*If USAID and JBIC are doing this in Bhubhaneswar then why not in Bangalore
Will it be a French water profiteer -Suez- which is being pushed in
Blore Though 2010 is a long way off. and the 74th CA and its implementation
will be nicely buried by then*
*Vinay*
**
*Drinking water: Govt to hand over responsibility to BMC
*Friday November 10 2006 11:20 IST
BHUBANESWAR: Drinking water supply in the city will be lot better and
cheaper if the Government has its way. In a far-reaching initiative, it is
set to hand over the responsibility of supplying potable water to
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation by 2010.
The move is in tune with the 74th amendment of the Constitution and
fulfilling the objectives of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal
Mission. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
under Indo-USAID Fire Project will be assisting on the technical front while
the Japan Bank for International Cooperation will provide funds for the
execution of the reforms.
The move will seek overhaul of the existing infrastructure, check water
pilferage as well as its mis-utilisation among others, said secretary of the
Urban Development Department N C Vasudevan.
Talking on the sidelines of a workshop on 'water sector reforms in Orissa'
here on Thursday, he said other benefits will be a fall in water tariff with
more houses being included under the water supply network.
Equipping BMC with the necessary wherewithal will be the primary concern of
the agencies involved in this. But Urban Development Minister K V Singhdeo
expressed confidence that it will be in a position to handle the water
management of the city by 2010.
In the coming years the water sector reforms will be initiated in other
towns also. Notably Orissa will be the first State to initiate this measure,
he said. USAID assistance to the State Government also extends to other
sectors primarily aimed at improving management and delivery of urban
services and enhancing financial management and sustainability of Orissa's
urban local bodies.
A dedicated cell will be set up in Urban Development Department to overlook
the reform measures, informed Special Secretary of the Department Arun
Panda. A blueprint was worked out at the workshop and will be presented to
the Government.
Resource persons including director, Economic Growth Office, USAID, New
Delhi Rebecca Black, programme manager of Indo-USAID Fire Project N
Bhattacharje, infrastructure advisor of USAID, Washington, Allen Eisendrath
attended.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20061110005928&Page=Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0