H&UD Department Holds Discussion with 6th State Finance Commission on Urban Governance and Fiscal Strengthening

Bhubaneswar: The Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department, Government of Odisha, on Thursday held an extensive discussion with the 6th State Finance Commission at the Conference Hall of Kharavela Bhawan to deliberate on the priorities and financial requirements for the upcoming Commission period.

During the meeting, the Department presented a detailed overview of its ongoing initiatives and strategic focus areas, emphasizing the need to strengthen urban governance, fiscal discipline, and sustainable service delivery. The discussions revolved around criteria for incentive grants, improving sanitation performance, enhancing human resource capacity and training for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), establishing Project Management Units (PMUs), upgrading accounting and financial management systems, and augmenting ULBs’ own revenue sources.

Chairman of the 6th State Finance Commission, Dr. Arun Kumar Panda, led the discussions, joined by Members Prof. Asit Rajan Mohanty, Dr. Bibhu Prasad Nayak, and Member Secretary Dr. Satyapriya Ratha. From the Department, Principal Secretary Usha Padhee, Director of Municipal Administration & Ex-Officio Member (SFC), Financial Adviser-cum-Additional Secretary, and other senior officers participated in the deliberations.