Bhubaneswar, Aug. 17: The promise of Rs 100 crore for development of civic services has set the municipal corporation on a Rs 2,026-crore dream.

Bhubaneswar is among nine cities in Odisha that will receive funds for its development under the Centre's Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) project.

According to the Central scheme, Rs 100 crore will be given to each city in five phases over five years for development of water supply system, sewerage and septic tank management, storm water drainage to reduce flooding, introduction of non-motorised public transport and revamp of green space.

At a special meeting here today, the council of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation passed a proposal saying that it would require no less than Rs 2,026 crore to meet objectives of Amrut.

Elaborating its plan of action, the proposal says that providing drinking water to every household in its jurisdiction demanded maximum priority. To achieve that target, Rs 869.89 crore would be required.

When asked why the corporation pegged the service level implementation plan (Slip) at over Rs 2,000 crore when the scheme had set a fund of Rs 100 crore, mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said: "The amount reflects the minimum requirement of the city in terms of contemporary development practice. If the Centre feels and the state government supports, then we may get more funds as ultimately the state administration has some say on allotment of funds from the entire central corpus.''

Municipal commissioner Krishan Kumar said: "In our corporation, we have a genuine requirement of around Rs 1,000 crore to set the water supply scenario right. So in future we are going to take up two to three localities in the city on pilot basis with 24X7 supply option under public-private partnership. We may scale up it in future to put water loss under control.''

The Public Health Engineering Organisation (PHEO) has taken up a pilot project in various government colonies to supply water to around 20,000 quarters. However, the scheme involves setting up water meters in households. "The corporation's pilot projects will be different from that under the PHEO,'' said Kumar.

Going beyond the Amrut scheme to provide urban facilities, city engineer B.K. Parida said: "The civic body will develop nine foot overbridges across the city.''

The introduction of non-motorised transport is also high on the priority list of the corporation. However, the works department has slashed its earlier estimate for the project from Rs 37.5 crore to Rs 35.17 crore.

Mishra also said the Amrut scheme has made it mandatory to spend two per cent of the fund on developing children-friendly parks.

"Facilities at these parks will not only include rides, but also services such as low-height drinking water kiosks for kids and special toilets for the little ones. Adequate lighting of the play corners will also be included under the plan,'' the municipal commissioner said.