Bhubaneswar, Oct. 31: The municipal corporation today decided to bring in ward-level action plans to carry out projects in a move to simplify development process in the city.

The decision was taken during the monthly council meeting of the body today.

According to the plan, experts from the city civic body would carry out feasibility surveys in each ward and prepare action plan to develop roads, drains and other infrastructure at the beginning of the financial year. The aim here is to bring in an unbiased fund distribution process to the wards.

In the present practice, the civic body chooses projects based on priority following recommendations of respective councillors. "The new move will bring in a decentralised process of development. Our officials will look out for the need of the respective wards in terms of infrastructure and provide us the plan, following which we will sanction the funds accordingly," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

Local councillors welcomed the move. One of them, Naren Sahoo, said the new system would ensure transparency.

"The new plan will ensure development in balance. In the new process, the city will see all-round development. It is a good move," said Sahoo.

The corporation will also keep a contingent budget for each ward for use during emergencies. The contingent budget would be utilised mainly for repairs. "The funds will be sanctioned to each ward according to their need of development. The contingent budget will be kept aside for urgent need of repair and other such works," said a senior civic body official.

Sailashree Vihar resident Jayanti Maharana said the new plan of the civic body was good, but they should ensure the citizens' participation.

"All kinds of development undertaken by the administration are meant to benefit us. Hence, the civic body should first consult the citizens before carrying out any infrastructure development in any ward," said Maharana, a homemaker.

The municipal corporation has also initiated the process for preparation of the upcoming annual budget. "We have decided to streamline the revenue generation system. We are going to bring in a stringent process of tax collection. The state government has already prepared the gazette notification to implement property tax. It will also add more to the revenue generation of the corporation," said the mayor.