File photo of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
Taking a jibe at the Centre for its 'Smart Cities' project, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said it is "impossible" to achieve it when common people remain poor, unemployed and starve for even basic facilities like drinking water.
"The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is going to become a Smart City. I think, no city will become smart only because of good roads. It will become smart when people's lives also become smart. We have to make the people's lives smart first," Mr Kejriwal said after inaugurating a Public Convenience facility near Traffic Training Park under the jurisdiction of the NDMC.
The Chief Minister insisted that poor segment of populace must be the first to enjoy fruits of Smart Cities.
"Common people remain poor and unemployed. There is not even proper water supply in areas where they reside and we talk about a city becoming smart. It is impossible," he stressed.
Listing out issues which governments need to pay immediate attention to, the Aam Admi Party or AAP leader expressed concern that the quality of education in Delhi schools is going down and also stressed upon the need to concentrate more on providing good health facilities.
"There is 24-hour water supply in VIP areas, but in areas where common people reside water crisis is witnessed everyday," he added.
He also reached out to other parties, saying "we all need to work together" for bringing development.
"We had played politics and fought each other before elections. But after the formation of government, we need to work together. I appeal to all political parties to work jointly," he said.
The NDMC was listed in the Centre's Smart City plan under the Smart Cities Mission earlier this year.