The Union government has approved the ambitious project proposal of Haryana government amounting to Rs 2,956.84 crore for improving basic amenities in urban areas of the state.

The government has referred the project to World Bank for availing its financial assistance, state minister for power, water supply and sanitation, Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters here on Tuesday.

To be implemented in 32 towns of the state, the scope of the project covers provisions for sewerage (Rs 1062.06 crore), sewerage treatment plants (Rs 496.70 crore), water supply (Rs 926 crore), roads, steel lights, parks (Rs 271.68 crore) and sold waste disposal (Rs 201.90 crore) in 32 towns, he said.

On being asked about the nature of financial assistance from World Bank, Surjewala said that this project would be funded through a combination of soft loan and aid by World Bank. Surjewala said that a team of World Bank was expected to visit the state soon for initiating work on this project, the cost of which was equal to 70% of the annual plan of the state.

He said that the state government had substantially hiked the budget of basic amenities for urban people to Rs 110 crore during the year from a mere allocation of Rs 18 crore in previous government regime. The state government has also got sewerage and drinking water projects worth Rs 377.37 crore from National Capital Region (NCR) Planning Board for 12 cities of the state, he said.

He further said that the government was also in process of sending another project costing Rs 200 crore to NCR Planning Board for 77 cities.