Smart City-Imphal
(A dream that we need to make true)

Sanjenbam Jugeshwor Singh *

There is a great buzz in India recently on smart cities. The Government has embarked on "smart Cities Mission ",one of the Prime Minister's pet Project and has identified in the first phase , a list of 98 current cities to be developed into smart city including our Imphal.

Economic growth and improving the quality of life of its citizens are the prime drivers of the mission. To achieve this, Government plans to enable local area development by using Digital Technology and Information Communication Technologies (ICT). Greenfield areas are to be developed in the periphery of the cities to provide accommodation to the anticipated growth of the population as a result of these developments.

Smart city provides the citizens, high quality cost effective service seamlessly and with a minimum use of resources. Smart cities will use technology, gather and collate information and data using smart solution with the aim of improving the services and infrastructures.

The information gathered will be in real time thereby providing quicker solutions to problems on hands. Digital technology offers most services at the click of the mouse which otherwise involved a physical presence of the resident to receive many of the services such as banking, shopping, Government services (payment of taxes, bills, accessing information's etc.).

Smart cities are high on the social indices, good and transparent governance. As a result the quality of life improves creating feel-good factors in the individual. This would also lead to higher productivity, employment opportunities and income generation and consequently inclusive growth.

A normal city is defined as area with boundary limits including both urban and sub-urban areas. Land area, population, civic facilities, administration with structured portfolios, well defined transport system, medical and Educational facilities and a faster pace of life, all define a city. It contrast with town or village, in that the above stated facilities are less or non-existent in them. It is also true that many a time town grows into cities.

There seems to be no universal definition of what is a smart city. Many parameters define a smart city and these may not be applicable universally, it would vary from country to country and city to city. The level of development planned, resources required or available, a commitment to change and introduce reforms taking the aspirations of its citizens are all necessary requirement in a smart city. So, smart city is the normal city with much more.

The Manipur government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IL & FS Township and Urban Assets Limited and Price water house coopers private limited for implementing the Imphal smart City project on 6th November 2018 .

The projects covers key infrastructures development like upgrading sewerage system, Nambul and Imphal river rejuvenation, development of Kangla Fort, better transport services, pollution control and beautification activities in the capital.

As a part of it Honorable Chief Minister launched the "Rejuvenation and Conservation of Nambul River, Imphal Manipur "Project on 9th March 2019. The project would be executed in phase manner under the National River conservation Plan of Ministry of Environment ,Forest and Climate change.

The first phase of the project would be taken up along the polluted stretch of Nambul River from Iroisemba to Heirangoithong area. As a part of the project encouraging local clubs and Organizations to construct concrete garbage bins in the respective localities and assurance of Government to provide loans or grants for constructing the garbage disposal structures is a good step forward.

The project aims to control pollution of River water by intercepting and treating all the urban waste water outfalls by using latest technology for treatment plant known as MBBR (Moving Bed Bio Reactor) at Mongsangei(16MLD) and Samusang(1MLD).

It is also reported that under this project ,a total of 56 eco-friendly crematoria and 20 units of community toilets complex would also be constructed at various areas along Nambul River. It's heartening to learnt that Water Resource Department, PHED, MAHUD, State Pollution Control Board will be working together in this project.

Prevention of pollution in Nambul River will greatly help to save Loktak Lake also. In fact this is a great step taken by our government for our betterment. But a big question crop up at the moment, after seeing the mind set of our people in regard to disobedience of traffic rules ( because of many factors), disposal of garbage and solid waste, and many more; whether Imphal City project will be successful or not?

Unless we change our mind set (including common people, public leaders, and bureaucrat officers) toward a progressive orientation with a commitment, the dream of Imphal Smart city may find hard to translate into reality. So, we all need to cooperate to the government for a progressive Manipur.