SINGAPORE: Minister of State for National
Development Lee Yi Shyan has singled out poverty, pollution and
poor infrastructure as key urban challenges.
He said an unfavourable global economy can add
uncertainties and slow development.
Mr Lee called on mayors to seek practical solutions
to urban problems ahead of the World Cities Summit in Singapore
this week.
"Worldwide, 828 million people live in slum conditions, lacking
basic services such as drinking water and sanitation. This number
is increasing by six million each year to hit 890 million by 2020,"
he said.
"In many cities, we are trying to catch up with adequate
infrastructure. In short, we are behind the curve."
The United Nations forecasts that by 2025, there will be 37
megacities in the world. Five years after that, half the people on
the planet will be living in urban areas.
This means spiralling pressure on the environment - more waste and
pollution.
To stay ahead, many have looked towards Singapore as a model.
Danasiri Amarathunga, a Sri Lankan mayor, says the Republic
provides lessons for developing cities.
"There are a lot of things that you can learn from Singapore.
Especially the public housing," he said. "There are a lot of shanty
areas, squatters in Colombo city. We'll have to move them out,
(but) we have to keep them inside Colombo city also for their work
purposes."
"If we can go for high-rise flats like Singapore does, that will
help the community as well as all these people in the city," he
added.
- CNA/wm
"Worldwide,
828 million people live in slum conditions, lacking basic services
such as drinking water and sanitation. This number is increasing by
six million each year to hit 890 million by 2020," Hmm that's
kind of serious
Other countries better don't learn from SG...
