Punjab Newsline, Shimla, March 8-
PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh called on Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar 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 " one state one portal : citizensewa " under National Urban Digital Mission. He demanded Rs 70 crore for successful implementation of the scheme for 5 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 construction of parkings and Urban infrastructure development for Himachal Pradesh. Union Minister assured of all possible assistance to the State.