STATE/UT MINISTERS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT/LOCAL-SELF
GOVT AND HOUSING TO DISCUSS URBAN SECTOR REFORMS
A
meeting of ministers of Urban Development /Local Self Government/Housing
of States/UTs has been called by the Union Minister for Urban
Development Shri Ananth Kumar to discuss modalities of implementing
various schemes of Urban sector reforms announced in this years
budget and also to review the ongoing projects. Issues like Capacity
Building of Urban Local Bodies, Implementing of Repeal of Urban
Land(Ceiling & Regulation ) Act,1976,Rent Control Laws and
measures for greater Public-Private Partnership in provisioning
of civic services would also be discussed during the day long
meeting on 12-9-2002.
The
meeting would also take stock of the ongoing centrally sponsored
schemes like Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns,
Mega City Scheme, Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme,Low
cost Sanitation Scheme For Liberation of Scavangers, Swarna Jayanti
Shahari Rozgar Yojna, Building Centre Programme, Night Shelter
& Sanitation Facilities to Footpath Dwellers in Urban Areas
Scheme and Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana.It has been found that
centrally sponsored schemes are progressing slowly and hence the
guidelines are being revised to speed up these schemes.
It may
be noted that the Finance minister in this years’ budget had announced
several instruments to facilitate and promote the reform process.
These include the Setting up of Urban Reform Incentive Fund, City
Challenge Fund, and State Pool Finance Development Scheme &
Tax Free Municipal Bond. The meeting would also take up the issue
of Rationalization of Stamp duty envisaged in the National Housing
and Habitat Policy.
This one-day
conference is expected to arrive at a consensus on strengthening
of Urban Local Bodies financially and facilitate them in becoming
more self-sufficient and improve their capacity for good governance
and alleviation of poverty in urban areas. It may be noted that
there are 285 million urban population and 35 million plus cities
and 3682 urban local bodies in India. Unplanned and uncontrolled
growth in urban areas have caused deterioration of urban environment
and impeded provisioning of power, water, sewarage, transportation
and housing in urban areas.
