The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) welcomed its new cabinet Minister, Shri Manohar Lal, and Minister of State, Shri Tokhan Sahu, as they assumed office today. In their first official act, they conducted a joint review meeting with senior ministry officials. Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, who previously held the position alongside his role as Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, was also present.
Key Initiatives and Priorities:
Clean and Green Cities:
- Shri Manohar Lal emphasized the continuation of efforts to make cities clean and green. He praised the Swachh Bharat Mission’s success in converting waste to wealth, aiming for ‘Garbage Free’ cities.
AMRUT Mission:
- Highlighting the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), the Minister called for increased public participation to ensure water security and universal water supply in 4,900 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and proper sewerage management in 500 AMRUT cities.
Metro Rail Projects:
- The importance of the Metro rail system in urban areas was underlined, with a commitment to timely completion of all metro projects. The Minister noted that the Metro is a safe and convenient transport option for all societal segments.
Smart Cities Mission:
- Shri Manohar Lal acknowledged the achievements of the Smart Cities Mission in setting new standards in urban planning and governance. He highlighted the use of technology in improving urban services such as crime tracking, citizen safety, transport management, solid waste management, water supply, and disaster management across 100 cities.
PM Svanidhi and DAY-NULM Missions:
- The Minister emphasized extending the benefits of the PM Svanidhi and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) to urban poor nationwide, focusing on enhancing income sources and livelihoods.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY):
- Recognizing the significance of home ownership, Shri Manohar Lal reiterated the goal of building another 1 crore houses under PMAY (Urban). Ensuring the timely completion of housing projects through regular state-level reviews was identified as a top priority.
Moving Forward:
After the review, Shri Manohar Lal expressed optimism about the ministry’s strategic and comprehensive roadmap for sustainable urban development. He pledged to advance the development agenda with renewed momentum, aiming for an inclusive and developed Bharat.
