Varanasi: Stating that the development of Varanasi can be a roadmap for the entire country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the development of the city has been carried out while preserving its rich heritage and introducing development in a manner that it blends with the city’s spirit. India today needs evolution and not revolution, the PM added.
He was virtually addressing 120 mayors who had congregated in Kashi to take part in the All-India Mayors’ Conference through video conferencing at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Trade Facilitation Centre here on Friday.
Modi emphasised that indulging in destruction is not the need of hour. “We should believe in evolution. India does not need revolution today. We don’t need to demolish our heritage buildings and reconstruct them, rather we need to rejuvenate them and move towards technological upgradation. I want all the Mayors to take an initiative to bring their city to the top of the cleanest city list.”
The PM further suggested the mayors start competitions to promote cleanliness and beautification across the country while preserving the heritage of their cities.
“While planning development, take lessons from the Kashi model, which has emerged as the roadmap for the country,” Modi said, adding, “Preserving heritage has its importance as it helps the coming generations to take lessons from the past and get inspiration for searching new ways of development. Local arts and skills should be recognised to adopt it as strength as well as promoting the brand and identity of the place.”
Referring to chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s initiative of ‘one district one product’, in this regard, Modi mobilised the mayors to “map their cities for identifying the special product of the place concerned for branding to make the entire country and world know about it as it will boost the local economy”.
“Cities are the driving force of the economy, hence they should be developed as hubs of a vibrant economy. For it, a holistic approach should be adopted while preparing development models. If industrial areas are planned anywhere, the provision of housing of labourers and other workforce should also be made in its vicinity,” the PM said, mentioning that it will also attract investment.
Asking the mayors to keep special focus on MSMEs, Modi also stressed upon the importance of extending support to street vendors through Swanidhi Yojana as, despite being the strength of a micro economy and essential part of the society’ they are still marginalised. “Their importance was realised by all during Covid-19 lockdown when no street vendor could be found visiting city localities to sell vegetable, deliver milk, provide service of cleaning cloth and other,” said the PM adding that this section wants to fight against poverty and helping them with Swanidhi will not only prove a great help for them, but their service for society would also be improved.
He also threw light on increasing population load on cities and traffic problems. “Construction of flyovers in any number is not a solution against these problems. Hence, focus should be given on strengthening the public transport system. Work is being done on metro rails in many cities but other alternatives as per topography of area should also be explored,” he said.
Regarding sanitation, Modi said: “Studying the Kashi model would prove to be a great help for the mayors who certainly want to do work for which they should be remembered in their cities even after decades, so plan regular sanitation works, sewage development and preserving river according to their the topography of their own cities.”
“Swachchhta is for all the cities. But, in annual Swachchhta rating some cities have fixed their place on top. But, it doesn’t mean that others should quit thinking about competing against those cities. Each mayor should take a vow for bagging Swachchhta award next time,” he said.
The PM also appealed to Union urban development minister Hardeep Singh Puri to make provision for recognition of those cities, which make best efforts to improve rank in Swachchhta rating. “The sanitation drives should not be considered as activity for a year or two. It should be adopted as a continuous process and each municipal body should also try to introduce competition between wards to ensure cumulative effects of this campaign and change the image of the city as well as the health status of the local population,” said Modi.
He further asked the mayors to take a vow for banning single use plastic, recycling of solid waste, sewage water for agriculture and industrial use on the lines of Surat, adopt measure like LED lighting for power bill saving and celebrate the city’s birthday in grand style to stir civic sense a love for the city among people, especially the younger generation.
Modi also touched upon the importance of the river Ganga in Kashi’s economy. “Most of the cities have rivers and a sensitive approach is needed towards rivers and other waterbodies. Water is emerging as a major concern globally hence giving a connection to waterbodies with society is a must, he said asking mayors to organise river festivals annually with the efforts for their maintenance as it would not only bring back life in rivers but also in the city,” he elaborated.
Citing the example of Sardar Ballabh Bhai Patel, who started his career as the mayor of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Modi said that today’s mayors will pursue career in active politics, hence they should utilise the current opportunity responsibly.
