The state government has allocated Rs 750 crore for taking up various developmental works in Tamil Nadu under the Integrated Urban Development Mission this year, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa informed.
Taking into account the 2011 census and increasing migration to the urban areas, Ms Jayalalithaa launched the Integrated Urban Development Mission, aimed at providing all basic amenities like drinking water, sewerage treatment, health, sanitation, rain water harvesting, roads, streets, solid waste management, parking lots, bus bays and parks in all corporations and municipalities.
She had also announced that these works would be undertaken at a total cost of Rs 6,654.03 crore, including Rs 5,890.12 crore for corporations and Rs 763.91 crore for municipalities As per the 2011 census, 48.45 per cent people were living in urban areas and this was expected to increase to 67 per cent by 2030.
There was imperative need for providing all basic amenities for the people owing to the migration of the people to urban areas for employment and the rapid pace of urbanisation, according to an official release here on Wednesday.
Of the Rs 750 crore, Rs 500 crore will be utilised for corporations and municipalities barring Chennai and remaining Rs 250 crore will be used for town panchayats. About 15 panchayats would get new buildings at a cost of `40 lakh each this year.