Kolkata, Feb 14 (IANS) The centre will increase fund allocation for states to promote the Clean India campaign and will rate city municipalities in the process, union Minister of Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs M. Venkaiah Naidu said here Saturday.
"The government is committed to implement a gradation of all the municipalities of the country in a bid to motivate them towards achieving the goal of development," he said in a statement.
He pointed out that 80 percent of the municipality fund is spent on salaries which needs to be streamlined to put development atop the agenda for the civic bodies.
Swachh Bharat, India's largest ever cleanliness drive, was initiated by the central government Oct 2 last year across 4,041 towns and semi-urban areas in India.
Terming the execution of the ambitious 100 Smart Cities project as a challenge, Naidu said it will help "usher (the nation) in a new age of development as development is the agenda of the government now".
Referring to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the minister said the goal of his ministry is to "make urban life more comfortable" and there will be a major thrust on reforms to improve the process of urban governance.
"50 percent of the total population of our country lives in urban areas now and the rate will go up to 84 percent by 2050. So, we need to gear up urban infrastructure including housing."
The former BJP national president said there was a need for taking up the agenda of housing for the economically weaker sections of society.
The Nellore-born minister said political parties need to put their ideological differences aside and aim for the development of the nation.
"There may be difference of ideals among political parties but the centre and state should always work together for achieving the goal of development," he said.
Lakshya Sen: FIR lodged against Commonwealth Games gold medalist Lakshya Sen, alleging age rigging
Arjuna Awardee and Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold medalist shuttler Lakshya Sen has been accu
'This is Modi's war...', US connects India with Russia-Ukraine war amid tariff war
Hours after US President Donald Trump imposed a massive 50 per cent tariff on India, his trade ad
The Garud commandos of the Indian Air Force, which have proven their mettle in anti-terrorist ope
A major change is being seen in West Bengal's ruling party, Trinamool Congress (TMC), before the
President Draupadi Murmu organized a dinner program on the occasion of the G 20 Summit. In this d
Kanye West takes inspiration from riots
Los Angeles, Feb 19 (IANS) Rapper Kanye West says his Adidas range was inspired by the London r
After the elections of five states are over, now inflation has started increasing. Oil companies
After two years, this time Diwali is expected to be celebrated without any restrictions. The pack
Former Congress President and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi will appear before the Enforcement Director
Singapore Open: PV Sindhu reaches final of Singapore Open, defeats Japanese player in semi-final
Indian badminton star PV Sindhu has reached the final of the Singapore Open. She defeated Saina K
