Plan to rejuvenate water bodies in cities under MUKTA programme

Water bodies in the cities are an important form of surface water that play a vital role in the ecosystem. However, maintenance of these water bodies through the existing artificial treatments are not permanent solutions to restore the water bodies and to control pollutant infusion into it.

Therefore, the State government has taken initiatives to rejuvenate water bodies in the State in more natural way by adopting sustainable and long-lasting solutions. This intervention will help to check pollution at the source level, conserve storm water, increase ground water recharge, improve catchment area and will address water scarcity and flood issue in the long run.

In the pilot stage, it is proposed to revive the drain and lake no-10 located at ward number 36 near Nicoo Park, Bhubaneswar at a cost of around Rs 1.85 crore. The entire project will be executed by 16 Mission Shakti SHGs of ward no – 28, 35 and 36 under MUKTA programme.

With an aim to enhance the role of community in urban governance, State government has created credible platforms under various urban initiatives through which communities can participate and support the achievement of better developmental outcomes.

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Community participation and self-supporting system will be focused under this initiative for sustainable management of each water body.

An orientation programme was organised recently for the selected MS-SHGs, Corporators, Nodal Engineers of BMC, Community Organisers (COs), Zonal Community Organisers (ZCO), Ward Officer and City Mission Managers (CMMs) of concerned area.

Mayor Sulochana Das said that the role and importance of MSGs has been increased and the present initiative on renovation is another opportunity for our women to strengthen their base of partnership with the state government.

Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development G Mathi Vathanan said that Odisha is globally appreciated for coming up with model interventions like FSTP, MUKTA, JAGA Mission. He categorically emphasised upon the fact that that we need to convert this renovation of lake initiative by MSGs into a global model as this initiative is the first of its kind in the State. It would be only possible by the MSHs, not by any other agency. He hoped that now this Rejuvenatio of Drain & Lake no 10 – first of its kind in the State would be another Global model and the programme will be scaled up in other cities of the State soon.

BMC Commissioner Vijay Amrut Kulange said all technical support shall be provided to MSGs at the field level and through this rejuvenation initiative, effort shall made to transform BMC into a role model for other ULBs.