Dutch team discusses infra projects

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 17

A three-member delegation led by Bram Reinder, advisor to Prime Minister of Netherlands, visited Dharamsala today to explore the prospects of implementing various projects proposed for the hill town under the Smart City Mission. The other members of the delegation were Kees Van Der and Andy Yedcma.

The representatives of the Dutch government met the Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma and officials of the Dharamsala Municipal Corporation and held discussion to chalk out the strategy to implement the proposed projects.

Addressing a press conference, Sudhir Sharma said that the Dutch government was supporting the Smart City Mission of the Government of India. “The Dutch government has set up a Partnership for International Business (PIB) under which 4 lakh Euros will be spent in various cities selected under the Smart City mission of India,” he said, adding that Dharamsala smart city has been selected to implement this project on a pilot basis and will get financial assistance of 4000 Euros.

“Experts in various fields from Netherlands will help the town in improving the water supply, sewerage and other basic services,” he said. Dharamsala will partner with Dutch smart city Amsterdam to implement various other projects like telemedicine.

“Sharing between the two sides will be on business to business, knowledge to knowledge and government to government bases,” the minister said. Besides, a global summit of Smart Cities is also proposed at Dharamsala in the month of September.

Speaking on the occasion, Bram Reinder said that three main components of smart city mission were inclusive, ecological and economical bases. He said that the every project implanted under Dutch Smart City Strategy gives a good return.