Whether something is a disaster (“Urban disaster”, April 5) or an opportunity depends on how you look at it. You could either be worried that just 23 cities have double-entry book-keeping or you could be happy that at least 23 cities have already got double-entry book keeping!
Of course, it is true that India’s politicians pay more attention to rural areas and are not too concerned about urban voters and urban issues — which is why few politicians are too worried about the future of Hyderabad in the whole fight over Telangana. But politicians are not short-sighted, whatever else they may be. If over 40 per cent of India’s population will reside in urban areas in the next two decades, the power equation will also change and cities will get the space they need so desperately. Also, if the investment required to build cities runs into several lakh crore rupees, as the article seems to indicate, it is obvious the politicians will all fall in line.
Usha Thapar, NewDelhi
