Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited Balasinor in Mahisagar district on Saturday to review the state government’s development projects. He inaugurated 32 City Civic Centers, which aim to make civic services more accessible to city people. These centres would work like “One Stop Shops” providing multiple online municipal services and increasing the “Ease of Living” for citizens.
The City Civic Centers initiative was part of the Golden Jubilee Chief Minister Urban Development Scheme and commenced in 2022-23. In the first phase, 22 such centers were launched while 66 more are proposed in the second phase for 2023-24. The Gujarat Urban Development Corporation is developing these centers at a projected cost of Rs 93.76 crore.
From Balasinor, Chief Minister Patel launched the City Civic Centers in 31 municipalities; for these centers, the total cost was Rs 44.05 crore. During the visit, Patel unveiled the plaque of the City Civic Center, toured the facility, and inspected services; further, he distributed forms and certificates to applicants.
The services conferred within the civic centers in the City Civic Centers include management of property tax, hall booking, tax assessment, marriage registration, trade tax registration, and birth and death records maintenance.
On Friday, the Chief Minister, Patel, approved in principle Rs 144.32 crore for more than 7,000 rainwater harvesting projects spread over three zones—Northwest, Southwest, and West—of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. It will be implemented under the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana through Private Society Public Participation Scheme, a model of Public-Private Partnership with a ratio of funding by 70:20:10. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has got 7,497 applications for rainwater harvesting from different societies.
CM Patel took to X to say, “Government is working in planned manner for collection of rainwater and increase in the level of groundwater.” Further he added, “Rs. 144.32 crores were granted in-principle approval for works of rainwater harvesting projects in North West, South West and West Zones of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.” The works pertaining to rainwater harvesting would include percolating wells in residential societies, multi-storied buildings and apartments.