Bhubaneswar, Nov 9 (IANS) Odisha will create a green belt along the banks of major rivers such as the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarini and Rusikulya, the state cabinet decided on Friday.
The main objective of the scheme is to rejuvenate the rivers.
The green cover will lie within one km width from the river bank along both sides of rivers. The plantation work will be taken up along sides of rivers Baitarani, Brahmani, Rushikulya and their tributaries and distributaries for in 2019-20, said a statement.
The leftover area of Mahanadi, Tel and lb will also be taken up during 2019-20. The scheme is proposed to be implemented in 5 years (2018-19 to 2022-23).
The total outlay of the new scheme has been estimated at Rs 448 crore. Out of the projected requirement, Rs 415 crore is meant for plantation activities and Rs 33 crore for non-plantation activities, the statement said.
At the state level, the progress of implementation of the green mission will be monitored by a 12-member committee headed by the chief secretary. Similarly, regular monitoring will be taken up at district and block levels.
The cabinet also approved a proposal for replacement of existing conventional streetlights with energy efficient smart LED streetlights in urban local bodies of Odisha on Project Management Consultant (PMC) model.
The objective of the programme is to replace conventional streetlights in all urban local bodies for making the urban roads safer.
It has been identified that 2.38 lakh streetlight points to be replaced for meeting national benchmark norms of street lighting programme.
The cabinet also approved a proposal of works department for tender work for the construction of 100-seat government medical college at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district and a new building at Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack.
–IANS
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