IMPHAL, December 7: A daylong Focus Group Discussion on the Smart City Plan development for Imphal was held in the Sangai Hall, Imphal Hotel today.
The public consultation was hosted by Impact TV in partnership with Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) to gather public opinion on the development of Smart City project plan for Imphal.
The consultation was attended by Secretary MAHUD RK Dinesh Singh, MAHUD director N Gitkumar Singh, IMC Executive Officer Ng Uttam, Prof Ch Priyoranjan, IMC chairman Aribam Nimai Sharma, Echel editor Irengbam Arun, Classic Group of Hotels managing director Th Dhabali and Impact TV news editor in chief Yumnam Rupachandra as the panel of experts.
The consultation was also attended by people from all walks of life including senior citizens, media persons, business community, NGOs, social leaders among others.
Gitkumar who is also the chief town planner of the State government delivered the keynote address followed by a presentation from RK Dinesh on avenues of convergence of existing schemes like waste management, providing drinking water and housing for all.
The other panels also highlighted both the prospect and priority areas and options in developing a plan for Imphal Smart City.
Prof Ch Priyoranjan sees Imphal as an engine of growth and more visibly as an evolving trade city, moving away from the community character with diminishing green patches within.
He expressed the need to re-establish the core identity and reincorporate these characters in the Smart City Plan.
Dr Th Dhabali Singh shared the need to improve the Imphal City in various aspects and expressed that an appeal from the government to the citizens to beautify their respective houses might receive positive outcomes.
Irengbam Arun, Editor Echel Express while acknowledging the shift in government`™s approach to recognize, value and seek public opinion, made a radical remark, `It is imperative to demilitarized Imphal.`
Imphal had expanded from a cantonment and such core abnormalities needs to be reconstructed for the present population to live freely, think creatively and benefit from modern development, he said.
He continued, `Development of this city can be in our own pace and towards our own tide which can only happen when there is a healthy demilitarised ambience to nurture our mind-sets`.
He envisaged an eco-friendly city with fresher air and water, improved mobility and upgraded services.
The participants also proposed various ideas related to parking lots, adequate e-toilets, safety measures for women and children, futuristic educational plan, enhancing peace and security, child labour free city model, barrier free mobility especially for PWDs and safer transport for women and children, lower volume of public transport, expansion of market to the peripheries of the city, citizens`™ charter etc.
Some participants even suggested corruption free governance in Imphal and accountable anti-corruption regulatory mechanisms as the most attractive model towards creating a Smart City. Some also express that efficiency in e- governance will be the solution to all issues since it will lead to transparency and adherence to policy and rules on all aspects.
Few participants also sounded the need to be mindful of the fading rights of the poor population whose interests are usually not represented in such decision making meetings. So that the evolving Imphal Smart City plan and the sharing of resources will be inclusive of their needs as well.
Mobility was the focus interest and several innovative ideas like improvement in urban mobility especially beyond dusk to facilitate longer productive hours and lessen the mad rush traffic jam in the evening was suggested.
The sequence of consultations was part of the mandatory process under the guidelines specified by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India in planning a Smart City.