BHUBANESWAR: There is an urgent need to prepare master plans for emerging towns and cities and equip them with essential infrastructures and facilities in view of rapid urbanisation of the State.Urban planning in the State needs a paradigm shift from the prevailing trend of land development for housing followed by creating necessary infrastructure and amenities, to studying and facilitating infrastructure before proceeding for land development, real estate developers have emphasised.The big cities and towns are already feeling the pressure to meet road connectivity, water supply, solid waste management and transport requirements, due to unplanned housing activities. The same situation would grip the emerging urban areas in near future if lessons learnt are not put to good use, they warned.Though Orissa has only 16.68 per cent of urban population against the national average of 31.6 per cent, the State has witnessed a steep increase in urban population. In the last decade, urban population in the State grew by 26.80 per cent.Even Nayagarh district has recorded an overwhelming 115.09 per cent urbanisation in the last 10 years while Jajpur, which is now the industrial hub of the State, has posted 85 per cent growth. Hitherto considered as backward tribal districts, Kandhamal, Nabrangpur, Bargarh and Malkangiri have recorded an urban growth of 63.66, 47.98, 45.59 and 41.08 per cent respectively.Opportunities of employment and livelihood, better access to education, improved health facilities and greater connectivity from villages to the towns and cities have propelled migration to a much higher level.With the State witnessing rapid industrialisation and growth of key sectors like mining, IT, education, health, tourism and infrastructure, the trend is going to precipitate in the coming days, Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association (Credai) Orissa chapter president DS Tripathy said on Friday.The Association has acknowledged that affordable housing is still to pick up in the State. The body called for maximum land opening in cities and towns, which would bring down housing costs and also cater to demand for affordable housing, Tripathy said.Credai is all set to host the first StateCON on the theme ‘Lets talk about urban challenges,’ along with the Property Expo-2011 here from October 20. The conference would draw participants from various fields- the Government, city planning agencies, developers, financial organisations, environment specialists and civic bodies, to discuss the problems and evolve strategies for the future, General Secretary of Credai S Patnaik said.
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