Urban development minister Jaipal Reddy recently launched a 2-year ‘global campaign on making cities resilient’  Of late, the Ministry of Urban Development, GoI[i] has sought help from the World Bank to complete several infrastructure projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), a flagship programme launched by the UPA[ii] government in 2005. JNNURM was initiated in order to revamp basic infrastructure facilities—comprising transportation system, sewerage, drainage system, water supply and housing—which cracked due to unprecedented urban growth in recent times.
Under the programme, around 523 urban development projects have been implemented in 65 cities across India at present. Till now, the government has approved more than Rs 1,12,000 crore for urban infrastructure development under JNNURM.
“We hope to get US$1 billion loan (around Rs 5,000 crore) from the World Bank by November 2010 for implementing several infrastructure projects under JNNURM. The negotiations with the bank are in the final stage,” says a senior urban development ministry official on conditions of anonymity.
According to sources, the Centre’s commitment to various other social initiatives such as the Right to Food and Right to Education have led to fund crunch, prompting the government to seek help from the World Bank.
National capital joins global campaign
In another endeavour to reduce disaster risks in South Asian cities, the Indian urban development minister Jaipal Reddy recently launched a 2-year ‘global campaign on making cities resilient’. Colombo, Thimpu and Karachi are among the other cities that joined Delhi in the campaign.
The campaign will be promoted by the governments and urban local bodies, in close coordination with the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. In India, the Urban Development Ministry and the National Institute of Disaster Management will run the campaign.
Pointing out Delhi’s location in seismic zone 4, which is just below the top prone earthquake area supposed to be zone 5, Mr Reddy said that it is mandatory for all future buildings to comply with the national building code. Therefore, developers need to adopt earthquake resistant measures for new buildings, while existing buildings can be retrofitted.
The Urban development minister also called for adoption of best sustainable practices among urban local bodies across cities.
Jeeta Bandopadhyay
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