Smart City: 'Left out cities can resubmit proposals'

 States whose cities could not make it to Top 20 list in the Centre’s ambitious Smart City programme will be provided an opportunity to participate in a ‘fast-track competition’ and resubmit their proposals within the next two months.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu said April 15 had been fixed as the deadline for resubmitting the proposals.

As many as 23 states and Union territories were left out in the first phase of the Smart City mission. Madhya Pradesh with three cities in the top 20 topped the list. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have two each in the top 20. Karnataka’s two cities are Davangere and Belagavi. The top 20 cities were not selected but competed against each other through a rigorous process to get into the list, Naidu pointed out.

Naidu, who presented a “report card” on the achievements of the NDA government during the last 20 months, said the Centre would strive to get the long-pending GST Bill passed in the budget session of Parliament which would begin after February 20.

Naidu, who also holds the Parliamentary Affairs portfolio, said, “We will make every effort to get it passed this time... No stone will be left unturned. The government is in regular touch with different parties.”

Naidu said GST would revolutionise the taxation system and increase the revenue by 1.5 to two per cent.

He said a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs had been called on February 4 to discuss about the budget session.

He said the Cabinet, in a bid  push production of compost from municipal solid waste, had approved a proposal to provide subsidy to cities that take up the initiative. The fertiliser ministry will provide subsidy to the city administration for production and sale of compost.

Invest K’taka good move, says Naidu

A day ahead of the “Invest Karnataka - 2016”, the Centre said it would render all possible help to ensure the summit is a success. Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said “Invest Karnataka is a good move. The Centre will provide support. It is an indication that states want to move forward,” he said.

The minister added that it was not possible to manage everything with local investments. “We need global investments to cater to the needs of various sectors”, he said.