Capital should implement urban reforms: Shrivastava

Terms Municipalika 2010 as melting pot of ideas

Raipur, January 30, 2010

If we want to develop our city in a balanced, sustainable and inclusive manner then we will have to promptly implement urban reforms. RMC Speaker Sanjay Shrivastava expressed this view after returning from Ahmedabad where he attended Municipalika 2010 - the three-day 8th International Exhibition and Conference on Municipal Services, Urban Development & Public Works that had commence from January 28.

He informed that Municipalika 2010 was focused on good urban governance for safe, healthy, green & smart cities. The conference covered urban reforms, safety and security, water/ waste water/solid waste management, energy efficiency, environment and climate change, affordable housing, e-governance, and partnerships, he said.

“In the conference, the deliberations and displays for tackling urban challenges and for providing better urban infrastructure were shared and exchanged with each other to improve the urban scenario,” he added.

“Our capital can become a role model for other cities if we will adopt municipal solutions suggested by various companies that had comprehensive strategy to deal common civic problems,” he said.

Shrivastava pointed out that the capital’s water crisis during summer could be easily solved if the RMC would implement integrated water and waste water management system. “Recycling of waste water can be the most effective method through which we can have ample water, especially when the water-table plunges during scorching summer,” he said.

Shrivastava also advocated for implementation of water meter system in the city to avoid misuse of water. “In Ahmedabad, commercial rate of water consumption is Rs 60 per one thousand litres. We can also fix domestic and commercial rates of water meter so that people could not waste it,” he added.

“Similarly, converting solid waste into manure can serve dual purpose – the city will remain clean and garbage will not be dumped in the outskirts of the city but will be utilised in farm lands. This method has gain popularity in Ahmedabad and we can follow similar pattern after proper studies,” he said.

Shrivastava further informed that he saw a sanitation machine in the exhibition which can easily enter into the narrow streets. Likewise, he informed about compressor machine which compresses the garbage to such an extent that not only reduces its mass but a garbage collection container can load twofold of the filth.