Urban Update April 2017

ISSN 2349-6266 RNI No DELENG/2014/57384

Setting The Agenda For Tomorrow’s Cities

UrbanUpdate Volume III, Issue XII

April 2017

Rs 100

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Non urban India hosts over 68 % of its population.

The establishments in rural areas account for about 67.89 million of the total 131.29 million employment.

Evidence thus that non-urban India has a significant role to play in the country’s economy

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The project is funded by the European Union.

The project is implemented by the AIILSG.

April 2017

Union Ministry of Urban Development has empanelled AIILSG on the list of consultants qualified to work for Smart City Mission in Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Magazines & Journals

Energy Efficiency

AMRUT Knowledge Management

Seminars

Project Management Customised Training

Sustainable Development Goals

Swachh Bharat Mission

ECBC

Smart City Mission

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Policy Research

Skill Development

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April 2017 www.aiilsg.org

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Project Update

UrbanUpdate A monthly magazine published by the AIILSG — a project funded by European Union’s ‘Equi-City’ programme for India.

Ranjit Chavan President-AIILSG Ashish Deosthali Editor-In-Chief Director General-AIILSG Ashok Wankhade Managing Editor Abhishek Pandey Editor Ravi Ranjan Guru Executive Editor

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The project is funded by the European Union.

The project is implemented by the AIILSG.

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission.

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April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

EDITORIAL

Rurban; Vibrancy of Cities, Vitality of Villages

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n the recent civic elections to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation just about 52 percent of the electorate cast their votes. In other cities where local body elections were held around the same time, the numbers were not much different. This indicates limited interest on the part of citizens to participate meaningfully and effectively in making their cities better. As a first step towards better cities, one would expect the citizen to select (and elect) a person/s of her choice who she thinks will manage the city well. But that does not seem to be the case. Or maybe she thinks whoever is entrusted the task of running the city; the end result will be the same. Alessandra Orofino, urban activist and co-founder of Meu Rio says that citizens’ willingness to engage with democratic processes is the first of several steps required in order to make our cities better. The second and third requirements according to her are our cities’ ability to really include all their residents and citizens own ability to live fulfilling and happy lives.

Cities are not just about roads, buildings and public spaces. The citizen is central in our quest for more livable habitats.Maintaining law and order, keeping public spaces litter free, abiding by solid waste management rules, preventing damage to public assets are all elements of citizen behavior which will determine the quality of urban life. Above all, the willingness to participate with full energy in community development and welfare programmes including regular engagement with civic officials will ensure that city administrators and elected representatives are responsive to citizens’ needs and act with transparency and accountability. The level of participation in the local body elections indicates that we have some distance to go.

In this issue of Urban Update, we dwell on spaces outside our cities which could present opportunities to face up to the challenge of rapid urbanisation.

Our cities are too full and bursting at the seams. Infrastructure limitations and service delivery deficits are at their peak. Improvement efforts are way behind the curve and demand outstrips supply many times over. Underfunded and modestly equipped urban bodies are only tinkering at the margins rather than bringing about transformations that our cities require. It is quite evident that we need newer cities and many more of them. The existing ones are overflowing.

The new cities need to be created around economic opportunities, possibly in the agricultural or related sectors; could even be in the form of dispersed new industrial activity. The Government of India’s Rurban Mission is a step in this direction.

The scheme aims to create about 300 such clusters of villages and small towns with a core economic activity which has potential for generating livelihoods. We have included various views and opinions of different practitioners on opportunities in the rural sector. Urban Update spoke to the Municipal Commissioner of Nagpur to understand the efforts for better services and greater inclusivity in the Orange City. We carry excerpts. Our interaction with the lady Sarpanch of a village in Rajasthan threw up interesting insights on rural self-governance.

We trust this issue of Urban Update will foster wider debate, discussion and deliberation on the vital subject of urbanisation while looking at the potential of our rural centres.

