Finance
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the ‘Ama Pokhari’ project to revitalize underutilized ponds in the state’s metropolitan regions.
The Ama Pokhari program would revive 2,000 huge bodies of water in 115 urban areas, and its peripheral will be rehabilitated to provide healthy space for the public. This will be accomplished in collaboration with Mission Shakti WSHG and educated young men and women who have graduated from college. Natural methods will be used to generate a better environment at a lesser cost.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik lauded Mission Shakti’s female employees during a ceremony hosted at Lok Seva Bhavan’s convention hall. The Chief Minister stated that Mission Shakti mothers are role models for collaboration and they are doing a great job in villages and cities. “I am proud” of their success, he said. The Chief Minister expressed his belief that the mothers of Mission Shakti will prove their mettle in the Ama Pokhari scheme as well.
Ponds, according to the Chief Minister, play a vital part in our social and cultural lives. It also has implications for health and the economy. He expressed hope that the revitalized ponds will become an integral element of city life.
The Chief Minister praised the restoration of degraded ponds, saying that its transformation will improve the quality of life in metropolitan areas.
The Chief Minister congratulated the Municipal Corporations of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Berhampur on the success of the Ama Pokhari pilot project. He suggested that the work be accelerated and completed as quickly as possible.
The Chief Minister also congratulated the Department of Housing and Urban Development on the success of several projects such as the JAGA Mission and Drink from the Tap, Mukta. Now another success of the department is the successful implementation of Ama Pokhari programme, he said.
Usha Devi, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, remarked during the occasion that with this plan, the ladies of Mission Shakti will now be pond protectors. She stated that the role of women in the development of all sections of cities and towns is becoming increasingly significant.
The Chief Minister honored Anand Malligavad, Chief Advisor of the Ama Pokhari Program, on this occasion. Anand, who began his career as a mechanical engineer, left his job to work for the protection of bodies of water. He has extensive knowledge and a solid reputation in the subject of water conservation. Across the country, he is known as Lake Man.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister also congratulated the Municipal Corporations of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur for the success of the Aam Pokhari Pilot Project.
Mission Shakti’s Gitanjali Behera of BMC, Anita Rani of CMC, and Sunita Panda of BeMC, who are working on this pilot project, shared their experiences and thanked the Chief Minister for entrusting them with the task of restoring water bodies.
G. Mathi Vathanan, Principal Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, presented the welcoming address, and the Special Secretary gave the vote of thanks.
Source:OCN
