The Hindu 01.02.2010
‘Scrap draft Urban Development Policy’
Special Correspondent
| Grahakara parishat says it is cliché-ridden and does not specifically point out the plan |
— Photo: M.A. Sriram 
Sad state of affairs: A large number of migrants from rural areas end up in urban slums for sheer lack of proper development plans in place in the State.
Mysore: The Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has faulted the draft Urban Development Policy circulated by the Urban Development Department in the State recently and described it as “cliché-ridden with generalities”.
Members of MGP said the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) had sent the draft Urban Development Policy of the Karnataka Government to various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and has asked for comments. The MGP said the draft should be scrapped and a new one made.
S.K. Ananda Thirtha of the MGP said the draft – which was full of cliche-ridden generalities – talks of “the need to strengthen governance”, “maintaining the highest standards in design and execution”, “taking a holistic view of urban development”, “making sure that people of all classes participate in the development process”, “empowering local urban bodies”, “new angle for urban planning”, “eradicating poverty”, “bringing accountability in administration” without being specific on any issue.
Mr. Thirtha said that even when the draft policy gets to specifics, it makes illogical, inconsistent and often “foolish statements”. The motivation for this policy is itself highly suspect as the opening section of the policy says: “It is advisable to take a positive view of urbanisation itself. In the past, urbanisation has been viewed primarily as a problem. To overcome this, it is first important to accept that urbanisation is a welcome phenomenon and that it reflects the aspirations of millions of people in the State. What is needed is not to discourage urbanisation but to steer it correctly towards ends that are desirable.”
Mr. Thirtha said that that people from rural areas migrate to the city only because they need to earn their livelihood. In the absence of job opportunities in villages, and poor returns from farming and low prices for agricultural prices, unemployed persons from rural areas go to cities in search of jobs.
Such a forced migration cannot be “welcomed” as “the aspiration of the people of the State”. “The majority of sociologists and economists are worried about the dangers of urban migration and are busy devising ways to increase the standard of living in rural areas so that migration to urban areas will slow down and eventually stop. Development plans for cities such as Delhi have explicit provisions to discourage migration. In this light, it is very surprising that Karnataka planners consider urban migration beneficial”, said Mr. Thirtha.
Underlying the contradictions in the draft policy, he pointed out that the draft notes with concern that Bangalore was growing faster than other cities and goes on to recommend steps to promote other cities as a destination for migrants. “But to be consistent with the aims of the policy, should not migration to Bangalore be welcomed as it reflects the “aspiration of the people”, Mr. Thirtha said.
It said the draft policy seeks to give more power to elected representatives in the planning process and to reduce the role of government officials. If the draft policy is implemented as it stands, it will encourage unlimited growth of cities leading to astronomical land values in cities and will vest the control of all public lands with politicians. This will lead to unbridled corruption.
