Urban Local Bodies Should Hold Legislative-Style Sessions Like Parliament: Union Minister Manohar Lal

Chandigarh, July 4 — Union Minister for Power, Housing, and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal on Friday called for a transformative shift in the functioning of urban local bodies (ULBs), advocating that they conduct House sessions on the lines of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. Speaking as the chief guest at the National Conference of Urban Local Body Chairpersons held in Manesar, Haryana, the former Chief Minister of Haryana said that such sessions, chaired by a designated presiding officer, would foster transparency and impartial decision-making.

Addressing a gathering of municipal representatives from across the country, Minister Manohar Lal emphasized the role of continuous capacity building and suggested that such large-scale conferences be organized frequently, with the help of digital and online platforms to expand their reach. He urged local leaders to translate the learnings from these sessions into action on the ground to redefine urban governance.

Urban Transformation through Challenge Funds and Global Partnerships

Highlighting the government’s vision for modernizing cities, the minister announced a ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund to support the reconstruction and rejuvenation of urban spaces. He said India is rapidly catching up with developed nations in urban infrastructure and cited India’s metro rail network as an example, which has expanded to over 1,000 kilometers across 21 cities—matching the scale of the United States.

India recently signed an MoU with Spain to exchange urban development practices, and similar models are being studied and implemented domestically, he added.

Environmental Protection and Sustainable Growth

Minister Manohar Lal underlined the need for integrating green mobility, rainwater harvesting, and e-mobility into city planning. “Development must be balanced with ecological preservation,” he said. He called for improved traffic management and adoption of smart transport solutions to meet the needs of an urban population that is projected to grow from the current 36% to 50% by 2047.

Empowering Local Bodies Through Skill and Technology

Stressing the importance of upskilling the municipal workforce, the minister promoted the use of the iGOT Karmayogi portal (www.igotkarmayogi.gov.in), which currently offers over 2,000 courses to government employees. “Employees at all levels must continuously upgrade their skills to match the pace of urban expansion,” he said.

He urged municipal bodies to become self-reliant and stressed the importance of financial transparency. “Urban local bodies should not rely solely on state and central funds but must build their own sustainable revenue models,” he stated.

Citizens Must Be Made Aware

The minister also called for greater civic awareness among the general public. “An aware citizenry brings greater transparency to governance,” he said, adding that public participation is crucial for the success of development initiatives.

The conference also saw the presence of several key dignitaries, including Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Union Minister of State Rao Inderjit Singh, Rajya Sabha Secretary General P.C. Mody, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, and Deputy Speaker Dr. Krishan Midha.