To ensure total public participation in the Smart City Project, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) will reach out to a large number of citizens on facilities available at present and concepts for making the city Smart. Almost 1,000 staffers from the civic body will cover over 6 lakh households between 13th and 18th October, 2015.
Explaining the importance of public participation in the ‘Nagpur Smart City Project’, Mr. Pravin Datke, Mayor, in a press conference held on Saturday said, “NMC is taking all the efforts to enter into the top 20 cities list. The Central Government had included the city in list of 98 cities selected for the project. The city will receive funds for growth and development, if it makes it into the list of top 20 cities across the nation. The role of each and every citizen is very crucial, and everyone must take active participation in this initiative. NMC has started inviting ideas and concepts by launching the ‘Smart City’ contest. NMC staffers will go to each and every household and get a one page form filled wherein, citizens can give their opinion about which sphere they would like to see development in. The concepts are cleanliness, greenery, planned development, digital connect, security and prosperity. These forms will be in English and Marathi both. The NMC will incorporate good concepts in a detailed project report to be submitted to the centre under this project.”
The NMC has also incorporated nine options in the form to know from the citizens about facilities and problems prevailing in their respective areas; namely employment opportunities, security of women on roads, education facilities, water supply for drinking and other purposes, cleanliness, medical facilities, garbage collection service, sports and entertainment facilities.
Mr. Shashikant Hastak, Superintending Engineer, NMC, announced a six-day workshop will be organized to take views of experts from various fields between 13th to 18th October, 2015. Experts will give their insights on various sectors such as e-governance and digitalization, health care, safety, security and disaster management, education, tourism and heritage, housing, waste management, sanitation and environment, water, transport and mobility, energy, income, economy and employment and infrastructure.
The Delivering Change Foundation (DCF) has been appointed to assist the NMC in its drive to transform Nagpur into a Smart City. “Data collected from citizens will be uploaded in a special app prepared for the NMC. A ‘War Room’ will be managed by the DCF team at the NMC for the project. All details about citizens and their views will be uploaded on a daily basis.” said Mr. Bobby Nimbalkar, Director, DCF.
Datke further added, “The NMC was optimistic to feature in top 20 cities list. Necessary documents along with a detailed project report will be submitted to the Centre on or before December 15, 2015.” He has also requested citizens to ensure identification and destruction of insect-breeding spots in their households and the neighbourhood. NMC and district administrators will create an awareness amongst students about the necessary steps to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases. Students of all NMC schools will be given a pledge on 18th October, 2015.
