Experts call for an alternative development model for Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Former MLC and professor K. Nageshwar stressed the need for a Telangana Municipal Commission on the lines of the Kerala Municipal Commission, which could influence urban planning and identify an alternative development model for Hyderabad.

He was addressing a seminar organised by the CPM Hyderabad Central Committee on “Urbanisation in Telangana, Government Policies, Alternatives” at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram in Baghlingampally on Saturday.

Talking about the need to see urbanization as a positive phenomenon that promotes innovation and contributes to the economy, Nageshwar said there is a need to move away from the “real estate-led growth model” and “ease of doing business business model” to an “ease of living model”.

For this to happen, he said, a symbiosis between the benefiting class and the working class was necessary.

The threat of “ghettoization”

Noting that there is a huge gap between demand and supply for huge infrastructure such as drinking water, sewage, transportation and other needs in the scenario of rapid urbanization prevailing in the city, he cautioned that there is scope for ‘ghettoization’ of the city as caste and class divisions already took place.

“There is a difference in the demographics of cities. Just like in the USA, where the rich class lives in the suburbs and the poor live in the center. A similar situation can be seen in Hyderabad where the castes and classes of the rich are moving to Necropolis, Kokapet and other areas while the working class and the poor are living in slums,” he said, noting that infrastructure must be created in areas where the working class thrives and lower, otherwise it will one day lead to disturbance of peace.

Estimation and solutions for creating social infrastructure

Recalling the World Bank estimates of Rs 70 lakh crore needed to create social infrastructure in cities across the country and Mc Kinsey and Company estimates of Rs 90 lakh crore, Prof. Nageshwar said that whenever the idea of ​​urban reforms was raised, the policy makers always tried to increase property tax, which burdened the people.

Instead, he said that as per the recommendations of the KC Sivaramakrishnan Commission, 10% of the income tax collected could be contributed by the Center to the budget for creating capital infrastructure (urban social infrastructure) beneficial to the working class.

Ground basin for agricultural protection purposes

Drawing a contrast between “building with nature” and “building by destroying nature”, he suggested that a pool of 1,800 acres of protected agricultural land that was at risk of being caught by land sharks in and around Hyderabad could be used to grow crops. vegetables and fruit to meet the consumption needs of city residents. He also suggested that the government could lease vacant land and use it for this purpose.

“This will not only improve the health of the people of Hyderabad but also tens of thousands of people will be able to find a source of livelihood in these areas,” he said, referring to the recommendations of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).