Hindustan Times 03.12.2009

PM for urban reforms to check chaos

Noting that urban chaos was becoming a way of life, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday emphasised on urban reforms, saying cities and towns are not an acceptable face of a rapidly modernising and developing economy.

"As infrastructure struggles to keep pace with demand, urban chaos is becoming a way of life. Our cities and towns are not an acceptable face of rapidly modernising and developing economy," he said at the national conference of JNNURM, to mark the fourth anniversary of the flagship programme of the government.

He said the success of JNNURM was critical to tackling the problems that go with rapid urbanisation.

Singh said the Centre has committed substantial funds for urban renewal along with the states and urban local bodies.

He said the two ministries of Urban Development and Urban Poverty Alleviation have approved projects worth Rs 103,462 crore for which the Centre has committed an assistance of Rs 55,625 crore.

"It is good that the focus of projects approved under the Mission has been on basic services like water supply,
sewerage, drainage, solid waste management, improvement of slums and construction of houses for the poor," he noted.

Stressing the government's commitment to urban sector, he said JNNURM has created a "paradigm shift" in how the urban sector is viewed, both at state and city levels.