Rs 1,372 cr invested till now for green city projects

Kolkata: The state government has so far invested Rs 1,372 crore for green city projects.

Firhad Hakim, the state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister, said in the Assembly on Wednesday: "Already around Rs 1,370 crore has been invested for green city projects."

It has been further stated that in 2016-17, there were 334 projects, with an investment of around Rs 449 crore. Again, there was an investment of around Rs 713 crore for 1,798 projects in 2017-18 and so far in the current fiscal, there has been an investment of around Rs 198 crore for 293 projects.

In reply to a question of Trinamool Congress MLA from Patashpur in East Midnapore Jyotirmoy Kar, Hakim said that the state government has taken up the project of green city. It will be of great benefit for common people as steps like plantation of trees, preservation of water resources, promotion of e-vehicles, installation of LED lights and ensuring CCTV coverage of a place have been taken up.

"The project has been taken up despite the financial constraints of the state government, as we know that where there is will there is way," said Hakim.

He further stated that initiatives have been taken up to set up a night market in the city. In this connection, Hakim said: "A place has been identified opposite Patuli floating market, where the night market will come up. The proposal has been sent for clearance by the police," said the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister, adding that this will be another attraction in the city after the floating market.

While speaking about "the country's first floating market" in Kolkata, Hakim said it has turned into a major attraction. Most importantly, the hawkers there were not evicted, but rehabilitated instead.