Chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the inaugural function of a workshop in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 21: The state government is preparing comprehensive development plans (CDPs) for eight towns to ease pressure on Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

The plan is to develop and provide quality civic amenities in Berhampur, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Talcher-Angul-Meramandali, Kalinga Nagar, Paradip, Puri-Konark and Jharsuguda.

The planners feel that the development of these cities would help prevent migration of people to the capital city and Cuttack.

Inaugurating a two-day workshop ‘Urban development in Odisha: Opportunities for growth’ in Bhubaneswar today, chief minister, Naveen Patnaik said that his government would provide 12,000 dwelling units for the urban poor in 28 towns across the state.

Orissa was having a 14 per cent urban population in 2001 and the projected figure for the current census could vary between 18 and 20 per cent.

Minister of state for urban development, Badrinarayan Patra indicated that in order to ensure better civic governance, the government might constitute specialised cadres to deal with financial and technical matters pertaining to urban areas.

He also pointed out that only the public health engineering organisation, which is supplying drinking water is generating revenue.

The state government is going renovate four natural drainage channels in the capital city.

The other four-drainage system would be renovated in the second phase.

Chief secretary, Bijay Patnaik emphasised the need to have more satellite towns around the capital.

Growing industrial areas such as Angul-Talcher, Jharsuguda and Kalinga Nagar should also have satellite towns to meet the growing demands of industrial workers. Co-ordinated efforts are being made to ensure that urban amenities are evenly distributed in the state.

He said that all the municipalities and notified area councils (NACs) in the state should be part of proper planned growth.

Housing and urban development department secretary, Sourabh Garg said that the workshop will deliberate on water supply, sanitation and solid waste management, housing and poverty alleviation, urban transport, traffic management and urban finance.