World Habitat Day Observation in Orissa

Cities around the world on Monday marked the 2006 celebration of World Habitat Day, which was launched at a glittering waterfront ceremony in the ancient Italian city of Naples. Like past Years this year City Managers’ Association Orissa observed the World Habitat Day 2006, in Bhubaneswar, India.

The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October every year to reflect on how we manage our cities in the new millennium as humanity now moves from being predominantly rural to overwhelmingly urban. Today, half of us live in cities, and the world is witnessing the fastest urban growth ever experienced.

At the same time, never before have the absolute numbers of people on the move been as great as they are today. And mostly, they are moving into cities, whether from the hinterland or abroad. This migration is taking place at a time when cities are growing at unprecedented rates. And this is why UN-HABITAT chose the theme, Cities, magnets of hope, to mark the 2006 events.

Although Bhubaneswar is not a big city but due to its status of being the Capital City of Orissa pulls thousands of people every day as Magnets of Hope, challenging its heritage & culture in India, said CMAO’s Executive Director, Mr. Piyush Ranjan Rout in his World Habitat Day presentation.

The state of Orissa in Eastern India having 14.97 percent of its population living in urban areas pose to reach 25 percent of its population living in urban areas by year 2021. The increase in urban population is expected to create challenges of providing Clean Safe Water, Solid Waste Management, Resource Mobilization, Public Transport, Shelter, Poverty Alleviation, Grievance Redressal, Health and Cultural issues etc.

As Orissa is presently attracting Orissa is attracting India’s largest Foreign Direct Investment, A dozen of big Iron & Steel industries, Petrochemical, supported by Ports, Tourism, Information Technology Business and educational institutions. Taking this as growth potential it is expected urban population of Orissa will is grow due to lots of in migration in to cities.

Mr. Rout also said it is essential that City Managers and Mayors to understand the importance of Cities as a change makers in states development. The management of Cities needs more professional and participatory approach irrespective of Rich or poor, every citizens must get access to clean living environment, safe water to drink, sanitation, efficient affordable public transport, electricity and other basic services.

The ceremony in Bhubaneswar marked with a workshop, exhibition on Cities Magnets of Hope and media interaction on the last day of the week. The local news channel had shown a special news item on World Habitat Day theme.