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<ul><li>Karnataka state government is working on a proposal to ban construction activity in Bengaluru for next five years to deal with water crisis problem. </li><li>Bengaluru has emerged as a hotbed for real estate construction activity in recent years, with consumer demand reaching new levels, and home sales reaching 80% high as compared to 2017. </li><li>The proposal will lead to massive job crisis and inflation in real estate market and is also not sure of helping with <keyword id="68552" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-scarcity">water scarcity</keyword> as there is no water storage facility. </li></ul>The state of Karnataka has come up with its own plan to fight the problem of water crisis. It is contemplating a ban on apartment construction in Bengaluru, for the next five years. The city was once known for its beautiful gardens, many lakes and ample groundwater resources. However, tech and BPO boom which brought in population and scramble for space, has pushed builders to take over lakes, fill them up and construction over them. Added to that, the government is <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/no-construction-of-apartments-in-bengaluru-for-next-5-yrs-due-to-water-shortage-1561649591527.html">also worried </a>that new apartments might not have basic amenities like water. Unclear ban This move could place a spoke in the wheel for the real estate market in Bengaluru which has just started to recover. After being stranded with unsold homes for the last four years, the market has started showing signs of growth. In the first quarter of 2019, its homes sales went up by 80%, from 2017, according to <keyword id="4695692" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ANAROCK-Property-Consultants">ANAROCK Property Consultants</keyword>. Lack of clarity regarding the ban is also worrying investors and home buyers alike. The proposal does not specify if it will include new construction activity or will also be applicable to projects under construction projects as well. Eitherways, the effects will not bode well for the sector. “Builders sitting on ready inventory will immediately increase the property prices of these homes by at least 10-15%. This will keep inflating over the years of the ban. However, homebuyers with new ready properties whose prices remained stagnant over the last 2-3 years may have a reason to cheer this move, as finally the values of their property will rise,” says <keyword id="6420759" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anuj-Puri">Anuj Puri</keyword>, Chairman, ANAROCK Property Consultants. The step will be a big blow to the millions of labourers working in the city’s real estate market. Labour from various states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal work in the city. “This will further contribute to ever increasing job crisis in the country,” Puri says.

Bengaluru’s water crisis might make it an expensive real estate market

India was the cradle of civilization, a riverine world that had its proud foundation in the Indus Valley. Indian culture is thus interwoven with water. The holy Ganges, the early dip, the bathing ritual---all early Hindu practices are water-shot. 
 
Yet the paradox is that the most fertile nation is today one of the most water-challenged countries in the world, “<a href="http://www.wri.org/blog/2015/02/3-maps-explain-india%E2%80%99s-growing-water-risks">from its deepest aquifers to its largest rivers</a>”. 
 
How much is too much? 
 A report by the <keyword id="6356505" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Resources-Institute">World Resources Institute</keyword> shows that more than 100 million people in India live in severely polluted areas. Out of 632 districts examined, only 59 districts had water safe enough to drink. The area that is the most severely polluted is Bagalkot, Karnataka. 
 
The statistics mock the country. While 54% of India’s total area faces the threat of water scarcity, almost 600 million people are not able to get enough. In a total population of 1.2 billion according to the 2011 census, India has just 1,000 cubic meters of water per person today, as against the US supply of nearly 8,000 cubic metres per person. Any country with less than 1,700 cubic meters per person per year is considered water-stressed. 
 
Even the most fertile region, which is the source of not only food but also her civilization and the Vedic culture, is the excessively high-stressed Northwest India, which produces 50 per cent of the national rice supply and 85 per cent of its wheat. This area is also called India’s “breadbasket.” But the 550 wells in Northwestern India face the danger of declining groundwater levels by 58 per cent. 
But why exactly, has this all happened? 
 
Why the <keyword id="6355836" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-crisis">water crisis</keyword>? 
 The reasons are obvious. Even as the population is expanding, water supply is reducing, with farmers over-extracting the resource. Especially after the Green Revolution, groundwater, rather than surface water, is being overused to irrigate crops. 
 
