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Urbanisation has outpaced infrastructure: Shürhozelie |
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KOHIMA, OCT 4(EMN): Minister for Urban Development Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu today said urbanisation is a relentless process which has come to stay and has to be factored into all developmental thinking and development processes.
He pointed out that rapid urbanisation has not only outpaced infrastructure development but has also brought about terrible downsides such as proliferating slums, increasing homelessness, growing urban poverty and crime, relentless march of pollution and ecological damages.
The Minister was addressing a gathering of district administration officials, Kohima Municipal Council, colony leaders and officials as the State joined the rest of the world in observing World Habitat Day under the theme ‘Better City, Better Life’ sponsored and organised by Urban Development Department in Kohima.
Maintaining that the process of urbanisation is expected to continue unabated, Shürhozelie said trends and forecasts based on the forces of globalisation is only set to accelerate the pace of urbanisation. It has been empirically established that even countries that restrict and regulate migration to cities have encountered population pressures, he pointed out while emphasising that the real challenge before the urban sector is to make the urban transition efficient, equitable and cost effective, by not only wiping out the deficits in urban infrastructure, but also by providing for the incremental population.
Voicing happiness that the Urban Development Department has taken up many activities to disseminate awareness, he said such awareness creation is critical to improvement and proper management of human habitat.
The Minister also underlined that, while there is no doubt that the people of Nagaland by and large still live in villages, since the last few years increasing share of the population are settling in urban areas. This is mainly due to rural-urban migration in search of employment opportunity and better livelihood, he said.
He further emphasised that to make the towns and cities more energy efficient, controlling of pollution should be at the focus of the developmental activities.
Further pointing out that there is an emerging global consensus that the world can no longer afford to exploit the environment at the price of development, Shürhozelie stressed that the objective of any urban development activity should aim at bringing about efficient and sustainable cities. Dwelling on the need to safeguard environment, he cited the realm of ancient cities and their proximate reason for the collapse and called for maintaining the equilibrium of variables understanding the city, its environment, its sustainability and pay special attention to urban environment.
Earlier, Director Urban Development Ken Keditsu said the World Habitat Day is celebrated every first Monday of October since 1978 and the purpose of the day is to reflect the state to follow the basic human right for adequate shelter and to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the habitat of future generation. He also informed that the global observance of World Habitat Day this year is being held today at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, hosted by China.
Awards were also presented to the winners of the essay competition held under the theme ‘My Vision, My City’ by the Chief Guest wherein Abraham Kath of Mount Olive College bagged the first position, Chubasenla M. Longkumer of Kohima Science College second and Niriezono Punyu of Alder College third while consolation prizes were won by Nipoli of Mount Olive College, Enino Whiso of Sazolie College and Kikhriezonuo Yore of Sazolie College. They received cash award of Rs. 15000, Rs. 10000, Rs. 5000 and Rs. 1000 with certificates for the first, second, third and consolation prizes respectively.
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