Third time’s the charm — the ancient adage came true for Pasighat as it made it to the new list of Smart Cities after missing out on earlier two occasions.

Pasighat also the only centurion town of the frontier state is a good choice given the history and importance this town has had in the frontier state’s evolution and development.

Rightfully dubbed as the first centre of learning ofthe state, the first lot of the earliest public leaders, legislators and senior government officials, who shaped the destiny a nascent Arunachal Pradesh were groomed and educated at Pasighat.

The Smart City Mission – launched on June 25, 2015 - is one of the ambitious and innovative programs of the NDA Government, which aims to make the selected cities, zones of prosperity in a particular region which will help in minimising ill-effects of rapid urbanisation.

 

India is moving to its cities and there is immense pressure on urban centres and most are unable to sustain the massive influx of people. It is clear that, because of the absence of proper planning and investment, most of our cities are visibly straining to cope with the rapidity and scale of change. Successive governments have chosen to neglect the city and focus on the rural instead. As a result, cities are struggling with huge infrastructure deficits: congestion, lack of affordable housing, poor sewage facilities, inadequate water supply.

 

The Smart Cities Mission and Amrut may constitute a step towards filling that policy vacuum. Both are aimed at improving the quality of urban life and building sustainable cities. They emphasise the devolution of funds and functions to urban local bodies and call for wider stakeholder consultations that would involve citizen participation. More local autonomy is a must if cities are to fix themselves and invest wisely in creating the infrastructure they need.

As for Pasighat, the selection in the list is not the end but the real beginning. The journey is long and it will need even more concerted efforts than was on display which has seen it through to success after the initial failures.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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