New Delhi: Industry body CII will initiate discussions with the chief ministers seeking more power for the urban local bodies to improve city infrastructure.

The industry interaction with the chief ministers will also underscore the importance of the public-private partnership for urban projects.

The industry body is seeking expeditious implementation of the 74th Amendment to the Constitution empowering the urban local bodies to discharge effective governance.

"Indian cities and towns contribute about 60 per cent of the gross domestic product and lack of adequate urban infrastructure affects potential of these growth centres," CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said in a statement here.

Implementation of the Constitutional amendment will strengthen financial and technical capabilities of urban local bodies and make them self-sustaining.

The industry body also called for a strict monitoring of the government s flagship Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for improving infrastructure in 63 cities.

Of these, only 11 had taken up e-governance, 23 reformed their accounting practices, seven achieved full cost recovery for water supply and only nine could rationalise stamp duty to 5 per cent.

It also sought reforms in taxation and regulatory procedures as also rationalisation of stamp duty and Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act.

The Rent Control Act should be balanced to protect the interest of the tenants and the property owners. Other reforms suggested by it include computerisation of process of registration property and user charges on public goods and services.
Source : PTI