There is not enough investment in technology and infrastructure at all federal, state, and local levels. Due to lack of efficient planning, shooting corporate privatization, industrial and human pollution and finally corruption, the lifeline of a healthy community has been threatened, according to <a href="http://thewaterproject.org/water-in-crisis-india">The Water Project</a>. 
 
South, West and Central India, on the other hand, have a significantly lower water table than other regions. 
 
In Eastern India, the strange paradox of abundant groundwater, but lack of electricity, has made water inaccessible for irrigation. All over the country, faulty distribution of electricity has stressed out agricultural practices. 
 
When examined at a national level, it is clear that the groundwater levels come down continuously, as its 4,000 wells show a reduction of 54% of the water supply in the past seven years. Almost 16% of the water reduces by over 1 meter (3.2 feet) annually. 
 
Moreover, the groundwater is extremely polluted as chlorine, fluoride, iron, arsenic, nitrate, and/or electrical conductivity exceed the national standards. Most of the water in India is not even fit for drinking, and sometimes not even for bathing. The Clean Ganga campaign never proceeded beyond a launch in 1984, due to lack of maintenance of the facilities. 
 
Improving water supply? 
How do we increase water creation and storage, then? In the cities, a poor and leaky distribution network has led to large-scale leakage as well as “unaccounted water.” But with adequate pricing, and the use of private firms to streamline distribution, reliable water supply can be improved and pricing can be reduced, as in Dharwad. 
 
In rural areas, while recharging and harvesting water is important, such techniques have limited advantages. It is important to utilize water for local storage. In the long run, dams can be used, apart from full groundwater recharge, water harvesting, and recycling, in order to prevent it from getting lost in the oceans. 
 
However, two opposing viewpoints lock horns over the issue of dams. One section says that a worrying aspect of storage dams is its record of disturbing biodiversity and the environment, submerging and displacing people and disrupting their lifestyles, cultures, social support systems and emotional attachment to certain areas. Hence, instead of big dams, they advocate watershed development, involving leveling land and tapping rainwater in small ponds and check dams in streams, which can increase soil moisture, recharge groundwater, and facilitate a second crop. 
 
On the other hand, many heavy technology-oriented nation builders feel that storage dams cannot be neglected, considering the swelling population and the need to overcome the national crisis. They point out that while the population is expected to grow astronomically, the target increase of agriculture by 4% every year is essential to expand 140 million hectares (mh) of net cultivated area in India, even though only about 60 mh of land is irrigated today. 
 
Some new steps One optimistic feature of India’s water development is that certain issues have been addressed, at least. In India’s eleventh five-year plan (2007–12), according to The <keyword id="467755" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Bureau-of-Asian-Research">National Bureau of Asian Research</keyword> some 15 mh through watershed development, as well as NGO-led efforts have paved the way to the program’s success. 
 For example, <keyword id="57766" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anna-Hazare">Anna Hazare</keyword> transformed Ralegan Siddhi village in Maharashtra through water harvesting and cooperation. Another NGO called <keyword id="290378" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tarun-Bharat-Sangh">Tarun Bharat Sangh</keyword> brought about community-based development through water harvesting and management in Rajasthan. Even Gujarat built over 100,000 check dams, which are said to be the main reason for Gujarat’s 8%-plus growth rate of agricultural GDP. 
 
With a lot of focus on water management in the 12th Five-Year plan, there seems to be some attention being given to aquifer mapping, watershed development, reduction of pollution and treatment, and efficient management of irrigation. 
 
With sound partnership between the centre, state, municipal and private bodies, the water crisis can be blown over, point out the optimists. 
Can we then rise to the occasion and reach for the sodden skies and a fertile earth?

