Bhubaneswar: A group of 21elected representatives and functionaries from Kozhikode & Palakkad Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of Kerala are on a three-day exposer visit to Odisha from February 28.
Centre for Environment and Development (CED), as a national training entity empanelled by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, is organizing this exposure visit programme for the elected representatives and functionaries from the ULBs of Kerala to Bhubaneswar, Puri and Cuttack from 28 February to 02 March, 2023 as part of Individual Capacity Building Program under AMRUT 2.0.
They are here to learn about the best practice adopted by Odisha on sewage and septage management, solid waste management, drinking water supply, city beautification and heritage management in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri; which are widely acclaimed in the country as urban good practices.
The team had visited the Sewage Treatment Plants, Wealth Centers (MCC, MRF) and Smart Janapath in Bhubaneswar on February 28 and today, they are visiting Puri (Drink from Tap) and Konark. The team scheduled to visit Cuttack tomorrow.
The visiting members had an interactive session with Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Smt Sulochana Das last afternoon in the conference hall of SUDA.
Speaking of the occasion, Smt Das focused on journey of Urban Transformation that is happening in Odisha under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister.
The ULBs are the service delivery and action points for implementing plans and strategies to overcome challenges of urbanization, she said.
Addressing the Kerela delegation, Sri Sangramjit Nayak, Director Municipal Administration (DMA) said that professionalization of Urban Local Bodies is an urgent need and this requires among other measures, imparting regular training programs and organizing exposure visits to good practices for the functionaries as well as elected peoples’ representatives to create positive motivation in them.
It will also update their knowledge, skills and expertise on all major urban sector issues, challenges and steps undertaken to overcome various challenges in urban areas of the country, Sri Nayak said.
Among others, Dr Beena Phillip Mayer Kozhikode Corporation, Priya Ajayan, Chairperson of Palakkad Municipality Kerala, Dr Babu Ambat, Executive Director CED and Mrs Manjulata Kanhar Deputy Mayor, BMC spoke on the occasion.
