New Delhi:
The Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty
Alleviation Ministry has charted out a 25-point charter for urban planning and
management to ensure planned urbanisation, assured amenities and decent urban
life.
Addressing the Conclave of Ministers of Housing and Urban
Development of States and Union Territories here, Union Urban Development,
Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M
Venkaiah Naidu called for ‘out of box’
thinking and solutions to address emerging challenges of urbanisation in the
country.
Naidu noted that “housing is a basic indicator of well
being of our people and particularly, the poor. Lack of own house, in my view
is the basic deprivation and this has to be met in right earnest and hence, the
central government’s initiative of providing housing for all by 2022”.
He said, after the recent general elections, it is time
for the central and state/UT governments to move forward as ‘Team India’ as
desired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Minister assured the ministers
from states and Union Territories that there will be no discrimination in
allocation of resources on any ground.
Expressing concern over the present state of urban
planning and management, Naidu suggested a charter of actions to be addressed
to while planning for urban development and management. These include –making
towns and cities slum free, exploiting economic potential of cities with
respect to tourism, health, education, business etc, inclusive zoning providing
for old age homes, orphanages, night shelters etc, provision of efficient
infrastructure, efficient energy use, clean and green cities, zero landfill
waste, solid waste management, promoting cycling through dedicated cycling
tracks, capacity building of municipalities, enacting for guaranteed services
etc.
The minister informed that to meet the housing shortage
of 300 lakh houses in urban areas by 2022, various options including
channelizing tax revenues generated through enhanced economic activity on
account of massive housing scheme back into housing through an ESCROW account,
interest subvention and Public Private Partnership are being examined.
The Minister noted that the government would soon firm up
the way forward on development of 100 ‘Smart Cities’. He said that there is
considerable interest in this scheme from different developed countries.
Venkaiah Naidu urged the ministers to adopt a National
Declaration on Housing and Urban Rejuvenation at the end of the day long
deliberations to affirm the Nation’s commitment to provide the pride of owning
a house by all and particularly, the poor besides reaping the advantages of
urbanisation in a systemic manner.
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