How India’s Waterless Doom Can Be Defeated

<ul><li>
As many as 100 million people in the country are suffering from the nation-wide water crisis. </li><li>Moreover, 21 major cities are expected to be devoid of groundwater by 2020, says government think tank NITI Aayog. </li></ul> No drops, No rain, nothing. India is suffering from its worst-ever water crisis in history. It has already started affecting hundreds and millions of lives and livelihoods across the country. And, people are craving for water to drink as well. “How will three pots of water be sufficient for an entire family of five,” asks a resident of Chennai — India’s sixth largest city — which ran out of water after all four reservoirs dried up this summer. 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Chennai: People rush to fill their vessels from a water tanker following acute w..." msid="69988629" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;People rush to fill their vessels from a water tanker following acute water shortage, in Chennai.Photo)(&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>








 A large number of people are now washing utensils in dirty water, to save the clean water for cooking and drinking. There won’t be any relief anytime soon as the southwest monsoon — accounting 80% of India’s rainfall — is late and is expected to be <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/monsoon-to-be-below-normal-over-north-south-india-imd/articleshow/69602283.cms">lower than usual</a> in both north and south India. As many as 100 million people in the country are suffering from the nation-wide water crisis. Moreover, 21 major cities are expected to be devoid of groundwater by 2020, says government think tank NITI Aayog Only some parts of the country have received rainfall — that too almost a week late. Apart from the water crisis, the harsh heatwaves in the country took more than <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/22/india/chennai-india-water-crisis-intl/index.html">137 lives </a>. India’s dwindling water sources worsened the situation. <a href="http://202.159.215.252:83/DocumentUploadRoot/DocumentId_32837/20.06.2019_CWC_Bull.pdf">According to the Central Water Commission</a>, two-thirds water reservoirs in the country are below normal levels. Little Water, No Water — Current status of crisis across the country 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Women fetch water from an opening made by residents at a dried-up lake in Chennai" msid="69988642" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Women fetch water from an opening made by residents at a dried-up lake in Chennai, India, June 11, 2019. REUTERS/P. Ravikumar TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>









 On 2 June 2019, a video of women filling bucket from the water leaked by a water tanker over the road went viral on social media, reported India spend. More than 100 districts across the country are officially affected by drought. Most of the districts (80%) in Karnataka and Maharashtra (72%) are hit by drought and crop failure. As many as 8.2 million farmers are struggling for livelihood. With scarcity comes strife. The state governments of Karnataka and Maharashtra — are now fighting over sharing water resources. Every day, Maharashtra government is sending 6,000 water tankers to 4,920 villages and 10,506 hamlets or settlements (bastis) in drought-hit areas. In the South, the Tamil Nadu government had to sanction Rs 233 crore to initiate emergency water projects. The state capital — Chennai— had to shut down the air conditioning to save as much as 9,000 litres a day. People have to stand in line for hours and they get foul-smelling water that might have been mixed with sewage. Karnataka too was forced to shut schools for a week due to water scarcity. Separately, residents of Bhilwara in Rajasthan have to keep water ‘locked’ in tankers since they depend on drinking water that is supplied once in 10 days. They are worried that it might be stolen! No groundwater by 2020 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="India Water Shortage" msid="69988668" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Indiand stand in queues to fill vessels filled with drinking water from a water tanker in Chennai, capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. Millions of people are turning to water tank trucks in the state as house and hotel taps run dry in an acute water shortage caused by drying lakes and depleted groundwater. Some private companies have asked employees to work from home and several restaurants are closing early and even considering stopping lunch meals if the water scarcity aggravates.Photo/R. Parthibhan)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>









AP New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad are amongst the 21 cities that will run out of groundwater by 2020. This will affect as many as 100 million people, claims a report by NITI Ayog. Furthermore, 40% of India’s population will struggle for drinking water by 2030. With India’s water crisis deepening by the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently created Ministry of Jal Shakti that is going to look after the water resource management. Modi also reiterated his promise to provide piped water to every rural house in India by 2024. However, analysts have claimed that won’t be enough. A UN Human rights report claimed that soon only wealthy people in the world would be able to afford basic necessities in case of a drought, heatwave or famine. Falling rainfall levels in India 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Chennai: School students offer prayers to rain god seeking rainfall following th..." msid="69988705" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;School students offer prayers to rain god seeking rainfall following the severe water crisis, in Chennai.Photo) (&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>










 The Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) reported that 43.4% areas in the country are under drought as of 30 May 2019. A delayed monsoon is among the primary reasons for the current crisis. In the last five years, 2017 was the only year when India did not experience drought, reported India spend. Both South west monsoon and North-east monsoon were lower than usual. Last year, India Meteorological Department said that the ‘post-monsoon’ rainfall — responsible for 10-20% of the India’s monsoon — was lower by 44%. And the pre-monsoon rainfall was the lowest it saw in the last 65 years. Experts fear that India is soon going to witness Day Zero if no action is taken on time.

