Centre discusses Smart Cities initiative with States/UTs, invites views
Updated: Sep 13, 2014 01:40:05pm
New Delhi, Sept 13 (KNN) To ensure better urban life, the government is keen to promote wealthier, healthier and happier cities where technology will play a major role in its governance, Minister of Urban Development and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, M Venkaiah Naidu told ministers and officials from different states and Union Territories.
Naidu was addressing the “National Conclave of States/UTs on Smart Cities” attended by the Ministers and Principal Secretaries here yesterday.
He defined a Smart City as one that makes urban life comfortable and improves living standards through good governance, efficient health care services and education, 24 x 7 power and water supply, efficient transport, high quality sanitation, employment to the needy and robust cyber connectivity and benefits all irrespective of income, age and gender.
‘The ultimate objective is building Wealthier, Healthier and Happier’ cities, he said.
The Draft Concept Note on Smart Cities made public would be revisited based on the suggestions/views of states/UTs, he said, asking the state ministers to send their final views in a week’s time.
However, he made it clear that states/UTs/Cites which are willing to take smart/hard decisions alone will be qualified for inclusion in the Smart Cities project.
The Minister further said that effective urban governance should aim at prudent utilization of natural resources, minimum waste generation, recycling, water harvesting and efficient energy use.
On the urbanization scenario, Naidu said that at present 377 million people are living in urban areas of the country (31 per cent). In the next 15 years, this will increase by another 157 million and by another 500 million by 2050, by when more than half of the country’s population will be living in urban areas, for the first time.
More than 70 per cent of urban people live in 468 cities/towns with more than one lakh population. He said, this growing urbanization offered immense opportunities for converting it into ‘engine of economic growth, since urbanization and economic development are interlinked. In support of this, the Minister said, though only 31 per cent of the population lives in urban areas, they contribute over 60 per cent of the country’s GDP. It was in this context that the Prime Minister suggested building 100 Smart Cities besides improving amenities in other cities and towns. (KNN/ES)
Naidu was addressing the “National Conclave of States/UTs on Smart Cities” attended by the Ministers and Principal Secretaries here yesterday.
He defined a Smart City as one that makes urban life comfortable and improves living standards through good governance, efficient health care services and education, 24 x 7 power and water supply, efficient transport, high quality sanitation, employment to the needy and robust cyber connectivity and benefits all irrespective of income, age and gender.
‘The ultimate objective is building Wealthier, Healthier and Happier’ cities, he said.
The Draft Concept Note on Smart Cities made public would be revisited based on the suggestions/views of states/UTs, he said, asking the state ministers to send their final views in a week’s time.
However, he made it clear that states/UTs/Cites which are willing to take smart/hard decisions alone will be qualified for inclusion in the Smart Cities project.
The Minister further said that effective urban governance should aim at prudent utilization of natural resources, minimum waste generation, recycling, water harvesting and efficient energy use.
On the urbanization scenario, Naidu said that at present 377 million people are living in urban areas of the country (31 per cent). In the next 15 years, this will increase by another 157 million and by another 500 million by 2050, by when more than half of the country’s population will be living in urban areas, for the first time.
More than 70 per cent of urban people live in 468 cities/towns with more than one lakh population. He said, this growing urbanization offered immense opportunities for converting it into ‘engine of economic growth, since urbanization and economic development are interlinked. In support of this, the Minister said, though only 31 per cent of the population lives in urban areas, they contribute over 60 per cent of the country’s GDP. It was in this context that the Prime Minister suggested building 100 Smart Cities besides improving amenities in other cities and towns. (KNN/ES)
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