BANGALORE: On the lines of the Suvarna Gramodaya scheme, the Government has decided to launch Suvarna Karnataka Towns Development Project for providing basic amenities for the people residing in towns.

Minister for Municipal Administration R. Srinivas told presspersons here on Tuesday that the Suvarna Karnataka Towns Development Project comprising 13 components would be launched in the next financial year (2007-08) in the most backward towns of districts. An action plan for each town would be prepared, he said and added that the initial project investment would be Rs. 250 crore.

The project would be implemented in city municipal council, town municipal council and town panchayat limits. In the initial years, one town in each district would be identified for launching development works. Each select town would receive Rs. 4 crore to Rs. 5 crore, he said.

The project would cover activities related to industrial development, drinking water, road, drainage, market, housing, slum development, beautification of towns, disposal of waste, construction of toilets, computerisation and private-public partnership. As towns and cites were major drivers of economic growth, 100 acres of land would be identified in each town for setting up industrial units, Mr. Srinivas said.

Drinking water

The Municipal Administration Department has decided to privatise maintenance and distribution of drinking water supplies in all major towns and cities that come under the project. The department has decided to hand over maintenance and distribution network to private firms and non-governmental organisations. High maintenance cost to the Government was the major reason for privatisation, he said.

About drinking water crisis in towns and cities, the Minister said he would hold division-wise review meetings from Friday to tackle the problem. More borewells would be drilled in towns that were facing severe water crisis, he said.

The project would be implemented with the participation of Housing and Industries departments.

While the Housing Department would provide funds for construction of houses for the houseless, the Industries Department would take initiatives to woo industrialists to invest in backward towns by offering incentives, he said.

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