Karnataka has forwarded a proposal to the Centre on developing three places in the vicinity of Bangalore – Devanahalli, Ramanagar-Bidadi and Tumkur – as “Smart Cities.” The state’s argument is what while any metropolis with a population of over 50 lakh is entitled to a smart city in its vicinity, Bengaluru is entitled to more with its population touching a crore.
IT companies keen
Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake told reporters that Information Technology companies had met him and departmental officials on Thursday and expressed their keenness in participating in the process of building smart cities. A workshop will be held involving corporate groups and officials after the winter legislature session in Belgaum to discuss take the ideas further, he added.
The minister, however, said that there was no clarity yet on how many cities across the country will get funding for the “Smart City” project, given that the funding for this year is Rs. 750 crore.
Mr. Sorake said that Karnataka had also proposed developing towns in Karnataka with a population in the range of 5 lakh to 10 lakh – Kalaburagi, Hubli-Dharwad, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Belagavi and Davanagere – with central funding. The government is hopeful of developing Hosapete, Vijayapura and Udupi as “heritage towns” with Central assistance and a proposal on this has been sent.
Water rates will go up
While the water rates have gone up already in Bengaluru, Mr. Sorake said that upward revision is in the offing in other towns as well. He said that a circular on revision had been sent two years ago, but put on hold with elections being held in the state.
The minister said that urban local bodies had been told to review water connections and either regularise the unmetered ones following due process or disconnect them.
A board for solid waste management now?
With garbage disposal blowing up into a big crisis in Bengaluru, the government is now mulling the possibility of setting up a corporation or a board for solid waste management. Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said that cities tended to ignore the garbage issue until it went out of hand and a board would help handle the problem better with the right infrastructure and technology. The minister said the government had proposed setting up a commissionerate to govern all the city corporations in Karnataka.
