Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu said that the cities could be development by increasing the municipal taxes.
Addressing a conference on Smart Technologies here on Saturday, Venkaiah Naidu said that the cities generate almost 50 per cent of total revenues in the country. If the revenues are increased further, then many more urban areas could be developed. He said that the country’s economic growth was directly linked to the development of cities.
Venkaiah Naidu said that there was no political interference in selection of cities for Smart Cities project. He said the process of finalising the list of Smart Cities would be completed by this month-end and developmental works in the selected cities would be initiated in September.
Venkaiah Naidu also listed out various schemes being implemented by the Central Government for the country’s development.
Addressing the same conference, Telangana Panchayat Raj Minister K. Tarakarama Rao stressed on extending the benefits of technology to the rural areas. He said Telangana was among the few States which have fibre-optic grid. He said technology could be provided to all households using this grid. He said at least one member of each family should be digitally literate.
The conference was addressed several senior officials and eminent personalities. (INN)