Five years on, India may not even get a chance to solve its on-going water crisis risking hundreds of millions of lives

Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> today said residents and city leadership should play the major role in deciding how their city will grow and not private property developers, as he unveiled three mega flagship urban schemes aimed at developing cities as engines of growth. Urbanisation should be viewed as an opportunity and urban centres should be viewed as growth engines, he said launching the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and <keyword id="2130852" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Urban-transformation">Urban Transformation</keyword> (AMRUT), <keyword id="2738020" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Smart-Cities-Mission">Smart Cities Mission</keyword>, and <keyword id="2481158" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Housing-for-All">Housing for All</keyword> (Urban) here. 

	"Under these schemes we can go ahead and we can do it together (Centre and state). India is rapidly urbanising. Every year Hindustan gives birth to a small country," he said. 
 

	While 500 cities will be developed under AMRUT scheme, there would be 100 Smart Cities over five years and Housing for All aims construction of 2 crore houses in urban areas in the next seven years. 
 

	Smart City will be selected through a competition among cities while 500 cities are being identified under AMRUT. 
 

	Referring to Smart City, Modi said, "For the first time in India, a challenge was being floated, in which the citizens of urban India could contribute in the formulation of development visions of their cities." 
 

	Those cities which were able to competitively meet the required parameters would be developed as smart cities. 
 

	"This competitive mechanism would end the top-down approach, and lead to people-centric urban development," he said. 
 

	"These urban development schemes were not prepared by the Government alone, but involved perhaps the biggest consultation exercise ever taken by the Union Government, involving all stakeholders and examining global best practices," he said. 
 

	Stressing that all schemes for urban development should move forward based on people's participation, Modi said, "There is a lack of holistic vision about urban planning, and expansion is driven not by the administrators of a city, but by property developers. 
 

	"Through AMRUT, the aim of the Government is to give cities themselves the chance to plan their future growth," he said. 
 

	The Prime Minister said the people assembled for the function here had on them the collective responsibility for better quality of life for 40 percent of India's population that either lived in cities, or were dependent on cities for their livelihood. 
 

	The Prime Minister stressed that aspirations of migrants from rural areas, and slum dwellers, should be balanced with the changing global environment and said ensuring a good life for them is the government's responsibility. 
 

	Giving a simple vision of a smart city, he said it is one which was a step or two ahead of people's aspirations. 
 

	"There should be facility for walk-to-work because today a person spends maximum time in travelling to office and gets very little time to work," Modi said. 
 

	Besides transportation, technology also plays a key role and there should also be provision for energy efficiency, and cycling etc. 
 

	Lamenting the state of affairs in urban areas, he said, "If this had been done 25-30 years ago, it would have led to good results today, but better late than never. Schemes which had a clear vision and were people-centric, were the need of the hour." 
 

	Seeking replication of best practices from across the country, the Prime Minister mentioned Hyderabad's tax collection system, Karnataka's efforts for solid waste management, and Chhattisgarh's work to eliminate open defecation. 
 

	Chhattisgarh, which is fighting Maoist menace, is making an all out effort to make the state free from open defecation, he said. 
 

	Mentioning the challenge of rising population, he said all possible avenues should be explored to find the resources for urban development. 
 

	Highlighting the importance of the housing scheme, the Prime Minister observed that, "A house was a turning point in the lives of poor, which leads towards a better life and the government's effort was to not just provide a house, but to provide the right environment to live life to the fullest." 
 

	Citing the existing housing shortage of 2 crore units, he said India would complete 75 years of Independence in 2022, and by then, it was "our responsibility to provide a house for everyone". 
 

	Noting that public representatives and leaders are remembered by the good work they did in their terms, the Prime Minister asked urban leaders to contribute to doing something for the good of the people. 
 

