JnNURM Best City Awards:Vadodara gets 3 and Surat 1

Vadodara city today got 3 National awards and Surat 1 under the Government of India’s JnNURM schemes. Awards were received by Vadodara Municipal Commissioner Shri M.K. Das and Surat Mayor Shri Ranjeetbhai Gilitwala and Surat Municipal Commissioner Ms. S.Aparna from Union Urban Development Minister Shri Jaipal Reddy at a function of National Conference on Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. These awards were received in the presence of Gujarat Urban Development Minister Shri Nitinbhai Patel and Addl. Chief Secretary Shri B.K. Sinha here.

Vadodara city has been awarded for outstanding improvement in water supply & waste water sector, implementation of the project by commissioning 43 mld. sewerage treatment plant based on power generation and best city in implementation of the three pro-poor reforms together while Surat awarded for best Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) city

After receiving the awards, Vadodara Municipal Commissioner Shri M.K. Das appraised that Vadodara has reached to supply the drinking water to 95% population of the city which was 80% in 2005-06. In the next year, 100% population of city will be covered including the area recently merged in the city. He also added that VMC enhanced the 100% sewerage treatment capacity by installing 3 new sewerage treatment plants. Some of treated sewerage water will be used for gardening. VMC has been providing sewerage facility to the 85% population of city which was 65% four years back.

Under the category of best city for implementation of the project, VMC commissioned 43 mld sewerage treatment plants on Upflow Anerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) process which had generated 15.60 lakhs kwh power units last year against its design capacity of 15.24 lakhs kwh which saved Rs.91 lakhs per annum.

The third award was given to Vadodara on best city in implementation of the three pro-poor reforms together. Mission city Vadodara has set the vision of slum free city. City has taken number of steps for upliftment of urban poor, with provision of 10000 job placement under UMEED scheme including construction of 18428 houses and various other steps in education and health improvement programme for urban poor.

After receiving the award, Surat Municipal Commissioner Ms. S.Aparna stated that Surat city has been awarded for best Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) city for the year 2009-10 along with 1.5 lakhs cash award. Surat has completed 25584 dwelling units out of sanctioned 46312 units. The rest of units are in progress. More than 13000 dwelling units are already allotted to slum dwellers and more than 12000 dwelling units have been occupied by slum dwellers. Till today, SMC has completely rehabilitated 27 slum pockets which were located at Tapti river bed, along the creek, BRTS/Canal corridor etc. Also, more than 35 such slum pockets were partially rehabilitated.

AMC has been selected for the award under the category of Best New Innovation Project under JnNURM for Excellence in Urban Transport for the year 2009-10.

Shri F.J.Charpot, Exe. Eng., Shri P.M. Patel, Exe. Eng. of Vadodara Municipal Corporation and Dy. Commissioner Shri C.Y. Bhatt and Exe. Eng. Shri D.M. Patel from Surat attended the function.