Centre to help states to improve urban infrastructure: Jaipal

Bangalore, July 6 (UNI) Union Minister for Urban Development Jaipal Reddy today urged state governments to lay more focus on creating basic infrastructure to make the lives of inhabitants enjoyable.

In his inaugural address at a one-day seminar on 'Bruhat Bangalore, our roles, challenges and opportunities' organised by the Bangalore rural and urban district Congress Committees jointly here Mr Reddy said urbanisation was a by-product of the rapid industrialisation and cannot be stopped.

Maintaining that urbanisation in the country was happening on its own and nobody was planning properly, he said this had resulted in numerous challenges and problems, including inadequate drinking water supply, tardy solid waste management and lack of easy and affordable public transport. These problems warranted urgent attention to put infrastructure on proper rails.

Mr Reddy said, ''though the issue of urban development comes within the ambit of 'State Subject', the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre had felt the need of a planned urban development and launched Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.'' Under JNNURM, it was proposed to spend over Rs one lakh crore before the end of the 11th Five Year Plan to rejuvenate 65 cities in the country for which Centre's contribution would be over Rs 50,000 crore.

Describing the growth of Bangalore as 'phenomenal', Mr Reddy said ''while Mumbai represents country's old economy, Bangalore becons new economy and leading the growth of other cities.'' The Centre had accorded special focus for the overall development of Bangalore City. It was also willing to assist the state government in solving the problems of drinking water, solid waste management, surface transport and housing.

Referring to rapid industrialisation and acquisition of farm lands in the city, Mr Reddy urged the authorities concerned to provide compensation to the oustees particularly the farmers.

The farmers should receive potential value of the urbanised land for sacrificing their properties, he said.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Chairman, Union Administrative Reforms Commission Veerappa Moily said despite Constitutional obligations, elections to the urban local authorities were not conducted in the state.

UNI