Poor governance to be blamed for urban 'mess': Naidu

The "messy state of affairs in urban sector" is not due to paucity of resources, but primarily on account of poor urban governance and the situation will be rectified under the new initiatives like smart cities, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said today.
The Urban Development Minister said that accountability of bureaucracy needs to be enforced to enable effective urban governance. Citing instances of poor urban planning, Naidu referred to thousands of houses built under "affordable housing" in Delhi and other states lying un-alloted for years and termed it "atrocious".
Naidu said the Modi led government is committed to end the "urban confusion" and convert urbanisation into an opportunity.

The minister spoke at length on the causes and consequences of urban problems after releasing a book titled 'India's Urban Confusion : Challenges and Strategies' edited by former Union Urban Development Secretary Ramachandran here.
He observed that political leadership including chief ministers, ministers, mayors, chairpersons of municipal bodies and corporators and councillors should limit themselves to formulation of policies, projects and broad guidelines and should not turn into contractors and executors.
He said effective urban governance warrants enlightened leadership and smart people, particularly in the context of new urban initiatives like smart cities, urban rejuvenation in 500 habitations and Housing for All by 2022.

He said a nation-wide campaign would be launched to sensitise people and elected representatives about the need for reforms in urban governance with increased people's participation.

Smart leadership meant the ability to take right decisions and to ensure their execution, Naidu said.
Stating that "citizen satisfaction and good quality of living" are the two prime parameters of good urban governance, Naidu emphasised the need for "cost recovery" in respect of provision of various urban services.
He said that the elected urban leadership should take lead in educating masses in the matter of pricing of such services so as to mobilise the much desired resources for urban projects.

The Minister noted that citizens would be willing to pay for assured and quality services.
Ramachandran, speaking about the book said, he preferred to use 'urban confusion' in the title more due to lack of clarity in respect of planning for and management of urbanization.
He said thousands of towns are still categorised as "census towns" making them neither panchayats nor urban bodies, thereby impacting planning for their development.
He said states need to strategize as to how to empower cities and towns to address problems like solid waste management, sanitation and water management.