Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry to launch.. :

Pura Neguma to develop 108 small towns

By Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Spreading the rays of development to all corners of the country in equal basis is one of the main themes of the present government in its strive to make Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia in the future.

When mega development projects are carried out in many parts of the country there are small towns which are striving to keep pace with the development drive taking place in other parts of the country.

The limited resources and lack of accessibility for the facilities for the Local Authorities administrating the facilities in these small towns has become a key factor for the failure of these towns to keep pace with the development activities taking place in other parts of the country.

The Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry is now coming up with a program to assist these Local Authorities to develop these towns into a clean and beautiful ones by initiating 'Pura Neguma' program to develop 108 small towns comes under Pradeshiya Sabha to set an example to other towns in the country.

Secretary to the Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry R.A.A.K. Ranawake told the Sunday Observer that the Ministry is now finalising plans to launch this 'Pura Neguma' program covering 108 small towns comes under Pradeshiya Sabhas to develop them as model towns.

"The aim of the program is to develop 108 towns that come under underdeveloped Pradeshiya Sabhas across the country by developing their infrastructure and capacities enabling them to provide their services to the public in an efficient manner", he said.

The Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministy is obtaining a Rs.6700 million loan facility from the Asian Development Bank to implement this program over the next three years and complete it in the year 2015 to make this program a success. "We are allocating Rs.50 million for each Pradeshiya Sabha included in this program for the development of small towns", he added.

Each Pradeshiya Sabha will make use of these funds to develop the infrastructure facilities in these towns such as weekly fairs, public toilet facilities, vehicle parking areas specially for the three wheel parks, market complexes, Pradeshiya Sabha buildings, libraries, children's parks, access roads, drinking water and resting places.

"We have obtained proposals from each Pradeshiya Sabha for this program and we are identifying the projects that are to be implemented under this Pura Neguma program on priority basis", Ranwake added.

To make this program a success the Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry will also take the assistance of the Physical Planning Department, Urban Development Authority, relevant Pradeshiya Sabhas, Provincial Councils and Land Reclamation and Development Corporation.

"These Institutions will assist us in planning the activities, provide technical assistance supervise the construction activities", Ranawake said.

Ranawake said the program will be implemented in the Pradeshiya Sabhas outside the North and East since the Economic Development Ministry is launching a program focusing the resettlement and rehabilitation process in the Northern and Eastern provinces, strengthening the Local Authorities in those provinces. When implementing the 'Pura Neguma' program, the Ministry will give priority for the implementation of solid waste management program in each town selected for the program. "We are paying special attention for the solid waste management of these towns as the Local Authorities are facing difficulties in finding lands for the dumping of garbage.

We are hoping to find suitable lands for the dumping garbage and to streamline the process by providing them necessary machineries, technical know how to handle the solid waste in an effective manner.", Ranawake said. "What we intend through this is to keep these towns clean and beautiful giving priority to keep the bus stands and public toilets cleanly and beautifully", he said. "We are also taking the participation of the Economic Development Ministry and the Sports Ministry as these two Ministries are also instrumental in providing certain facilities to these towns", the Secretary said.

Apart form the development of infrastructure and beautification of towns the program also aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Pradeshiya Sabhas to deliver efficient services to the general public through their institutions. "We are going to educate the Pradeshiya Sabha authorities how to increase revenue collection of the Pradeshiya sabhas and how to get the support of other institutions for the development activities in the Pradeshiya Sabha", he said.

"We are also aiming to restructure the service delivery mechanism in the Pradeshiya Sabhas to make them a people friendly organisations", he added. The selection of towns for this program was done with the participation of the District Development Committees which is the highest authority where the political hierarchy and the government officials takes decision regarding the development of the district. "These meetings were headed by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and with the participation of the Heads of Pradeshiya Sabhas in the district", the Secretary said. Feasibility reports, architectural designs, structural designs, and estimates, environmental assessment reports have already been prepared for the implementation of this program in a more effective way to complete it in 2015 creating 108 model towns to set examples to other towns in the country", he said.