Just as Delhiites gear up for the second phase of odd-even car-rationing scheme beginning April 15, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Thursday that the scheme is a “consequence” of unsustainable urban development practices followed over the years and all stakeholders need to draw lessons from it.
“Imposition of the odd-even restrictions on vehicles in Delhi is a consequence of unsustainable urban development practices followed over the years and all stakeholders need to draw lessons from it,” he said while addressing the National Workshop on Sanitation, organised by the Urban Development Ministry.
Welcoming the initiative of 18 states which have come forward to make 400 cities open defecation free (ODF) by year end, Naidu asked why only these States are in the forefront in this regard.
He said Gujarat has volunteered to make 79 cities ODF, followed by Madhya Pradesh (68), Andhra Pradesh (66), Maharashtra (60), Rajasthan (33), Chhattisgarh (32) and Telangana (14).
Other states which will make less than 10 cities ODF include West Bengal, Haryana, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand.
Two cities of Puducherry would be ODF by year end, besides Shimla and New Delhi municipal council areas.
Naidu said, there is no place for politics when it comes to development. He also said the UD Ministry has given full freedom to urban local bodies and states in formulation, appraisal and approval of projects, “unlike in the past when every project was appraised and approved in Delhi.”
Sunita Narain, Director of Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said the ‘Swachchh Bharat Mission’ is a welcome initiative as it is based on a holistic approach to sanitation.