Group photo

The aim of the annual conference is to strengthen networking among the partners and to discuss issues of political and social relevance in the country. In addition to representatives of the partner organisations, several high-ranking guest speakers were present. On the first day of the conference speakers were J. A. Chowdary, Special Chief Secretary and Consultant of the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, and M Hari Narayanan, Commissioner, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation. Further important speakers were M. G. Devasahayam, urban development expert and former director of town and county development of the State of Haryana, Professor Vikram Soni, UGC Emeritus Fellow of the University of California in Santa Barbara, Professor Dr. G. Palanithuarai, Rajiv Gandhi Chair for Panchat Raj-Studies, Gandhigram Rural Institute, and Winny Patro, CEO and Co-founder of IIMnet Ventures.

“Smart cities don’t mean we take people to Paradise. It means to make a livable city where people have access to all the basic amenities, “said Mr. M Hari Narayanan, Commissioner, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation raising the curtains on the 33rd Annual Joint Staff Development Programme, jointly organized by The Statesman Print Journalism School (Kolkata) and Konrad Adenaur Stiftung (New Delhi), here today. He pointed out the fact that the concept of smart city is not necessarily related to advanced technology only.

Deliberating on the topic “Emergence of Smart cities: Issues and Challenges”, he said that the term high-tech doesn’t necessarily define a Smart city. He said Visakhapatnam being the very first city to initiate the project; it was a challenge for the administration to cover the slums under it. Jalaripeta, one of the biggest slums in the city was included in the area because the slum-dwellers themselves responded well to the plan.

Mr. M G Devasahayam, Urban Development expert, said India’s urban dilemma is to be smart or livable and the twin concepts of smartness and livability depend on the quality of life, economic prosperity and social stability. That is why the local bodies should be given more right to resources and power to ensure over-all development.

Smart solutions don’t alone build a smart city because India has numerous problems like urban sprawl and chaos, flood water management, creating employment opportunities, pollutions, healthcare, sanitation, power shortage, housing problems and corruption. He stressed on livability is inclusive unlike the notion of exclusive smart city imported from the West.

Mr. Sam Rajappa, veteran journalist, said India shouldn’t imitate the West because our requirements are different and our version of smart cities should be indigenous. He cited Manipal as an exemplary township and said that it has all the trappings of a smart city.

Professor Vikram Soni, Fellow, University of California, Santa Barbara, dwelt on the theory of Natural City, a truly original idea for making cities self-sustaining. Making a strong pitch to make Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, a Natural City, he stressed that it has the opportunity to become the first city on the ground to realise this novel scheme. It will become a beacon for sustainable future for the beleaguered planet and will radically alter the urbanization scenario for the world. It will not only be a world class city but also a trail blazer in a class of its own.

Mr. Soni said it will become a model for India and the rest of Asia showing the future direction for urban living. Unlike other important Indian cities, Amaravati will be self-sufficient in water, vegetables, milk and markedly reduce energy use and pollution. Located on the edge of the conserved Krishna flood plain, it will sustainably draw perennial quality water for floodplain aquifer for its citizens.

Mr. Pankaj Madan, Head of Programmes, KAS, speaking on sustainable development and inclusive growth, mentioned that the challenges and priorities for developing countries like India are clearly different from the developed world. He stressed that India needs smart solutions for our cities and villages as this is not a matter of choice, rather a necessity.

Mr. Swapan Mullick, Director of SPJS, said that in keeping with JSDP’s practice of concentrating on contemporary social issues, the conference on Smart Cities has thrown up concerns on administrative, environmental and economic challenges.

The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry takes over the organisation of the 34th JSDP Meeting 2017.