SRINAGAR: Srinagar has been adjudged the most unliveable city in India, according to the government’s Ease of Living Index released on Thursday.
Of the 49 cities ranked on the livability index in the more than million population category, Srinagar ranks 49th with a score of 42.95 while Jammu at 27th spot, in the Government’s Ease of Living Index’ (EoLI) for the year 2020.
According to the index released by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri today, Shimla topped the category of cities with a population of less than a million’ while Jammu ranked at 27th position with 52.49 scores. Previously, Jammu had remained at 95th spot while Srinagar at 100th place in the list of 111 cities.
Himachal’s capital city-Shimla, with a score of 60.90, remained at Ist spot in the list of 62 cities while Muzaffarpur was at the bottom with a score of just 45.53.
In this category of ‘less than million population’, Bhubaneswar was ranked second, Silvassa third and they were followed by Kakinada, Salem, Vellore, Gandhinagar, Gurgaon, Davangere and Tiruchirapalli in the list of top 10 cities.
While Ghaziabad and Meerut in UP, figured at the 30th and the 36th spot in the ‘million-plus population’ category respectively, Allahabad is at the 32nd position and is followed by Patna (33rd). Faridabad is ranked 40th in this category.
Performance of the cities have been measured on four broad parameters – governance and social, physical and economic infrastructure.
The ‘Ease of Living Index’ is an assessment tool that evaluates the quality of life and the impact of various initiatives for urban development.
“These cities have emerged as models of development who will inspire others to perform better. Further, their peers will also benefit from emulating their best practices,” Puri said.
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said that the ‘Municipal Performance Index’ is an effort to assess and analyse the performance of Indian municipalities based on their defined set of functions.
He said the Central Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has unleashed the most comprehensive effort to transform the urban landscape.
The ‘Municipal Performance Index’ will strengthen democracy and participatory governance by allowing citizens, civil society and other key stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of the functioning of their local Government bodies, and hold the officials accountable, reports quoted the Minister as having said.
Reacting on the issue, former Jammu and Kashmir finance minister Dr Haseeb Drabu tweeted, “Based on quality of life, economic ability, sustainability & citizens perception, Union Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry ranks Srinagar the most unliveable city in India. May be policy makers should try to make it liveable for residents prior to making it attractive to investors.”
Based on quality of life, economic ability, sustainability & citizens perception, Union Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry ranks Srinagar the most unliveable city in India. May be policy makers should try to make it liveable for residents prior to making it attractive to investors. pic.twitter.com/K001NjWhFm
— Haseeb Drabu (@HaseebDrabu) March 5, 2021