	If a person gets an opportunity and does something worthwhile, it will be remembered even after 50 years, he said. 
 

	Asking chairpersons of municipalities and mayors of urban local bodies to do some good work in their terms, Modi said, "You can show your grandson whether it is any building or whatever you have done 50 years ago. The success parameter of life is that what you have done for the people." 
 

	The Prime Minister appreciated people for their interest and work in the Swachh Bharat initiative, as well as the positive role played by media in generating awareness. 
 

	"All media men are doing it on their own and media role in Swachh Bharat campaign will always be remembered for this, he said. 
 

	On the rural and urban divide, the Prime Minister said urban and rural development in the country should be complimentary. 
 

	"One way of doing this was to ensure waste water management in urban areas, so that the treated water could be returned to rural areas for irrigation. Similarly solid waste management could generate compost which could act as organic fertiliser for the surrounding rural areas," he said. 
 

	Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy CM Nirmal Kumar Singh, mayors, chairpersons of urban local bodies and senior officials from all states and UTs have attended the mega event at the Vigyan Bhawan. 
 

	On the occasion, the Prime Minister released logos, and taglines for AMRUT and Smart Cities Mission; and guidelines for AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission and Housing for All (Urban). 
 

	The Prime Minister also visited an exhibition on best practices in urban development. 
	 
	(image credits: indiatimes)

Citizens will plan their city: Narendra Modi on Smart city
project

New Delhi, People have reposed their faith in "<keyword id="19699064" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="modis-guarantees" source="Orion">Modi's guarantees</keyword>," BJP leaders chimed together on Sunday as the party appeared set on the path of victory in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh assembly elections. "The election results show people accept Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee of delivering on guarantees," BJP leader and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said here. Joshi, who was BJP's election-in-charge for Rajasthan, took a dig at the Congress and promises it made in the run up to the elections. "People have blessed BJP in three states, endorsed Prime Minister Modi's leadership and rejected Congress' false promises," Joshi said. Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and BJP leader Raman Singh said in Raipur,"People have reposed their trust in Modi's guarantees." Singh said the people have voted in the name of Modi and for his work over the past nine-and-half years. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan -- who is looking at his fifth term -- gave Modi's aggressive campaign ahead of the assembly election the credit for the party's performance. "Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is in the hearts of the people of Madhya Pradesh. The state is also in the heart of Modi ji. There is immense faith towards him. He held public meetings here and appealed to the people which has touched the people's hearts," Chouhan said in Bhopal. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said it was Modi's belief in taking everyone together that worked for the party. "This victory is of the mantra of 'Sabka saath, sabka vishwas and sabka prayaas' given by Prime Minister Modi. It is the victory of the guarantee given by the Prime Minister. It is also the victory of the strategy given by Amit Shah and the able leadership provided by Nadda ji," she said. "Most importantly, it is a victory for our party workers," Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hailed the party's victory as a result of guidance of PM Modi. "Under the leadership and guidance of respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, BJP's hattrick of huge majority in terms election results in three of the four states, is a 'guarantee of people's trust' on the 'guarantee of Modi,'" he wrote on X. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the victory was an indicator of what is to come in 2024. "The Ghamandiya alliance's arrogance has been shattered. The INDI alliance has neither leaders, nor policy... For 2024, the indication is clear, the world has faith in India and India's leadership. If India progresses, the world will progress," Thakur said. In Chhattisgarh, the BJP manifesto -- 'Modi ki Guarantee 2023' -- promised cooking gas cylinders at Rs 500 to poor families, one lakh government jobs, and a Rs 12,000 annual financial assistance to married women. The BJP had also promised to procure paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal and an annual assistance of Rs 10,000 to land less farm labourers. Free food grain, income assistance for farmers, housing for all, 100 per cent electrification of villages, and tap water to every home, were listed by the party as some of Modi's guarantees. "All promises made to you will be fulfilled. This is my guarantee," Modi had said addressing a rally in MP last month. During several of rallies he took a dig at the Congress for its set of promises. "Those who do not have any guarantee about themselves are offering guarantees to the people," Modi had said at a rally in MP. "Modi's guarantees begin from where hope from others ends. That is why Modi's guarantees are popular," the prime minister had said on the campaign trail. In Jaipur, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat took a jibe at Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, saying people have come out of the spell of the "magician." "The 'magic' has ended and Rajasthan has come out of the spell of the magician. People have voted for the honour of women and for the welfare of the poor," he said. Gehlot was born into a family of magicians and assisted his father during his tours. Congress had unleashed the politics of guarantee during Karnataka assembly elections in May, making five distinct promises to the electorate - monthly cash assistance to women head of families, 200 units of free electricity, unemployment allowance to youth, free food grains, and free travel for women on state transport buses. The party tried to replicate the template in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Rajasthan. Modi turned on the heat on the Congress by projecting himself as a leader who has delivered on the promises made by him to help the common man meet his aspirations. "Modi Yaani Har Guarantee Poori Hone Ki Guarantee (Modi means the guarantee to fulfill every guarantee)," the prime minister had said in an article last week. "'Modi Ki Guarantee' denotes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to the aspirations of the common man. It echoes the resolution of his government to serve the last man standing. It allows us to witness a political phenomenon, hitherto missing, where promises carry meaning and are executed meaningfully," he had said. Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina said, "Today, the Congress headquarters in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are wearing a deserted look. The Congress and National Conference will face the same fate during assembly polls in J-K." The race amongst political parties to offer freebies to the voters triggered a debate on burden on the state exchequer.

