Karnal ecstatic, MC pulls up socks for second challenge

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, August 27

The expectations of residents of the CM’s city were fulfilled today when the Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu declared the names of 98 smart cities.

With the inclusion of Karnal in the list, the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Karnal rally on October 4 and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar at several occasions have also been accomplished.

Karnal was the front runner with 95 per cent marks, followed by Faridabad with 90 per cent marks, but all eyes of the city were set on today’s announcement. Citizens welcomed the step and thanked the government by distributing sweets.

Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sumedha Kataria is very optimistic about the city’s inclusion in the top-20 smart cities and said it was the first stage towards the goal.

Apart from the 13 parameters required to become a smart city, the Karnal MC has fulfilled two more criterion— nod of the MC house and holding meetings in wards.

“The MC is all set for challenge II of smart cities. It has now made plans to reach all stake holders—residents, welfare associations, students, NGOs and councillors of MC— to exhort them to come forward with their vision of smart Karnal 2020,” Kataria said.

The MC had prepared information documents on initiatives such as smart water management, solid waste management, smart energy, smart transportation, smart IT and communication, smart health facilities, smart safety and security etc which would help them achieve the next goal, she added.

“The tag of smart city is an honour but we should keep the worth of it. All residents should contribute smartly to make the city smart,” said Amit Gupta, state vice-president of Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI).

BJP state secretary Chander Parkash Kathuria said the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister had kept their words and given recognition to Karnal, which had been neglected for years.

“It is a moment of pride for the residents of Karnal that it has been included in the first list of smart cities. The whole city will try its best to reach the top-20 list,” said Jagmohan Anand, state spokesman for the BJP.

Mayor Renu Bala said the land of Raja Karan and Kalpana Chawla would cross the second step too and they had started the preparations for it.