Panaji: "Economic liberalisation has unleashedpotential but not enabled Indian cities to build infrastructure in proportionto this growth," said participants at the global Urban India 2020conference here. 

In the years ahead, the role of finances and, above all,legislation and public policies will be critical on a state-by-state andcity-by-city basis in India,concluded the conference, held over the weekend. 

Organised by the EuroIndia Centre, a non-profit organisationfounded in 2001 by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former French primeminister Raymond Barre, the meet stressed the need for building infrastructurein urban areas. 

The conference, attended by industry, politicians,technologists, urban planners, academics and others, pointed out that India'surban population accounts for 30 percent of total population, and contributesto over 60 percent of the GDP. But most Indian cities lack basic infrastructure. 

In urban India,while 89 percent of the population is reported to have access to safe drinkingwater, water distribution and allocation suffers from "crueldeficiencies", figures emerging from the meet showed.

 The conference noted that a depletion of groundwater supply,presence of high levels of chemicals in water, water-borne diseases and lack ofwater conservation measures "are all critical issues that need to beaddressed". 

"The situation on sanitation is grim. While 46 percentof urban Indian households have toilets, only 36 percent of the households areconnected to a public sewage system," the conference noted. 

It suggested that there was urgent need to promote low-costtoilets and provide sanitation "that is accessible, affordable,self-sustaining and eco-friendly". New technology needed adoption for thetreatment of effluent across urban centres of India. 

Pointing to the spurt in urban travel demand, participantsnoted that this was happening sharply with expanding city size, and growingeconomic activities. 

Motor vehicle growth was almost four timesfaster than the growth of population. 

The Indiagovernment has formulated a draft National Urban Transport Policy, with theslated aim of integrating land use and transport planning, to improve access tojobs and education. 

"This policy sets the right direction for meeting thechallenges of urban mobility in years to come. We (need to) look at variousoptions available to urban authorities and learn from European and Indianexperiences in managing a city mass transport system," commented abackgrounder. 

It said the deteriorating quality of urban life has posed an"urgent need" for vibrant and efficient urban local bodies (ULBs)that can "deliver adequate services and improve living condition". 

"Urbanisation thrives on its infrastructure," itwas stated. 

But participants pointed to the need not just of water andwastewater systems, solid waste management, and mass transit systems, but alsoshopping malls, health and education facilities, hotels and commercialcomplexes "which define the character of the city".

 "Most of these amenities are large projects, but notall of them can be commercially viable. Bankable projects such as shoppingmalls and commercial complexes are never short of money. Vital projects -drinking water, sewage systems, street lightings are not bankable and requirelarge funds,"  it said. 

Experts at the meet felt recent credit and physical inputavailability had "improved" for India's urban mass housing. It pointed to the need to answer the"huge demand" for self-sustained affordable housing in the world'ssecond-most populous nation. 

Indiastill faces 'tremendous challenges' in building human capacity in the"neglected yet crucial field" of urban management, where Indiastill does not produce enough trained manpower. 

Indiais however seen as having great know-how regarding new towns, whether promotedby public or the private sector. In contrast, in Europethese have been strongly supported by Governments.