Victory of Modi's guarantees, say BJP leaders as party sweeps states states

By Debashish Biswas India’s urban population is expected to grow from 377 million in 2011 (31% of total population) to around 600 million or 42% of the total population in 2030. It is estimated that in 2030, for five states – <keyword id="20154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu" source="Orion">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Punjab, urbanisation levels will be more than 50% (Sources: Census of India 2011, McKinsey Global Institute and <keyword id="13071722" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UN-World-Urbanisation-Prospects-2018" source="Orion">UN World Urbanisation Prospects 2018</keyword>). Indian cities will act as the engines of growth for the economy. As highlighted in the National Infrastructure Pipeline, an estimated ₹19,19,267 crores capital expenditure is estimated between FY20-FY25 in <keyword id="557969" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="urban-infrastructure" source="Orion">urban infrastructure</keyword> (Source: National Infrastructure Pipeline, Volume 1). Around 21% of this capital expenditure is proposed to be funded through private sector participation. Given this, as part of Budget 2022-23, it is expected that urban sector development will continue to remain as one of the major focus areas. Budgetary allocations are expected to be made for: <ul><li>Strengthening core urban infrastructure – Continued investments to reinforce core urban infrastructure like water supply, solid waste management, urban mobility, among others. Recently, in October 2021, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs announced AMRUT 2.0 which focuses on enhancing water connections in around 4800 urban local bodies, sewerage/ septage services in 500 cities as well as rejuvenation of water bodies, green spaces and parks (Source: AMRUT 2.0 guidelines). Further, <keyword id="6735318" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="swachh-bharat-mission-urban" source="Orion">Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban</keyword> 2.0 was also announced in October 2021 with the aspiration of making all cities garbage free.</li><li>Housing to remain a key focus area – Housing, specially providing affordable housing for all, remains a key priority for the country. It is also important to provide necessary incentives and improve various regulatory processes to attract private investments in the housing sector, especially in affordable housing.</li><li>Developing smart digital infrastructure in terms of mobility management, digital service delivery, city management, safety and security, environmental management, etc. <keyword id="857936" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="emphasis" source="Orion">Emphasis</keyword> may be provided on creating specific digital urban solutions leveraging the data being captured at the city level, specifically in the smart cities where the command control centers are already operational. Also, focus may be provided in creating cloud based shared digital infrastructure at state as well as district level so that even the smaller urban local bodies may get access and leverage digital infrastructure. </li><li>Environment and sustainability focus: Given the focus of building environmentally friendly and resilient cities, the budget may provide specific emphasis on developing sustainable urban areas including increasing green cover, urban forest, water conservation, water recycling, waste reuse, renewable energy usage, energy conservation, etc. On the mobility front, focus may be provided on further developing non-motorized transportation and electric vehicle infrastructure. For facilitating developing environmentally friendly infrastructure, necessary policies and incentives may be considered. Funding available under CSR activities may be leveraged for implementing various environmentally friendly infrastructure at city level.</li><li>Continue municipal reforms: To enable urban infrastructure growth, the ongoing municipal reforms should continue. These include -- a) strengthening municipal bond market – key steps to be undertaken by the urban local bodies are improving financial discipline; accounting reforms; improved governance and augment own source revenues; b) asset monetization and attracting private sector – creating an environment for attracting more private investments; and c) enabling user charges for funding urban infrastructure. Additional incentives may be provided to urban local bodies which undertake such overall reforms proactively. </li></ul>Overall, like last year, the current pandemic calls for a public investment led push for enabling economic growth. The FY 22-23 budget needs to focus on increased spending in overall urban infrastructure &amp; capital assets, which are likely to have a multiplier effect on demand generation and gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Further, higher urban infrastructure spend will improve investment attractiveness, create more employment opportunities and enhance quality of life. Debashish Biswas is Partner with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/economic-budget-survey-2022-government-projects-8-to-8-5-growth-rate-in-year-2022-23/slidelist/89242472.cms">India’s Economic Survey projects 8-8.5 percent growth next year, here are other key points to note</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/despite-a-worldwide-chip-shortage-semiconductor-sales-cross-500-billion-for-the-first-time/articleshow/89242629.cms">Despite a worldwide chip shortage, semiconductor sales cross $500 billion for the first time</a>

