Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Urban policy getting ready, says Minister

HUBLI: Urban Development Minister S. Suresh Kumar has said that the first ever urban development policy in the country being formulated by the Karnataka Government would be “a policy of the urban residents”.

The Minister was inaugurating the second workshop on the draft urban development policy at the Biotech Auditorium in BVB College of Engineering and Technology in Hubli on Monday the minister said that since the end users were the residents of the urban areas, the Government was involving the public and experts to get their suggestions in finalising the policy.

The first workshop was held in Mysore during December.

The Minister said that the average urban population in Karnataka was 34 per cent which was more than the national average of 28 per cent and according to an estimate the urban population in Karnataka was likely to reach 4 crore by 2025.

“Although the cities and towns have been growing, their growth is not supported by improvement in the infrastructure as there is no proper urban planning in place. Through the policy we want to ensure that the urban areas have a more tolerable ambience to live in”, he said.

Mr. Suresh Kumar said there were several problems in urban areas, including solid waste management, haphazard growth, lack of infrastructure and mushrooming of slums.

“Although we have rules and regulations concerning constructions and land development, there is no clear policy,” he said.

The Minister said two more workshops would be held in Mangalore and Gulbarga and then the policy would be placed before the Cabinet after incorporating the suggestions.

Advisor to Chief Minister on urban affairs A. Ravindra made a presentation on the draft policy.

Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Commissioner P.S. Vastrad said that the participants would be split into four groups to discuss various issues concerning the policy and would put forward their team’s suggestions before the concluding ceremony.

Hubli-Dharwad Mayor Viranna Savadi, Belgaum Mayor Ellappa Kurubar, Secretary of Urban Development S.D. Meena, NWKRTC chairman Mallikarjun Savakar, and Chairman of Hubli-Dharwad Urban Development Authority Datta Dorle were present.

Experts on urban development, academics and representatives of NGOs working in the field of urban development participated in the workshop.

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