Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to invest Rs 3,208 crore in Abhada scheme for the development of Puri in three years time. A total of 15 projects will be taken up to transform Puri into a world class heritage city. This year Rs 719 crore will be spend in Abhada scheme.

The State cabinet under the chairmanship of chief minister Naveen Patnaik Monday accorded its approval to the Abhada scheme besides 10 other proposals those were placed before it.

Briefing the media persons about the cabinet decisions, the chief secretary Asit Tripathy said three blocks each in three districts–Mayunhanj, Jajpur and Keounjhar– will be covered under piped drinking water supply project.

Tripathy said that the civil aviation wing which is now functioning under the general administration department will be transferred to the commerce and transport department.

The cabinet decided that the Odisha Hindu Endowment Act would be amended to exclude the Puri Gobardhan Pitha with a view to transfer the power of the management of the Pitha to its reigning Sankaracharya.

In a significant decision, the chief secretary said, the cabinet decided to do away with the application and users fees for getting caste certificate and income certificate.