Journalism of Courage
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Monday sought Rs 60,000 crore from the Centre for an integrated water plan to make the state water sufficient.
Speaking at a function organised at the Institute of Environment Education and Research,Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University,he said equal and economical use of water was the need of the hour.
While giving an inaugural speech at the ICRIERs programme on Capacity Building and Knowledge Dissemination on Urbanisation in India Preparing for the Urban Challenges of the 21st Century,he said,I have four wishes. The first wish is to get Presidents nod for Housing Regulatory Bill,the second is to set up Architecture and Planning school in Pune,third is to set up a body that decides tariffs for mass transport sector and the fourth is to chalk out a plan for water and solid waste management and metering of water.
He added,We need Rs 60,000 crore for the water plan that will make the state water sufficient in three years. The Centre and the state can pitch in to make it a success. Even if the Centre does not support us financially,we will go ahead with the plan,but it will take us more time due to financial constraints. The state spent Rs 5,000 crore to fight drought this year.
Citing the example of Malkapur where the water metres have been successfully installed,he said,We need to introduce automated water meters in the cities and gradually replicate it in rural areas and agricultural set ups for judicial use of water. We also need to create a market for waste water management.
Talking about illegal structures that mushroomed in Thane and Pimpri-Chinchwad,he said,Our Housing Regulatory Bill is much better than the one proposed by the Centre. I hope the Centre will look into it and seek presidential nod, said Chavan.
He said the Centre had proposed Planning and Architecture schools across the country. I hope one such school will be opened in Pune, said Chavan.
He added,We need financial autonomy for local bodies and we are trying to create municipal bond markets. We also need a body to decide tariffs for mass transport systems,otherwise the Build Operate Transport models will not take off.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and ICRIER head Isher Judge Ahluwalia were also present.
Addressing the gathering,the Deputy Chairman said,Economical use of electricity,transport management,water management and solid waste management are very important for sustainable urbanisation. Whatever policy we adopt,we need to make sure they are financially self-sustaining.
