Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today said unless all cities are made smart it will not make a “big difference” to the country and for this the partcipation of the people and stake holders is important.
“Only one Ranchi Smart City or hundred smart cities in the country will not make a big difference unless all the cities of the country are made smart. But for this purpose the participation of all the people and stake holders is important,” Naidu said after bhoomi puja was held for the Ranchi Smart City.
“Ranchi will be the first Greenfield Smart City of the country where IT, beauty, duty and security everything will be available and so Ranchi Smart City will not only be a lighthouse for Jharkhand but it will be a lighthouse for the entire country,” the vice president said.
The vice president said that local bureaucracy, local bodies and politicians must work together taking on board the common people to fulfill the ambitious projects.
Naidu asked the authorities to develop smart city in such a way that it should have both parks and parking facilities. Recycling of waste water should be done so that it can be used for gardening and factories, he said.
He said, in the smart city there should be traffic free zone, more and more solar energy should be used, energy-efficient street lights should be used there should be pedestrian path and more over there should be a separate cycle track.
Waste management system, efficient education system, efficient traffic system and health amenities are parts of smart cities, he said.
Naidu said, there should be arrangement for advanced weather forecasting in the smart cities.
The vice president said, people of Jharkhand are fortunate to have good weather condition, greenery, labourious people and 40 per cent of the country’s mineral resources.
Naidu said, the initial amount of Rs 500 crore from the central government and additional Rs 500 crore by the local body make only Rs 1000 crore which cannot do much for a smart city. And that is why the Union government has planned to develop smart cities on the public-private partnership.
Under the scheme, private companies and foreign companies can help and participate in the development of such cities, he said.
HEC will pay back its old dues and due salaries of its employees and labourers, which will benefit the people of Jharkhand, the chief minister said.