AGARTALA, April 4 (TIWN): Tripura under the prolonged leadership of CM Manik Sarkar has witnessed heights of under-development in the state where till day the facility of drinking water to basic health service are at stake. The problems do not end here, the state under the leadership of the CPI-M have become victimized to embezzlement of funds, MGNREGA scams, rising crime against women by the CPI-M MLA, nil industrial set up and many more and the same party is busy in holding series of meetings with the aim to make the state entitled with SMART CITY. Smart cities will be selected through a bottom-up rather than top-down approach, where the decision would be made by the citizens and municipalities concerned. Question arises where the citizens in Tripura are. For the first time such an approach is being taken, where neither the centre nor states will decide. The decision to make a smart city will be taken by the citizens themselves, by the municipalities. The city’s vision towards its future development is necessary for any programme’s success.

Otherwise it will get bogged down, where state-level departments and agencies are awaiting directions from the centre, while cities are awaiting a decision from the state governments.

The government has approved the Smart Cities Mission under which 100 new smart cities, which would promote adoption of smart solutions for efficient use of available assets and enhance the quality of urban life, would be made. Each selected city would get central assistance of Rs.100 crore per year for five years.

However, the much hyped Smart city is yet to get an existence in the state Tripura but beatings with drums are carried out every 24 hours.

It is evident from the point where as according to the high official the SMART City plans which are held presently will not turn the Agartala city into Singapore, but in reality it will take at least 20-30 years to change the city fully.

The government’s vision is to develop cities with technology-based governance that will enable efficient public services bur question arise is our government tech-friendly to put a technology based city.

According to the norms, to be entitled as Smart city, the city should have 24×7 water and power supply, 100 per cent sewerage, drainage and solid waste management facilities, besides top class infrastructure.

Besides, it is also plan to develop these cities on public private partnership basis and is on top most priority. Every city would on an average need investments to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore over next 10 years.

The Government wants that the private sector to contribute largely, nearly 80-85 per cent, towards this development but hardly government takes any initiative to promote any industry for doing investment in the state.