PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh called on Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal at New Delhi last evening. PWD Minister urged the Union Minister to reconsider and relax the criteria fixed in the Urban Challenge Fund for redevelopment of cities
. He requested for fixing criteria on 90:10 basis for the State keeping in view its hilly terrain. He said that due to tough geographical conditions and small population, the cities of the state are not matching the criteria fixed in the Urban Challenge Fund.
He informed the Union Minister that State has launched the “Citizen Service Portal” under the National Urban Digital Mission. He demanded Rs. 70 crore for the successful implementation of the scheme for five years.
He added that the funds allocated by the state government for its implementation from it’s own resources will be exhausted by March 2025 hence funds are required from GoI to effectively implement and sustain this initiative.
He also demanded Rs. 3.28 crore for clearing liabilities under National Urban Livelihood Mission. The Minister also requested for sanctioning special funds for the construction of parking’s and development of urban infrastructure for Himachal Pradesh. The Union Minister assured of all possible assistance to the State.
