URBAN DIRT

(An insight to Urban Problems)

With reference to the article ‘Dealing with urban squalor’ (Business Line, February 13), the 3I interest rate must be applicable for all manufacturers — not just realtors. This is because manufacturers not only produce goods for consumers, but also enable creation of employment. This twin advantage must be sufficient for the government to consider an interest rate that would be more competitive than credit for purchases.

Identifying who the ‘manufacturers’ are is a challenge. The problem becomes simple when we consider the fact that manufacturers pay ‘excise duty’ on the value of goods manufactured. A cut in excise duty would help.

A living space of 50 sq.m to be provided by the government, that too, free of cost, may be a far-fetched proposal. Though the intent is good, there are practical difficulties in allotting that much space for a single individual. If the past is any indication, we only find all norms of buildings being flouted blatantly. For instance, floor space index (FSI) norms are violated in areas of Chennai where the land value is high.

The State is not only a poor executor of projects, but also a poor implementor of norms. The quality of the public transport system can be increased only with private participation. An efficient transport system would also reduce the need for flyovers and bridges. Making space for cyclists on roads would help reduce expenditure on petrol, apart from minimising pollution.