Expressing concern over the consequences of unplanned and unanticipated urban expansion in BRICS, delegates from member countries on Friday called for a new ‘Social Contract’ among the Governments to address various challenges associated to enable urban renaissance.
Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa stressed on such an integrated approach during the three-day BRICS Urbanisation Forum on ‘Urban Transition in BRICS’ that concluded here.
They stressed on the need for coordination of policies of federal, provincial and city Governments for an integrated approach to urban development and for forging effective partnerships with private sector for resource mobilisation in an enabling environment.
Addressing the closing session of the three days conference, Union Minister of State for Urban Development Rao Inderjit Singh urged the BRICS nations to step up cooperation to effectively address the new urban agenda focussing on inclusive urban development.
India is the least urbanized among BRICS group. While 84 per cent of the population in Brazil live in urban areas, it is 73 per cent in Russia, 64 per cent in South Africa and 56 per cent in China.
The Minister said that member countries should ensure effective follow up actions in pursuance of new urban agenda to be finalised at the HABITAT-III Conference to be held in Quito, Eucador next month.
During the conference attended by leaders and experts from the BRICS, several key topics including investments, urbanisation, formation of new cities and policies and solutions to the challenges were discussed threadbare.