Objective of 'Smart Cities' initiative to promote harmony with nature: Venkaiah Naidu

Union Urban Development Minister MVenkaiah Naidu on Wednesday stated that the objective of the 'Smart Cities' initiative is the promoting of living in harmony with nature, calling for a reorientation of designing and planning towards that end.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony at the Energy Research Institute (TERI), Naidu expressed serious concern over rising levels of air pollution and deteriorating sanitation across urban areas of the nation, which have impacted the quality of life.

The minister also expressed concern over the designing of buildings which block natural light, thus depending on electricity for the same and referred to a TERI report, which stated that 42,000 MW of electricity could be saved by 2021 by adopting energy-efficient building practices.

Naidu also stressed on the need for increased adoption of renewable energy sources, adding that his ministry is seeking to address concerns with regards to the quality of urban life in collaboration with state governments and urban local bodies.

In his speech, Naidu also stressed upon the need for sustainable development that harmonises environmental, ecological and social aspects with an emphasis on the efficient use of resources.

In December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the Ministry of Urban Development to convene a workshop of all central and state urban development authorities at the earliest and asked officials to identify the basics of infrastructure, quality of life, and citizen-centric services that would be essential to cities of the 21st century.

The Prime Minister further stated that cities should be identified as 'hubs of economic activity', adding that a focus on 'waste to wealth', that is, solid-waste management and waste-water treatment, would be an important part of the development of smart cities.