New Delhi: The Centre has recently announced the first list of 20 cities identified under the 'Smart city' scheme of the Union government.
Naturally, the list has created a lot of heartburn among states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar which have not found a place on it.
Known to be two of the most backward states in India, cities from these states would have probably benefitted immensely from finding a place on the list. Therefore Union Minister Venkayya Naidu is now on a damage control mode.
He is personally interacting with the Chief Ministers of all the States and explaining that there were no political motives or any other ulterior motives behind the selection of the smart cities.
He is telling them that the selection was done in a purely scientific and fair manner.
