Bhubaneswar: The state government is contemplating to raise the income of women self-help groups (SHGs) in urban areas by involving them in various schemes under the Housing and Urban Development programmes.
Reviewing the performances of State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) here Wednesday, Housing and Urban Development Minister Pratap Jena said SUDA has formed 30,000 SHGs and more than 300 federations.
Jena said efforts are on to involve these SHGs in various programmes like Swachh Bharat Mission, collection of water bills, micro composting plants, septic plant, community toilet and Aahar to increase their income.
The minister said the government has also targeted to complete the replacement of existing power consuming bulbs by energy efficient LED bulbs in all the five Municipal Corporations of the state by October 31 next.
He said a private organisation NEESL was entrusted with the job. The organisation was asked to look after its maintenance for seven years. A sum of Rs 75.61 crore has been estimated for the project.
Under the scheme, out of 82,414 bulbs and 2,704 poles as many as 73,549 bulbs and 1,093 electric poles had already been replaced so far and target has been fixed to replace all the bulbs and electric poles by October 31 next.
In second phase, EESL was asked to replace the existing electric bulbs with LED bulbs in 109 urban local bodies (ULBs) at an estimated cost of Rs 238.08 crore. In addition, Rs 59.93 crore would be given to the company for maintenance for seven years.
The EESL has signed an agreement to complete the project by October 31.
The government has taken a decision to provide street lights in all the ULBs of the state on PPP mode at a cost of Rs 264 .52 crore.
A target has been fixed to complete the project by 2019, he said.