PM Inaugurates JNNURM National Conference on the 6th Anniversary of JNNURM

By Accommodation Times (www.accommodationtimes.com)

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated the National Conference of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission in New Delhi. The National Conference was organised on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
Speaking on the occasion the Prime Minister said: “We need to facilitate an integrated and holistic approach towards regional development in the next stage of JNNURM. We should look to create enabling conditions for investment in urban India and livelihood creation in manufacturing and value-added service sectors. We should give special focus to energy-efficient public transport.
Dr. Manmohan Singh emphasized that “City planners must rethink traditional concepts of town planning. Master Plans in the past did not consider spatial requirements for living and working of the poor. This must change, and change fast enough Dr. Singh said that while there has been some improvement in the capacities of urban local bodies but much more is needed. There is an urgent need to build and/or reform Municipal cadres in all states. Training programs in urban planning, management and finance will go a long way in building capacities. Professional inputs from engineers, accountants, water and sanitation experts, must be encouraged. There is an urgent need for upgrading and expanding existing Schools of Urban Planning and setting up new Centres of Excellence in Urban Management.
The Minister for Urban Development Shri Kamal Nath said that urbanisation in India is a great challenge. The rate at which the urban population is growing, it is vital that the process of urban development keeps their pace of growth in mind. The Minister said that many a lessons have been learnt in the first phase of JNNURM and the phase II of JNNURM will improve upon these to evolve an even better JnNURM model. He pointed out that just funding through a scheme cannot bring about change, reforms are needed in its implementation to ensure that urban infrastructure and service delivery improves in not only the Metros but also in the tier Ii and tier III towns.