A glimpse of the prosperity and development of the city of a state creates people’s mindset about that state. It is not an exaggeration that Madhya Pradesh has succeeded in creating this mindset not only among the countrymen but also foreigners, that the state is making all-round development. A representative of Japan comes to attend a conference in Indore and he visits the city of Indore in the morning, not for health, but to find garbage. As garbage is not found anywhere in the city.

When asked about this, he says, “I went to see the status of the city that has been staying on top in cleanliness in the country for 4 years in a row. I am satisfied.” In this way, the cities are constantly developing under the leadership of the state's Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. In the Swachh Survekshan -2020, the state is now up one place from the previous year at the third position. Bhopal has the distinction of being the cleanest self-sustaining capital of the country.Madhya Pradesh is among the leading states of the country in the implementation of the Government of India’s plans for urban development.

For the first time in the Swachh Survekshan -2020, four cities of the state are in the top 20 among cities with a population of more than 10 lakh. Not only in the cleanliness survey, but also in the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), Madhya Pradesh has got the second place in the country. Under this scheme, a total of 7.99 lakh houses have been sanctioned in various components in Madhya Pradesh. Out of these, construction of 2.87 lakh houses has been completed so far. Madhya Pradesh was first in the country to organise Grih Pravesh of one lakh beneficiaries by the the Prime Minister.

To provide housing, lease of residential land has also been provided to landless urban families. The state government has decided to provide a grant of Rs 1.5 lakh to the non-slum urban poor equal to the grant amount given to the slum urban poor.

Madhya Pradesh is among the 4 leading states in the country in the Smart City Mission. In the smart city rankings, Bhopal Smart City is at the top place in the country and Indore Smart City is at fourth place. The work of metro rail in Bhopal and Indore is going on at a rapid pace.

The government is determined to provide tap water in all cities. To execute it on the ground, financial arrangment has been ensured to complete the 378 urban body water augmentation schemes. Due to the expansion / extension of 29 newly formed urban bodies and cities, the second phase of the Mukhya Mantri Shahri Peyjal Yojana is being approved for additional works in addition to the previously sanctioned drinking water projects.

(The author is the Urban Development and Housing Minister of the State)