Business Line 03.03.2011
Kerala to develop ‘growth centres' in urban areas
The Kerala Government proposes to identify, plan and develop urban areas with potential to be developed as major growth centres.
These growth centres would be chosen for individual scope for growth in varied sectors ranging from industries, tourism, information technology, trade and commerce.
ECONOMIC STATUS
The growth centres will improve the economic status of the people of the region and preclude unplanned urban spillovers and adverse impact on the productive agriculture sector in rural areas.
This will ensure balanced development of the State economy, says a statement of intention made in the Economic Review brought out by the State Planning Board.
The status of infrastructure in such growth centres will also be improved to meet the increase in demand. Prospects for private-public participation (PPP) will be explored while seeking to implement various projects in the growth centres.
MARKED DIFFERENCE
The trend of urbanisation in the State has shown marked peculiarities in relation to that in peer States.
Generally, the increase in urban population growth rate is the result of existing cities and urban areas reaching a level of saturation.
But in Kerala, the main reason for urban population growth is the increase in the number of urban areas as well as increased urbanisation of peripheral areas of the existing major urban centres, the Review said.
NOT LIMITED
The urban sector in the State comprise of five municipal corporations and 53 municipalities. A little more than 25 per cent of the population live in these urban areas.
This is a little less than the national average. But, unlike the other parts of the country, urbanisation in the State is not limited to the designated cities and towns. Barring a few panchayats in the hilly tracts, the State's population can by and large be termed as urbanised, the Review added.
