Bhubaneswar: Odisha Assembly Speaker Surya Narayan Patro, Wednesday, said that the issue of shortage of government quarters and facilities given to legislators will be soon sorted out as new legislators will be provided with new quarters in planned, multi-storey quarters.
The Speaker also said that portion of the existing MLA quarters will be demolished to achieve the target. He said, “We have decided that some portions of the MLA quarters near the Odisha Legislative Assembly will be demolished and a multi-story building will be constructed in the area. It is estimated that a total of Rs 400 crores will be needed for this. A total of 140 multi-facility quarters for the MLAs would be constructed for the same.”
The Speaker told the media that special arrangements will be made to ensure that the law-makers will be given special amenities in the areas close to their living space for additional benefits. He said. “This will ensure that all MLAs get adequate space for accommodation in the state capital with all required facilities. Community hall, Kalyan Mandap, Gym, Morning Walk track and other facilities will be ensured. Besides that, the space where the legislators meet and discuss issues among themselves will also be altered. A tender into these issues will be issued soon.”
According to the plan these structures will be on par with the other modern assembly structures in other parts of the country. “After the construction of the 140 quarters and shifting of all the legislators there, we will decide on demolishing other remaining parts of the MLA colony. The remaining properties will be handed over to the General Administration department of the Odisha government.”
It has been anticipated that the new MLA quarters are likely to be bigger than the current ministers’ quarters. This will pave way for a full fledged MLA colony in the area. In a review meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, issues such as the expansion of the MLA colony and making multi-storeyed building for better accommodation were discussed. A module to undertake the exercise is said to have been prepared at the apex level.