Mayors of all 17 municipal corporations along with finance minister Suresh Khanna
Lucknow: With cities facing growing pressure on basic services and infrastructure, mayors of all 17 municipal corporations in Uttar Pradesh met in Lucknow on Wednesday to discuss ways to increase revenue, improve civic facilities and make urban development more inclusive. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in Lucknow Stay updated with the latest Lucknow news. The conference, titled ‘Listening to Cities, Solving Urban Challenges’, was jointly organised by the Sixth State Finance Commission, UNICEF and Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University. Finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna stressed the need for better sewage management, cleanliness and municipal bonds as ways to strengthen urban infrastructure. Municipal bonds allow civic bodies to raise money from investors for development projects. A key proposal discussed was introducing tourism-related fees or a city tourism levy, subject to legal provisions, to help cities manage the additional burden of tourists, pilgrims and daily visitors on water supply, sanitation and public facilities. Mayors also discussed expanding property tax coverage, improving tax collection, introducing appropriate service charges and making better use of municipal properties to generate revenue. Deepak Kumar , chairman of the Sixth State Finance Commission and additional chief secretary (finance), delivered the inaugural address. The discussions covered water supply, garbage disposal, drainage, urban planning and measures to protect cities against climate-related challenges. Participants also examined how recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission could help strengthen municipal finances. UNICEF highlighted the need for child-friendly cities with safer public spaces, better sanitation and accessible basic services. The conference concluded with discussions on improving accountability and ensuring that stronger municipal finances translate into better civic services. Download the TOI App.