Urban planning needs to shift to integrated mode: Minister M B Rajesh
Rajesh opens National Town and Country Planners meet
Trivandrum / January 10, 2025
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan. 10: Urban planning and development needs to make a paradigm shift to the integrated mode by factoring in the entire gamut of issues including the climate change amid fast-paced urbanisation across the world, Kerala Local Self Governments Minister Shri M B Rajesh said today.
The Minister was inaugurating the three-day National Town and Country Planners Conference, organised here by the Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI), New Delhi, with the support of the Local Self Government Department (LSGD), Govt. of Kerala.
Planners need to redefine the way they are going about their job since sustainable and inclusive development of human spaces is faced with big challenges, Shri Rajesh said, addressing planners and policy-makers from across the country.
“The urban planners should now look beyond the traditional approach. This includes evolving strategies to cope with climate change, by preparing plans both to cope with the larger issue and mitigate the immediate the consequences, and other key issues like housing, waste management and resilient practices” Shri Rajesh said.
Noting that the conference’s focal theme ‘Intelligent, Digital Spatial Planning and Governance’ is of increased relevance for the whole world, the Minister said Kerala has made upfront initiatives in this direction.
Kerala is making serious efforts through its policy initiatives to see how the challenges could be converted into opportunities.
In a country first initiative, Kerala constituted an Urban Policy Commission, mandated to look into the entire spectrum of urban development. The commission has submitted its interim report and the suggestions it made will be reflected in the forthcoming budget, he said.
“The issues relating to urban development are of particular importance for Kerala since the whole state is an extended city where the urban-rural divide hardly exists. Kerala’s annual growth of urban population is almost the double that of the county and global average,” he said.
The state has made pioneering efforts to addressing the climate change issue, where 268 LSGIs have already prepared Climate Change Local Action Plan with the help of UNDP, and this initiative has been rolled out to the entire state.
The state has also made remarkable strides in leveraging digital technology in planning and delivery of civic services, Shri Rajesh said.
In a message read out to the conference, Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan said it is vital to leverage innovative solutions in addressing the issues of local development, especially in the face of serious challenges like extreme weather events. He also said the state was committed to the decentralised planning, which is important in local development.
In his message to the conference, Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel said it is vital to integrate new technology in urban planning and development.
Addressing the conference online, Dr Sharmila Mary Joseph, Principal Secretary LSGD, Govt of Kerala, said the state Urban Policy Commission is looking into key issues like municipal fiscal health, housing and waste management in a scientific and sustainable manner.
Presiding over the inaugural session, ITPI president Shri N P Patel emphasised the importance of strengthening collaborations among various regions and agencies to promote sustainable and inclusive developmental practices. He said ITPI has been onboarded by leading urban planning institutions in the country.
Dr Bimal patel, Chairman HCP Design, and former President CEPT University Ahmedabad, said there was a need to make a complete shift in the way of urban planning, considering the challenges and unpredictability on the way.
The Minister also released the ITPI Souvenir and a set of books authored by planners from various states on the occasion.
Shri V P Kulshrestha, Secretary General ITPI, Shri Anoop Kumar Srivastava, Vice President ITPI, Shri Rajesh PN, Chairman ITPI, Kerala Regional Chapter, and Shri Pradeep Kapoor, Coordinator (Techno Admin) ITPI also spoke.
The meet has a comprehensive agenda covering a host of live topics relating to urban and country development including technological advancements,
ITPI is the premier institution of qualified urban planners in the country, promoting dynamic, inclusive and integrated town and country planning practice, education, research and institutional mechanism for vibrant, sustainable and resilient spatio-economic development of towns, cities and regions.
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