The Centre and the States on Thursday joined hands to adopt a national declaration that resolves to provide houses for all by 2022 and promote urban reforms.
The “National Declaration on Urban Governance and Housing for All” was adopted at a conclave of Housing and Urban Development Ministers from States and Union Territories, convened by Union Housing and Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.
They also resolved to actively implement the 25-point Urban Reforms Agenda proposed by Naidu at the conclave. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken of Housing for All by 2022, which marks the 75 years of India's independence.
The 25-point charter for urban planning and management to ensure planned urbanisation, assured amenities and decent urban life included GIS-based regional urban planning and efficient infrastructure development, effective public transport, use of solar energy, zero landfill waste, solid waste management, promoting cycling through dedicated tracks, capacity building of municipalities, and other measures.
The Minister said that Government would soon firm up the way forward on development of 100 'Smart Cities'. He said that there is considerable interest in this scheme from different developed countries.