OPINION: There should be continued focus on building urban infrastructure and sustainable smart cities

Multi-business company <keyword id="6357073" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="itc" source="Orion">ITC</keyword> Ltd on Tuesday said it has commissioned a 14.9 MW <keyword id="59444" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="solar-power-plant" source="Orion">solar power plant</keyword> in Dindigul, <keyword id="20154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tamil-nadu" source="Orion">Tamil Nadu</keyword>. According to the company, the 14.9 MW <keyword id="70990" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="solar-power" source="Orion">solar power</keyword> plant was built at an outlay of Rs 76 crore thereby meeting 90 per cent of the company's power needs in Tamil Nadu from renewable sources. ITC plans to meet 100 per cent of the entire grid electricity requirements from renewable sources by 2030 and contribute meaningfully to combat the threat of climate change, the company said. Spread over 59 acres, the Dindigul solar plant will generate over 22 million units of renewable energy annually for ITC's hotels, food manufacturing plants, paper manufacturing facility, and printing and packaging factories in Tamil Nadu. "At ITC, we have relentlessly pursued a mission for environmental stewardship through a gamut of large-scale endeavours that comprehensively address the threat of climate change. Our large-scale investments in renewable energy assets are an integral part of our low carbon strategy aimed at making a meaningful contribution to a net zero economy," Sanjiv Rangrass, Group Head - ITC Life Sciences &amp; Technology, Central Projects, EHS &amp; Quality Assurance said. ITC's renewable portfolio comprises 138 MW of wind power plants and 14 MW of solar plants with 53MW of additional solar capacity under execution. Currently, projects are also underway in other sources of renewable energy like biomass boilers. The company has made investments of over Rs 1,000 crore in renewable energy assets to date. Renewable energy powers 20 factories, nine hotels, and six office buildings of ITC in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Haryana, West Bengal, and Punjab. In 2018, ITC became the first private sector entity to wheel renewable energy across states through the Inter-State Open Access mechanism. Currently, ITC's 46MW Wind power plant in Andhra Pradesh supplies power to over 15 ITC establishments in eight states. This has led to a higher renewable energy utilisation for the company. Besides investing in new renewable energy assets, ITC, as part of its Sustainability 2.0 agenda aims to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in specific emissions and a 30 per cent reduction in specific energy consumption by 2030 over a 2014-15 baseline. Such efforts in decarbonising energy consumption through low-carbon energy solutions will be met through large-scale digitalisation and R&amp;D initiatives, cross-sectoral collaborations, and partnerships. ITC is an exemplar in environment stewardship. The Company was recently rated at the 'Leadership Level' with scores of 'A-' for both Climate Change and Water Security by CDP, one of the most reputed independent global platforms for disclosures on environmental impacts. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/rbl-bank-depositors-need-not-worry-assures-rbi/articleshow/88520325.cms" style="">RBL Bank depositors need not worry, assures RBI</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/rbl-bank-slumps-15-after-ceo-goes-on-leave-big-investors-are-eyeing-a-piece-of-the-pie/articleshow/88515146.cms" style="">RBL Bank slumps 20% after CEO goes on leave</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/heres-why-axis-bank-may-be-willing-to-pay-2-billion-to-buy-citis-india-ops/articleshow/88407858.cms">Here’s why Axis Bank may be willing to pay $2 billion to buy Citi’s India ops</a>

