Indicating private funding for the smart city project for Panaji, Chief Secretary R K Srivastava on Tuesday said the local municipal bodies have been entrusted with the responsibility of developing smart cities, and by pulling up the resources from their kitty – even by taxing people – they can achieve this objective.
“The people have to be supportive for this cause,” Srivastava added, pointing out that the related solutions have to be sourced through public-private partnership, which is the actual concept of the Smart City Mission under the Union ministry of urban development.
“The resources have to be exploited and generated by the municipal bodies in a justified manner,” he noted.
Delivering an address during the inaugural session of the daylong Confederation of Indian Industry-Corporation of the City of Panaji roundtable and technical exhibition and second stakeholders’ consultation workshop on Panaji smart city, the Chief Secretary said the planners as well as the citizens should have a vision for the city, beyond 30 to 50 years, and should develop related concepts. “If we have this perspective, then we can analyse the existing problems in a better way,” he noted.
The Chief Secretary said that he has recently cleared a proposal of the public works department pertaining to 5 MLD STP (sewerage treatment plant) facility for Patto Plaza area.
“In fact, I am of the opinion that the waste water should be recycled, and a parallel pipeline set up to supply this recycled water, especially in the North Goa beach belt where there are large number of hotels generating waste water,” he mentioned, pointing out that colossal loss of such waste water is witnessed, which could otherwise be used for various purposes other than eating, drinking and washing.
Maintaining that e-governance, smooth mobility and solid waste management are important issued for Panaji city, Srivastava further said that smart water meters and smart power meters should be part of the smart city project for harnessing reusable energy.
“To begin with, we are providing solar rooftop systems to all important government buildings,” he revealed, adding that the existing bylaws should be amended for new buildings, so as to get them fitted with solar water heating system, as well as providing rainwater harvesting in all housing colonies, which in turn will recharge the ground water.
Vice-chairman, CII, Goa State Council, Shekhar Sardessai in his welcome address said the smart city project will attract investment for the capital city.
“The CII has already set up a national smart cities mission, which is currently working with state governments across the country as well as the Union ministry of urban development to help build a framework and offer technical solutions for the Smart City Mission of the central government,” he informed, adding that the CII will help in developing visions, setting goals and charting strategies for smart city.
Sardessai further said the CII will also provide consultative inputs as also be involved in the process of city challenge competition.
City MLA Sidharth Kunkalienkar and city mayor Shubham Chodankar were also present for the inaugural session, besides many citizens and stakeholders.
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Quelle/Source: The Navhind Times, 04.11.2015
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