The Challenges
Some of the major challenges which Indian cities are facing include:

• Lack of adequate housing and social infrastructure
• Lack of access to clean, regular supply of water - in sufficient quantity and assured quality
• Lack of adequate sanitation facilities
• Lack of proper and comprehensive solid and liquid waste management systems
• Absence of integrated, economically and ecologically sustainable transportation systems
• Inefficient financial management, leading to inadequate resource-base
• Increasing levels of urban poverty, and problems faced by slum settlements
• Inequitous distribution of resources, and lack of access to basic services to socially and economically disadvantaged groups
• Rising cost of housing, construction & infrastructure development
• Time-consuming and cumbersome response system to citizens’ needs and grievances

The Objectives

• Provide a platform for showcasing and demonstrating the latest technologies, equipments, services and concepts in Municipal Management, Urban Development and Public Works
• Create a forum for sharing strategies, experiences and best-practices in creating inclusive, sustainable, inhabitable and credit-worthy Urban settlements
• Bring more transparency and accountability in public procurement
• Showcase the various programmes, policies and achievements in the sphere of Urban Development by Central and State Governments, especially the Host-State Maharashtra and the Host-City Mumbai
• Foster interaction among the various stake-holders i.e. Central, State and Local Urban Government Bodies, International and National Developmental Agencies, NGOs, and citizens.

Initiatives

Many initiatives are being taken up by the Central, State and Local / City Governments for addressing the urban challenges.

The historic launch of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) by the Government of India in 2005 aims at creating economically productive, efficient, equitable, inclusive, sustainable and responsive cities. The massive funding from the Central & State governments amounting to Rs. 1000 billion (USD $25 billion) over the period 2005-2012 will contribute substantially to creating improved urban infrastructure and housing.

Cities and urban local bodies have also taken up innovative practices and initiatives for managing their affairs in an effective and efficient manner.

Best-practices from both within the country and abroad have shown how challenges can be converted into opportunities for providing better services, leading to improved quality of life for the citizens. Some Municipal bodies have demonstrated their ability to change to double entry accounting system, expand the revenue base, provide quantum jump in property tax collection, introduce different partnership models of public - private - people’s participation for housing, property development and various civic facilities - all of which have brought positive and profitable result to the urban local bodies and the citizens.

The urban sector scenario in India is thus going through a dynamic phase of reforms, leading to fast-paced improvement in infrastructure.

With the above background, Municipalika, 6th International Exhibition on Municipal Services, Urban Development and Public Works is being organised in Mumbai from 29 Jan - 31 Jan, 2009. Co-terminus with this is the 6th International Conference on “Good Urban Governance for Inclusive and Sustainable cities”, being organised at the same venue in collaboration with Government of India Ministries of Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Home Affairs, New & Renewable Energy and Information Technology, All India Council of Mayors, Asian Council of Mayors, and other leading National and International agencies dealing with Urban Development, Management and Governance.