Municipal Affairs on Friday has requested Centre to consider all state capitals, particularly Kohima in the second phase selection for Smart City Mission (SCM).
In a press release, the Municipal Affairs office informed that the chief secretary Pankaj Kumar, who is also the chairman of Kohima SCM, along with host of state government officials including Municipal Affairs personnel held a video conferencing on Friday with union cabinet secretary, PK Sinha and other Smart Cities Mission States.
While urging all states to focus on resource mobilization, Sinha at the same time highlighted the importance and urgency being accorded by the government to Smart City Mission and stressed that the urban sector has emerged as a major contributor of economic activity. He said that by August 2016 another 23 cities would be selected on fast track and in which Kohima has been included in the probable list
He further encouraged all those states that have missed the first phase, to revise their proposals and to submit it before April 15. Sinha said that given the limitations of central and state governments in terms of resources, Mission Cities should focus more on other means of resource mobilization like convergence of various schemes, rationalization of user charges.
Meanwhile, during the video conferencing, Nagaland chief secretary reiterated and requested Centre to consider all state capitals including Kohima in the second phase. He said, with the Act East Policy in mind and Asian Highway-1, Kohima was going to be a vital city for the North Eastern region. State government officials who were present at the video conferencing were secretary Municipal Affairs Dr. Moangwati Aier, DC Kohima Rovilato Mor and addl. director & HoD, Municipal Affairs along with KMC officials.