Public-pvt partnership in housing needed: Ramchandran

Mumbai, Jan 31 (UNI) Union Urban Development Secretary M Ramchandran today said that with cities emerging as major engines of economic growth and contributing 70 per cent of national GDP, investment in housing and urban infrastructure will need a quantum jump with the public and private partnership.

Inaugurating the three-day fifth international conference ''Municipalika 2008'' on ''Good Urban Governance for Inclusive and Sustainable Cities'' here, Mr Ramchandran stressed the need for providing affordable housing, and highlighted the initiative of Centre through formulation of the National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy 2007 and setting up of the task force on affordable housing for all.

He also elaborated on the three-year plan for eradication of manual scavenging.

Rapid urbanisation has burdened the cities and most of theses are faced with deficient urban infrastructure, water shortage, poor waste management, sewage, sanitation, transport and power utilities.

Substantial urban reforms including financial, fiscal, regulatory and legal reforms are being simultaneously ensured in a time bound manner for providing good urban governance and transparency in municipal administration and management, he added.

He indicated that the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission programme of the Centre, with an outlay of Rs 100,000 crore and with additional leveraged funds over the period upto 2012 is likely to result in substantial investments by central, state, local and municipal government authorities in development of infrastructure.

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