Kerala’s urban policy, an interim report on which was submitted by the Urban Policy Commission to the government last week, has proposed several steps to mitigate climate change. It also recommends professionalisation of urban local body governance and the setting up of metropolitan planning committees and business development councils for major cities.
Last year, the State government constituted the commission, headed by M. Satish Kumar, a Senior Associate Professor at Queen’s University, Belfast to formulate a comprehensive urban policy to guide Kerala’s development activities for the next 25 years. The policy in its final form is expected to be submitted next year.
The major climate change-related proposals include strengthening of the early warning mechanism with multi–hazard early warning system, installation of temporary flood barriers to protect high risk areas, initiation of cross-border collaboration between states to protect the Western Ghats, implementation of a decarbonisation approach to reduce carbon footprint as a larger section of the population moves from two wheelers to four wheelers, mandatory carbon audits for corporations followed by municipalities, annual green fee and purchase fee on motorised vehicles and promotion of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes to reduce waste generation.
Another major suggestion of the commission is to create a local economic fund through a blended financing model, opening up the possibilities of collaboration among local bodies and private, cooperative and community entities like Kudumbashree in a larger scale. It also proposes to establish a Local Economic Development Authority under the chairmanship of Minister for Local Self Governments to facilitate local economic development and financial self-sufficiency. In addition, local economic special zones are proposed in all districts based on their resource potential.
An Integrated Labour Market Information System is proposed in all the urban local self-government institutions. Kerala Municipal Bonds are proposed to be launched for the leading municipalities. The revenue from own sources of urban local bodies are proposed to be increased from 25-35% to 70% and property tax collection from 50% to 90%. A policy is proposed to ensure universal accessibility of public amenities and public transport.
City and ward level committees are proposed to develop old age-friendly city and neighbourhood plans. A periodic well-being index is also proposed for all urban local bodies.
Published – December 21, 2024 08:02 pm IST