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The draft city development plan – prepared by the Bangalore-based Centre for Symbiosis of Technology, Environment and Management (STEM) – has stressed the need for affordable housing in Mangalore.
As the prices rise, even modest accommodation is fast going out of the reach of low-income and middle-income groups, it said. Very few initiatives have been taken up for providing housing for economically weaker sections, it noted.
The project for city development plan for Mangalore for 2034 has been awarded to STEM by the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) and the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC).
The draft plan was discussed at the ‘stakeholder consultative workshop on preparation of city development plan for Mangalore – 2034' here on Friday.
Fragile environment
The draft plan noted that environment of Mangalore is highly vulnerable to de-gradation due to uncontrolled urban expansion driven by economic development. The fragile environment of the region poses difficulties for growth.
It said that the enormous pressures on Mangalore's limited land resources are fast changing the character of Mangalore settlements, especially its villages.
Considering the future growth in mind, satellite towns should be developed near Mangalore, it added.
Demographic characteristics
Speaking on demographic characteristic, Dr Vijayaprakash, Commissioner of Mangalore City Corporation, said that the population of the city grew at an annual average rate of 1.9 per cent in the last three decades as against the national average of 2.1 per cent and State average of 3.6 per cent. Keeping the strong economic activity in mind, the city is bound to attract a lot of migrants.
Referring to some of the points in the draft plan, Mr Nelson Pais, an architect from Mangalore, said there is detachment from actual reality in the draft plan.
Mr Dharmaraj, another architect from Mangalore, said that STEM should set up a small team of experts with participation from experts in Mangalore to come out with a realistic projection of the Mangalore development.
Mr Gopal Gowda, Assistant Executive Engineer of Mangalore City Corporation, said that the topography of Mangalore is different from other cities. The plan should meet the requirements of Mangalore's topography. Keeping the development of the city in mind, the draft plan should have specified about the source of water in the coming years, he added.
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