: Growth of the city is possible only if it is expands and concentrating development at one place leads to cramped conditions; major housing must be taken up for workers near their place of work in industrial areas to avoid inconvenience and reduce expenses for them and also reduce pollution and pressure on traffic; housing propels the city in achieving double-digit growth and housing should be taken up as a project instead of in the traditional manner.
These are some of the observations Chief Secretary S.P. Tucker made during a meeting with sub-committees formed for different areas of development towards achieving double-digit growth rate, here on Saturday.
Housing projects
Housing projects should be taken up on 200 to 300 acres of land by providing houses to all sections of people along with markets, schools, shopping complexes, and other facilties, he said. Mr. Tucker said efforts were being made to sanction permission to builders within one month of applying for approval which would benefit the builder as well as the consumer.
The Chief Secretary wanted quality services and facilities at the tourist places. Ten projects must be identified and taken up in the next two months, he told officials.
‘One lakh IT jobs
in next 5 years’
Regarding the IT sector, the sub-committee concerned wanted the standards of engineering colleges improved and availability of top officials in the city to take decisions on the proposals for IT units. Mr. Tucker said the IT Secretary would be available in the city for three days in a week. E. Ravi, a representative of the IT Industry Association, said one lakh jobs could be provided in the next five years and that the turnover of the IT industry was estimated to go up from Rs. 2,000 crore to Rs. 10,000 crore.
When the CS wanted ways to be found to improve revenue of the GVMC, Commissioner Pravin Kumar said the revenue for the present year is estimated to reach Rs. 693 crore, while a due of Rs. 186 crore was continuing from the steel plant, port and other organisations and due to court cases.
NHAI would be contacted to shift the toll gate at Aganampudi; CRZ rules would be notified within 15 days; the Collector was asked to allot time to industrialists on every Saturday to discuss their problems, the CS said. Commissioner of Police Amit Garg promised total safety to the locals and tourists and for the night life.
A team from Singapore is meeting him on Monday to discuss modernisation of the zoo park, Mr. Tucker said.