90% of ITC's power needs in Tamil Nadu will be met through solar energy

New Delhi, Jan 15 () Infrastructure company Larsen &amp; Toubro (L&amp;T) on Wednesday said its construction arm has bagged "large" contracts for its various businesses.
 In a regulatory filing the company said its construction arm of L&amp;T has secured orders from clients across various Indian states for its varied businesses.
 The engineering and construction company, however, did not provide the exact value of the contract; but as per its project classification, the value of the contracts were in "large" category which is in the range of Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000 crore.
 In a filing to BSE the company said in the water and effluent treatment segment it has bagged engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) from the Public Health Engineering Directorate, West Bengal for water supply in East Medinipur district. The project is funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB).
 Another order has been received from the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for "supplying, laying, testing and commissioning of clear water trunk main of 54 Km with associated civil Et mechanical works along the eastern route of Bangalore, Karnataka".
 The project is funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
 In transportation infrastructure vertical the company bagged an engineering, procurement and construction order from the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification involving electrification of 1137 track Km.
 Another order has been secured from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
 "The business has secured an add-on order for various packages of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor," the filing said.
 In buildings and factories segment, the company said it has secured an order for engineering, procurement and construction of a 300 bedded multi-specialty hospital at Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh.
 Additionally, various add-on orders have been received by some of the existing projects in the Power Transmission and Distribution and Heavy Civil Infrastructure businesses. SID DRR

L&T construction arm bags 'large' orders from multiple clients in domestic market

New Delhi, May 14 () Toshiba Group firms and its employees contributed about Rs 1.95 crore to support fight against the coronavirus pandemic. "A total of approximately Rs 1.95 crore have been donated...during this period, the contributions include voluntary salary contribution by Toshiba employees as well as contribution from Toshiba group companies," according to a statement. These companies are Toshiba India Pvt Ltd (TIPL), Toshiba JSW Power Systems (TJPS), Toshiba Transmission and Distribution India (TTDI), Toshiba Software India Pvt Ltd (TSIP), Toshiba Water Solutions (TWS), and Toshiba Johnson Elevators India (TJEI). As a responsible corporate entity, the Toshiba group in India is contributing to disaster relief funds of state governments to support fight against the pandemic, it said. The statement also added that the group is also undertaking Corporate Social Responsibility activities to benefit the society. TIPL is making a donation of a total of Rs 24,69,619, including Rs 18 lakh to Akshay Patra Foundation for the mid-day meal for 1,000 school children. It donated Rs 6,69,619 to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. This apart, TIPL's employees will make further donation by way of voluntary salary deduction from their May 2020 salary. Similarly, TJPS is making a donation of a total of Rs 25 lakh, including a donation of Rs 5 lakh each to the chief minister's funds of five states where TJPS operations or project construction sites are located -- Gurugram Office (Haryana), Chennai Factory (Tamil Nadu), Harduaganj/Meja Project (Uttar Pradesh), Kudgi Project (Karnataka) and Darlipali Project (Odisha). TTDI is making a donation of total of Rs 25 lakh. TSIP has made a donation of a total of Rs 1,13,00,254. KKS HRS

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