“The country is celebrating the 75th year of independence as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava and each mayor should try to beautify at least one city crossing on public private partnership by inviting the social responsibility fund of any organisation,” he further said.
He was virtually addressing 120 mayors who had congregated in Kashi to take part in the All-India Mayors’ Conference through video conferencing at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Trade Facilitation Centre here on Friday.
Modi emphasised that indulging in destruction is not the need of hour. “We should believe in evolution. India does not need revolution today. We don’t need to demolish our heritage buildings and reconstruct them, rather we need to rejuvenate them and move towards technological upgradation. I want all the Mayors to take an initiative to bring their city to the top of the cleanest city list.”
The PM further suggested the mayors start competitions to promote cleanliness and beautification across the country while preserving the heritage of their cities.
“While planning development, take lessons from the Kashi model, which has emerged as the roadmap for the country,” Modi said, adding, “Preserving heritage has its importance as it helps the coming generations to take lessons from the past and get inspiration for searching new ways of development. Local arts and skills should be recognised to adopt it as strength as well as promoting the brand and identity of the place.”
Referring to chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s initiative of ‘one district one product’, in this regard, Modi mobilised the mayors to “map their cities for identifying the special product of the place concerned for branding to make the entire country and world know about it as it will boost the local economy”.
“Cities are the driving force of the economy, hence they should be developed as hubs of a vibrant economy. For it, a holistic approach should be adopted while preparing development models. If industrial areas are planned anywhere, the provision of housing of labourers and other workforce should also be made in its vicinity,” the PM said, mentioning that it will also attract investment.
Asking the mayors to keep special focus on MSMEs, Modi also stressed upon the importance of extending support to street vendors through Swanidhi Yojana as, despite being the strength of a micro economy and essential part of the society’ they are still marginalised. “Their importance was realised by all during Covid-19 lockdown when no street vendor could be found visiting city localities to sell vegetable, deliver milk, provide service of cleaning cloth and other,” said the PM adding that this section wants to fight against poverty and helping them with Swanidhi will not only prove a great help for them, but their service for society would also be improved.
He also threw light on increasing population load on cities and traffic problems. “Construction of flyovers in any number is not a solution against these problems. Hence, focus should be given on strengthening the public transport system. Work is being done on metro rails in many cities but other alternatives as per topography of area should also be explored,” he said.
Regarding sanitation, Modi said: “Studying the Kashi model would prove to be a great help for the mayors who certainly want to do work for which they should be remembered in their cities even after decades, so plan regular sanitation works, sewage development and preserving river according to their the topography of their own cities.”
“Swachchhta is for all the cities. But, in annual Swachchhta rating some cities have fixed their place on top. But, it doesn’t mean that others should quit thinking about competing against those cities. Each mayor should take a vow for bagging Swachchhta award next time,” he said.
The PM also appealed to Union urban development minister Hardeep Singh Puri to make provision for recognition of those cities, which make best efforts to improve rank in Swachchhta rating. “The sanitation drives should not be considered as activity for a year or two. It should be adopted as a continuous process and each municipal body should also try to introduce competition between wards to ensure cumulative effects of this campaign and change the image of the city as well as the health status of the local population,” said Modi.
He further asked the mayors to take a vow for banning single use plastic, recycling of solid waste, sewage water for agriculture and industrial use on the lines of Surat, adopt measure like LED lighting for power bill saving and celebrate the city’s birthday in grand style to stir civic sense a love for the city among people, especially the younger generation.
Modi also touched upon the importance of the river Ganga in Kashi’s economy. “Most of the cities have rivers and a sensitive approach is needed towards rivers and other waterbodies. Water is emerging as a major concern globally hence giving a connection to waterbodies with society is a must, he said asking mayors to organise river festivals annually with the efforts for their maintenance as it would not only bring back life in rivers but also in the city,” he elaborated.
Citing the example of Sardar Ballabh Bhai Patel, who started his career as the mayor of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Modi said that today’s mayors will pursue career in active politics, hence they should utilise the current opportunity responsibly.
“The country is celebrating the 75th year of independence as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava and each mayor should try to beautify at least one city crossing on public private partnership by inviting the social responsibility fund of any organisation,” he further said.
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