant and citizen-centric form. He directed that work on this should be started as soon as possible.

अधिकारियों ने अवगत कराया कि योजना के अंतर्गत नगर पालिकाओं में गौरव पथ, पिंक टॉयलेट, शहरी सुविधा केंद्र, स्मार्ट क्लासरूम व आंगनबाड़ी, थीम आधारित पार्क, ऐतिहासिक धरोहर संरक्षण, जलाशयों का पुनर्जीवन, ईवी चार्जिंग स्टेशन, ग्रीन क्रेमेटोरियम और डिजिटल सेवाओं जैसी आधुनिक सुविधाएँ विकसित की जाएँगी। साथ ही स्थानीय अर्थव्यवस्था को सशक्त करने के लिए उत्सव भवन, सामुदायिक केंद्र और ‘वन डिस्ट्रिक्ट वन प्रोडक्ट’ आधारित ढाँचे भी स्थापित किए जाएंगे।

Chief Minister said that this scheme can be implemented on a hub-and-spoke model. For example, the municipalities of the adjacent district headquarters can be connected to the Integrated Command and Control Centres located in Lucknow and Gorakhpur. This will modernise the services like security, surveillance and grievance redressal in the municipalities and better use of resources will be possible.

He also said that the projects in each municipality should be selected on the basis of local requirements and financial resources should be allocated according to the physical and financial progress of the municipal bodies.

Officials said that there is a proposal to provide a grant of Rs 4 crore to Rs 10 crore to the municipal bodies, which will be based on their population and efficiency. The Chief Minister said that giving a developed-smart look to the municipalities of the district headquarters will not only strengthen the infrastructure, but the citizens will also get quality and transparent services.

बैठक में लखनऊ और कानपुर में 200 इलेक्ट्रिक बसों को नेट कॉस्ट कॉन्ट्रैक्ट मोड पर संचालित करने तथा अन्य नगरों में 650 बसों की प्रत्यक्ष खरीद का प्रस्ताव प्रस्तुत किया गया। इस पर मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा कि इलेक्ट्रिक बसों को प्रोत्साहित किया जाना चाहिए और इसके लिए आवश्यक चार्जिंग इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर भी शीघ्र तैयार किया जाए।

In another important directive, the Chief Minister stressed on the immediate resolution of discrepancies in various tax dues of residents in all municipal corporations. He said that a campaign should be launched in this regard to invite objections from the people and by organizing solution camps, the problems of the citizens should be resolved appropriately and satisfactorily. He also said that all municipal bodies should have their own buildings.

The need to increase the financial approval limits of the municipal bodies was also discussed in the meeting. Officials said that there has been no change in these limits for the last 20 years. On this, the Chief Minister said that in accordance with the spirit of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, municipal bodies should get more financial and administrative powers.

He directed that the financial approval limits of the Municipal Commissioner, Mayor, Executive Committee and Municipal Corporation Board should be expanded immediately.

In the meeting, the Chief Minister also directed to establish Shaheed Chandrashekhar Azad International Shooting Range and Multipurpose Sports Complex in Lucknow.

He said that these projects should be started on priority on PPP mode, so that the sports talents of the state get recognition on the international platform and employment opportunities are also created at the local level.