Members of the Kerala Urban Policy Commission with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh after submission of the policy report.
The Kerala Urban Policy Commission, constituted by the State government to frame a comprehensive urban policy to guide Kerala’s development activities for the next 25 years, submitted its final report to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday.
The commission, headed by M. Satheesh Kumar, a Senior Associate Professor at Queen’s University, Belfast, prepared the 2,359 page report based on 33 short studies and 53 stakeholder meetings with 2,500 individuals from various sectors across all districts.
Addressing a press conference after the submission of the report, Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh said that Kerala had yet again become a model for the rest of the country by becoming the first State to frame an urban policy. Some of the recommendations including municipal planning committees and municipal bonds are already integrated in this year’s Budget. The Cabinet will adopt the report after discussion, he said.
Mr. Satheesh Kumar said that a northward shift is expected in urbanisation in Kerala by 2050, based on population projections.
The commission report is arranged around the 10 policy pillars which are identified as critical instruments to manage urban challenges in Kerala and to advance an urban policy, prioritising people, enhancing resilience and strengthening collective local governance. It has suggested a public, private and people’s partnership (PPPP) in the future development of Kerala.
The report says that Kerala should develop a risk-informed master plan at the local level to integrate climate resilience into urban planning. All spatial plans, including Disaster Management Plans, Master Plans, Development Plans, and Local Area Plans, should be aligned with this framework to ensure cohesive and risk-sensitive development, particularly in ecologically fragile and hazard-prone areas.
The commission recommends a targeted green fee on urban development projects to fund disaster risk reduction initiatives, including resilient infrastructure and emergency response systems. A comprehensive climate-risk insurance framework is also suggested.
Professionalisation
In several measures to revamp urban governance, professionalisation is recommended in urban local bodies, including the restructuring of the staff, understanding the requirements at different levels. The steering committee may be elevated to the position of City Cabinet, headed by the Mayor. Initially, this will be implemented in the municipal Corporations and a Chief Executive, jointly selected by the State government and the civic body, can be appointed in the municipal Corporations, replacing the current role of the Secretary.
City business development councils are proposed in all municipal Corporations and municipalities, ensuring that membership includes local businesses, industry associations, and community groups. Local economic development departments are proposed in all urban local governments for supporting urban local governments to reduce dependency on State grants and enhance their own revenue aimed at strengthening their financial independence.
For waste management, decentralised sewage treatment plants, faecal sludge treatment plants and co-treatment facilities for localised wastewater management are proposed. Open spaces, waste grounds, and fields are to be designated as carbon sinks to enhance urban resilience, biodiversity, and public health. City, town, and ward-level health committees are proposed to be formed to develop age-friendly neighbourhood plans and assess elderly needs.
Published – March 30, 2025 11:55 pm IST
