NEW DELHI: Centre on Wednesday said that objectives of New Urban Agenda include integrated urban policies in line with cooperative federalism, eliminating barriers to the flow of capital, land and labour and development of rural and urban areas in a synergetic manner.
Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu said that good governance is key to the sustainable development. “To the 3 principles of sustainable development i.e equity, economy and environment, Governance needs to be added as the fourth dimension, given its importance,” the minister said while inaugurating the ‘Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development’.
Seeking to evolve an Implementation Plan for the next 20 years for realizing the goal of equitable urban development through building of inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities, 68 countries of Asia Pacific Region began their three day deliberations in New Delhi.
Voicing concern over weak governance structures in most of the member countries of the region, Naidu said that over the last two years, the Government has taken several initiatives to improve technical, planning and managerial capabilities of city governments in India. This is being done through promoting e-governance, capacity building, enhancement of resource base of cities etc., under different new urban missions.
Stating that the Asia Pacific region accounts for 55% of global urban population with over one billion living in slums and accounting for 75% of global fatalities due to natural disasters, Naidu urged the member countries to mount collective efforts to face challenges in the context of rapid urbanization in the region. Accounting for 10 of the 15 largest cities of the world being in the region including the top 3 of Tokyo, New Delhi and Shanghai, the region is set to transform into predominantly urban over the next two years, the minister added.
Giving an account of India’s urban development strategies for the next 20 years, Naidu said the objectives of New Urban Agenda include integrated urban policies in line with cooperative federalism, eliminating barriers to the flow of capital, land and labour, development of rural and urban areas in a synergetic manner, promoting inclusivity and sustainability in urban planning and management and ensuring social justice and gender equality.
Sharing the concern of member countries over infrastructure deficit including affordable housing in the cities of the region, Naidu said that piped water supply, sewerage networks, open spaces, 24 x 7 water and power supply, easily accessible health and education facilities, sanitation, affordable housing for urban poor etc., are being provided in an integrated manner under new urban missions in India.