Indian Express 01.02.2010
Urban governance meet calls for uniform selection, code of conduct for mayors
Besides recommending timely implementation of the unfinished reforms agenda for this year, Municipalika 2010, the three-day international conference on urban governance which concluded on Saturday here, has sought uniform selection and conduct for mayors and city managers in all local bodies across the country. It has also called for professionalism and transparency in their functioning.
Summing up the deliberations at the meet, convener and advisor to the Good Governance India Foundation and former Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited – (HUDCO) CMD V Suresh on Saturday said the uniform selection and the code for conduct would ensure better performance, confidence in self and power to implement plans in their perspective.
It is imperative to strengthen local bodies through capacity building at the level of mayors, counsellors, city managers, service providers to deal with the multi-dimensional development needs to make cities work,” he said.
The recommendations that will be forwarded to all government forums, also call for sustained support for actualizing the plans, involvement of stakeholders at local level and flexible execution of plans in a decentralised mode with an emphasis on the use of new technologies in keeping with the changing times, especially in small cities. The meet concluded with a message to include planning for the marginalised, poor and disadvantaged for future city planning.
It was also suggested that the concept of municipal bonds as a source of raising resources would have to be expanded to smaller local bodies, which should pool together for bond scheme.
“All efficient water management systems including waste water recycling have to be introduced compulsorily with added emphasis on cut in fresh water demand from 135 lakh litres per day to 90 per day,” the delegates at the conference recommended.
The meet called for an urgent need to strengthen public transport modes and use less polluting and energy efficient ways. The meet saw participation of over 500 delegates including 20 mayors, 30 municipal commissioners, secretaries from 10 states besides urban planners.
