The three-day conference of BRICS on ‘Urban Transition’ ended in the port city here this evening with the member countries stressing on the need to ensure an “urban renaissance” to stimulate economic growth and enable decent living for all.
Urban policy-makers and experts from BRICS nations unanimously called for augmenting the capacities of cities to promote effective urban planning and management with wider participation of citizens in urban affairs.
Placing water and sanitation management in urban areas among the most daunting challenges in the context of rapid urbanisation, BRICS countries have called for a ‘zero waste’ policy through reuse and recycling in a focused manner.
They stressed on the need to step up the capacities of cities in ensuring such zero waste approach.
Noting that only one per cent of readily-usable water was available for mankind, with 97 per cent being in seas and 2 per cent locked up in deep aquifers, N A Buthelegi of South Africa called for adoption of appropriate technologies and response mechanisms to meet the water needs of people.