Chandigarh, July 4 (PTI) — On Friday, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya highlighted the importance of adopting a "waste to wealth" approach utilizing advanced waste management technologies among urban local bodies (ULBs) nationwide. He made these remarks during the concluding session of a two-day national conference of ULB chairpersons and representatives from various states and Union Territories held in Manesar, Gurugram district.
Dattatreya emphasized that such initiatives would invigorate the 'Swachhata Abhiyan' and boost the economic capacities of urban local bodies. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had also addressed the assembly on Thursday. The governor lauded Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvinder Kalyan and his team for organizing the first-ever national conference aimed at ULB chairpersons.
The event saw active participation from representatives nationwide, engaging in in-depth discussions and sharing best urban development practices. The governor stated that the conference facilitated meaningful dialogue on critical issues of urban governance, which would guide future policy-making endeavors.
Recalling the launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dattatreya mentioned the campaign's success in fostering awareness and positive attitudes toward cleanliness among citizens. He urged representatives to involve communities actively in the cleanliness drive through widespread awareness campaigns, emphasizing the beautification and health of cities through public participation.
The governor placed particular emphasis on maintaining cleanliness in slum areas. An official statement further noted his advocacy for the rapid digitalization of ULBs to bolster efficiency and transparency and stressed the government's commitment to creating ample employment opportunities for the youth. In this regard, he urged ULBs to prioritize skill development, enhancing youth employment prospects.
Additionally, Dattatreya encouraged learning from exemplary cities that set precedents in various sectors, urging wider adoption of successful practices by other cities. Madhya Pradesh Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, addressing the gathering, stressed transforming public participation in ULBs into a mass movement.
Sharing his public service journey from being a councillor to serving in the Vidhan Sabha and the Lok Sabha, Vijayvargiya highlighted ULBs as the direct governance-public link. He shared how he overcame a financial crisis faced by the Indore Municipal Corporation through a successful public appeal for cement donations, facilitating road construction through public participation. He also cited a notable green initiative planting 12.4 lakh saplings in a single day in Indore, with remarkable survival rates reflecting community involvement's success.
Under PM Modi’s leadership, Vijayvargiya noted an unprecedented budget increase for ULBs since 2014, leading to significant urban development progress. Haryana Assembly Speaker Kalyan attributed the successful organizing of the national conference to Lok Sabha Speaker Birla's visionary initiative, reinforcing local institutions' effective functioning akin to parliamentary and state legislative bodies. Kalyan highlighted PM Modi's vision for India to become a developed nation by 2047, which hinges on strong grassroots democracy and empowered local bodies and panchayati raj institutions.
On this occasion, dignitaries including Haryana Assembly Deputy Speaker Krishan Middha, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, and Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody were present.
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