'We have to plan for 30 years ahead'

SURAT: Calling development a constant process, new municipal commissioner Manoj Das outlined his agenda in his first interview to the media since taking over a month ago.
"In a scenario when the city rides above other cities like Vadodara, Rajkot or for that matter Ahmedabad, the expectations of people are also very high. We need to plan and execute our plans in such a way that we will remain much ahead of the others even 15 years from now," Das said.
Acknowledging the work of his predecessors, Das said, "If we stop the development process, after 15 years we will lag behind others by 15 years. We have to plan the development keeping in mind 30 years ahead from today and that is what I am here to do."
Despite having more than 1,700 km of good roads, more than 80 per cent drainage, 87 per cent water supply network, nearly 100 per cent solid waste collection and disposal systems, more than 10 flyovers and more than 30 overbridges and five bridges to join two parts of the city from Tapi, what city lacks are proper recreational facilities.
"Our emphasis will be to nurture and add to the recreational facilities which would provide locals a weekend leisure and relaxation. We also would like to create more greenery in the city, come up with new stadia and other things for public utility along with achieving our targets of basic infrastructural facilities," Das said. "Our prime focus will be to take up new projects looking at 30 years time frame and initiate them to cater to the population which the city would have after 30 years," he added.
Emphasizing on construction of all-weather roads, Das said, "Our primary objective will be to decongest the existing city areas by coming up with alternate arrangements in new peripheral areas of the city. For this, finalization of town planning schemes is important. We will stress and work with the state government to finalize as many TP schemes as required for these developments."
A bare fact about the city of 326 sq km reflects the urgent need for this process to begin today. As much as 80 per cent of the population lives in just 70 sq km area of the city, whereas the city limit extends to 326 sq km.
Calling planning a dynamic process, Das said, "Rules of growth are made taking in to account all the stake holders. Growth could be flexible within the means and parameters of legal boundaries. But you can't expect to get away by breaking rules in the name of growth."
Making an appeal to Surtis, Das said, "The city's story is phenomenal because people have cooperated and participated in every single developmental activity. I am sure they will continue their endeavor even now and help the SMC to achieve greater heights."