Blueprint
to make Indian cities work- Muncipalika 2005
Released on
= April 24, 2005, 2:15 am
Press Release
Author = Keshav Bhatia
Industry = Government
Press Release
Summary = The blueprint to make Indian cities work needs an integrated
and holistic approach with partnership models. This was evolved
in the three-day International Municipalika Exhibition and Conference
2005 concluded in New Delhi,the Capital of India with 312 participants,
including 52 Mayors and representatives from 80 cities across the
country.
Press Release
Body = The blueprint to make Indian cities work needs an integrated
and holistic approach with partnership models. This was evolved
in the three-day International Municipalika Exhibition and Conference
2005 concluded in New Delhi,the Capital of India with 312 participants,
including 52 Mayors and representatives from 80 cities across the
country.
Organized by
the Good Governance India Foundation, Municipalika 2005 with participation
of National and International agencies, focused on participative
models of infrastructure and township development, provision of
adequate and Quality Water for All, Good Sanitation and Waste Management
Strategies as well as using E-governance as the solution to Regular
and Accountable Citizen Interfaces with Municipal Governments. The
use of GIS/GPS and Remote Sensing Applications for city management
was also discussed extensively at the three-day Conference.
The exhibition
included 42 participants from agencies/enterprises ranging from
Mechanical Road and Floor Sweepers, manufacturers of a range of
Waste and Trash Management systems, manufacturers of pipes and accessories
for water management, stainless steel fasteners and piping systems
as well as innovative development practices. Environmentally sustainable
products and services was another thrust area.
Good Urban Governance
and Sound Financial Management were identified as the engines that
would make Urban Local Bodies financially sound. Efficient Accounting
Systems through an efficient property tax regime was also debated.
New avenues for resource
generation were also debated extensively by Mayors, City Managers
and other professionals.
The need for
Public Private People’s Partnerships for Housing and Infrastructure
with Citizen Participation in a big way has been behind the success
stories in various Municipal Governments across the country. Success
models shared included West Bengal, Hyderabad and Gujarat’s
experiences. Kerala and Tamil Nadu shared their experience in successful
community participation in delivery of services.
Environment
issues affecting land, air and water were discussed with a clear
message that development should not lead to disaster in the management
of natural resources. Environment friendly, ecologically appropriate
and energy saving technologies with
appropriate options was a clear message.
Depleting water
resources has become a threat to all cities. The problem of `shortage’
can rapidly develop into a `crisis’ if cities don’t
wake up to the alarm bells that have already started ringing in
many cities. Only 10 per cent of the total water is used for drinking
and kitchen use. However, city
governments spend vast amount of resources in purification and treatment
of water. Dual piping systems have been suggested as a solution.
Waste water
recycling, water harvesting and aquifer recharging have also emerged
as solutions to the depleting water resources problem. Many delegates
expressed concern over the large losses in transmission and distribution
and discussed methods of reducing losses in supply of water.
Domestic, medical
and industrial waste management as well as harnessing waste to produce
energy for local use has been discussed at the deliberations. ‘Waste’
to ‘Wealth’ through energy production, `refuse’
to `resource’ and `trash’ to `cash’
have been the emerging messages from cities.
To make sure
that all services reach the doorstep of every citizen, e-governance
practices are in various stages of implementation across the various
municipalities. This includes solutions for billing, taxation, round
the clock and anytime services
as well. Remote sensing and GIS/GPS data for city management is
an emerging solution.
City governance,
development and management and utility providers with joint initiative
with civil society could lead to responsive management to make cities
work. There was a large number of participation from Resident’s
welfare associations across the country.
There was a
call to cities to share and replicate best practices in Urban Development,
Management and Governance. The efforts of Good Governance India
Foundation were widely recognized in sensitizing public opinion
and participation on the crying development needs of Indian cities.
Web Site = http://
Contact Details
= Keshav Bhatia
232, Sector 37
Arun Vihar
Noida-201303
India
keshavbhatia@rediffmail.com
Phone +91-9811578784
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