BANGALORE: The State Government has sought Rs. 15,000 crores for infrastructure development in Bangalore under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

Malathi Das, Additional Chief Secretary, who made a presentation at a one-day workshop on the mission here on Tuesday, requested the Centre to include Hubli-Dharwad and Gulbarga along with Bangalore and Mysore under the programme.

She said the 74th Amendment to the Constitution holds urban local bodies responsible for providing basic civic services. The expert-group on infrastructure appointed by the Centre has estimated that the investment required in infrastructure development in the country is Rs. 77,856 crores. A sum of Rs. 15,000 crores is needed for Bangalore.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launched the mission on December 3, 2005 to develop infrastructure and alleviate poverty in urban areas. In the first phase, the mission will be on in 63 cities with a population of 10 lakhs, State capitals, and 23 other cities of religious and tourist importance. With an estimated provision of Rs. 50,000 crores for seven years, the mission is the single largest initiative by the Union Government for development of urban areas.Addressing presspersons after the workshop, S.M. Acharya, Additional Secretary, Union Urban Development Ministry, said people's participation in urban projects needs to be improved.

The mission supports water supply, sewerage and sanitation, solid waste management, road network, transport, construction of bus and truck terminals, redevelopment of inner-city areas, development of heritage areas, preservation of water bodies, slum development, and provision of basic services to the urban poor.

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