Govt to invest $25 bln to develop infrastructure in cities

New Delhi, Feb 4: The government will invest 25 billion dollars under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to develop the infrastructure in cities. Speaking on Environmental Technology for Urban Development, Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken said, ''out of 5,100 towns in the country, 300 Class I cities are facing huge migration problems and hence, to develop infrastructure of these cities the government will invest 25 billion dollars''.

Mr Maken further added that 60 per cent of the urban growth has been confined to these cities which has led to massive problems along with creating hassles for the local authorities. ''Both India and Sweden are going to sign an MoU to facilitiate joint activities and projects in various sectors- private, public and academia in the field of environment,'' said Minister for Environment, Sweden Andreas Carlgren on this occasion. Elaborating on the steps taken by Sweden to reduce carbon emissions he said that climate change is the most important issue for the Swedish Government as result of which it has imposed tax on carbon emissions.

He also expressed keen interest in promoting joint ventures with the Indian government to focus on environmental issues.

UNI