 "BJP releases civic poll manifesto in Madhya Pradesh")
These projects, which have already been planned will soon be implemented through PPP (public private partnership) mode, the party manifesto said. With focus on cleanliness, the 'Sankalp Patra' largely contains coming infrastructure projects like Smart city, solid waste management, drinking water projects, construction of roads, parks and city forests, housing for urban poor and light metro rail projects.
"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a pledge to make our country cleaner under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. In view of the drive, the BJP has promised to build 3.5 lakh public toilets in the next five years under Mukhyamantri Swachhata Mission," Chouhan said.
Besides, he said, the BJP would adopt scientific procedure for solid waste management, including door-to-door waste and garbage collection and its disposal. "We will not only ensure that no untreated sewerage should be discharged into water bodies, but will also ensure minimum 135 liters of water per person in urban areas," he said. For this purpose there are 222 drinking water projects coming up and the government, Chouhan said would link tributaries in various regions.
The ruling BJP government has made fund arrangement of Rs 1,121 crore to various urban bodies for completion of various projects. The Sankalp Patra has also committed construction of five lakh affordable houses by 2018 for the urban poor people. These houses would be made available within price range of Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. The house construction would also be taken through PPP mode.
At present, the Sankalp Patra mentioned, 15,000 houses are under construction while construction on another 45,000 houses have been started. The BJP has also promised to simplify procedures to include the names of the urban poor in the BPL (Below Poverty Line) list and construction of more 'rain baseras' for them. Rain baseras offer overnight stay and food at throw away price at Rs 10 per night.
On other PPP mode projects the BJP manifesto promises to speed up light metro projects in Indore and Bhopal, parking master plan in five cities, transit-oriented development master plan, to augment existing city bus fleet by another 1500 buses, fire-brigade for high rise buildings, simplification of enlisting urban poor in below poverty line (BPL) people list, etc.
A scheme, National Urban Livelihood Mission, is also being implemented in 55 cities of the state, the party promised in the manifesto.
Pointing out that growing population now requires more space for which his government would permit more high-rise buildings, the Chief Minister said that basic amenities would also be made available even in those colonies which have been developed inunauthorised manner.
Besides themanifesto narrates promises to simplification of taxes levied by civic bodies byintegrating wealth tax and other related tax. On e-governance front the party manifestopromises to float 'e-nagarpalika' concept for online building permissions, onlytax deposit etc. All the civic bodies in Madhya Pradesh had a financial exposure of Rs 37,450 crore during 2004-05 to 2013-14. The urban population has gone up from 1.61 crore to 2.01 crore in Madhya Pradesh.
Elections for 280 civic bodies will take place on 28 November and 2 December this year.