Ashish Deosthali Editor-In-Chief dg@aiilsg.org

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

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Quotes

PIN POINT BUZZ

President Trump’s order, directing the EPA to begin rolling back environmental protections and policies including the Clean Power Act is a dissappointment. It is essential that the United States continue to serve as a global leader in solving the climate crisis by transitioning to clean energy Al Gore Former Vice President, USA

India has always been at the forefront of conservation of wildlife. It is our collective responsibility and duty.

MoEFCC remains committed to conserving wildlife. Budget allocation has been increased from Rs. 475 Crore last year to Rs. 522.50 Crore Anil Madhav Dave Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change Government of India

Rajiv Gauba @Secretary_MoUD Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Govt. of India

Integrated Command & Control Centers are ICT enabled platforms that will help in planning, decision making & implementation of Smart City Projects

Elon Musk @elonmusk Tesla, SpaceX, Tunnels &OpenAI

Tesla’s Powerpack installation at Southern California Edison’s substation will reduce the LA Basin’s reliance on fossil fuels and provide energy security

M Venkaiah Naidu @MVenkaiahNaidu MoUD

An international vehicle rating system based on emissions in real-world conditions will consist of a rating for each vehicle model. It will be calculated on the basis of the pollutants that it emits when circulating. These notes can be viewed online by citizens.

Increased use of electric vehicles will be crucial. Mayors of Paris, London and Seoul will work together on these Anne Hidalgo Mayor, Paris

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April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

Opening interiors of India-5 operators will operate on 128 routes & connect 70 regional airports. Tourism, investment & job creation will get a massive boost. Under the regional connectivity scheme, (UDAN) ‘Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik’, flying will soon become a common man’s prerogative. NITI Aayog is proud to associate with this scheme Amitabh Kant CEO, NITI Aayog Government of India

The Green Urban Mobility Scheme tries to incentivize cities/towns to undertake reforms in mobility. Nonmotorized Transport infrastructure and adoption of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) would be prioritized

Georgia Lord Mayor of City of Goodyear, Arizona USA

The City of Goodyear recycled 638 tons of materials in February 2017. We also saved 3,259,657 gallons of water by recycling them sustainably

Inside

Inside

Volume 3, Issue 12

April 2017

LEADerspeak

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Cities, villages can’t grow in silos The promise of inclusive nation building aspires to transform rural and urban areas alike. The reality today presents the stark contrast in terms of efficient services and high-end infrastructure deficit in almost every Indian village. Is sprawl of cities an urban blight on villages?

ARTICLE

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Rural Development & Governance Challenges & Solutions Almost 68 percent of India’s population still lives in villages. That tells us that the soul of India still lives in rural areas or villages. The progress in science and technology and tremendous economic growth in India has impacted the life in urban areas but rural areas still remain largely unaffected and devoid of development

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Sustainable Urban Drainage & New Urban Agenda Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) are the most appropriate current solutions but SUDS can only be implemented with good policies, supportive stakeholder groups and partnerships so that these new ideas, which cut across existing methods and practices, can be accepted

Cover story

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Pin Point Newscan Events Book Review

8 15 30 46

36

Chipko Andolan More relevant today!

The octogenarian tree lover Sunderlal Bahuguna is quite worried about degradation of our environment and cutting of trees. The lanky, frail looking bearded man now in his mid 90s, Bahuguna is credited with launching India’s first non-violent agitation to save environment.

Urban Update interviews the environmentalist in Dehradun

40 Equi-City City Images Numerographs Urban Agenda

Beyond the cities, there is vitality and energy in smaller towns especially given our vast geographical spread and diversity in the economic and social fabric. Policy interventions can help make these locations attractive for locals and to stem the urban deluge

ONE ON ONE

RegularS

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Rurban; best of both worlds

The Changemaker Urban Update speaks to one of the youngest woman sarpanches in the country, and the first with an MBA degree, she has been consistently working for the betterment of her village Soda in Tonk district of Rajasthan. Clean drinking water, education, empowerment of women, and bridging the man-woman divide topped her agenda

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

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feature | Equi-City

Equi-City launches City Development Forum in Nagpur City Development Forum would provide a dialogue forum through which locals would regularly interact with corporation employees and urban experts and give their suggestions for making Nagpur smart, inclusive

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qui-City cell along with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) constituted City Development Forum to improve dialogue between the citizens of Nagpur and city government, and enhance the quality and outreach of the municipal services rendered.

Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping and Member of Parliament from Nagpur Nitin Gadkari was the chief guest at the launch event.

Renowned environmentalist Girish Gandhi was appointed as the convener.

The core group of CDF has representation from different sectors concerning urban management.

The members include Dr Girish Gandhi, Rajiv Thorat, Prof Neelima Deshmukh, Dr P Sivasawaroop, Sandeep Shirkhedkar, Aprup A Adwadkar, Kaustav Chatterjee, LeenaBuddhe, SudhirFulzele, GS Saini, Sunil Sahastra buddhe and Atul Zoting. A dedicated team from Nagpur Municipal Corporation has also been selected to regularly interact with the CDF for implementing the group’s suggestions for the benefit of locals.

The launch event was inaugurated by newly elected Mayor of Nagpur Nanda Jichkar. The mayor called for the involvement of youngsters in making the city beautiful. Nitin Gadkari addressed the valedictory session and appreciated the concept of participatory governance model taken up by NMC under Equi-City project.

Gadkari said, “Citizens’ feedback is very important to ensure that the future development roadmap of the Orange city matched the aspirations and needs

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April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

of the populace.” Gadkari asked officials in Municipal Corporation of Nagpur to involve locals as much as possible in the planning and implementation process of city development schemes.

He suggested setting up a ‘think tank’ at NMC so that for next ten years the roadmap can be drawn up and implemented accordingly.

Girish Gandhi, the convener of the forum, proposed that the CDF must select a particular area of the city for implementing its ideas or solutions.

This will work as a pilot project and help us in convincing people that the groups like CDF can deliver fruitful results by collaborating with local governments.

It will also help us in scaling up the project easily in other areas. He stressed on preparing communication materials in local language for building better rapport and connection with people.

Deepraj Pardikar, Deputy Mayor, Shravan Hardikar, Municipal Commissioner, Sandeep Jadhav, Chairman of Standing Committee, Ravi Ranjan Guru, Senior Executive Director, AIILSG, and Ashok Wankhade, Managing Editor of Urban Update were also present at the event.

Guru underlined that citizens must take the lead and drive the change needed to ensure equitable distribution of services. He added that European Union had chosen Nagpur for rolling out programs of citizen’s initiative and based on feedback and success it will be implemented across the country.

The response of the programme is astounding and we would share our experience with other cities as well.

The launch of City Development Forum has provided a platform for

diverse practitioners and people from various fields—drawn from civil society, business, designers, artists, academic institutions and government—to identify strategies and approaches that promote urban livability and resilience.

City Development Forum will also address the conditions that are inhibiting proper livability conditions and equitable distribution of services in the city. It will also encourage the citizens of the city to participate in the forum by creating peer-to-peer learning that will enhance the livability and sustainability of their city, and beyond.

Using one to one interaction and digital media tools, the forum will stimulate innovation between the government officials and citizens of the city, and provide a solid base to build Equi-City.

The impacts of the forum will include new synergies between the community, institutional and public sectors/ government sector; urban planning, design and infrastructure development; Gender; Safety & Security; mobilization of local innovation; Municipal Services and Utilities;Transport and Mobility in the city and participatory governance models that more effectively respond to the urban challenges of resilience and livability.

It will benefit the citizens, women and under-represented communities, and minority communities by making them part of the Inter-city forum and City Development Forum (CDF) thus making them part of the participatory governance process. CDF will help stakeholders inform, educate and sensitize wider set of stakeholders on diversity and delivery of municipal services.

2 1 1. Newly elected Nagpur Mayor Nanda Jichkar inaugurating City Development Forum launch event 2. Ravi Ranjan Guru, Sr Executive Director, AIILSG, felicitating Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping during the veledictory session 3. A group of urban experts and members of City Development Forum participated in the discussion to prepare a roadmap for an inclusive Nagpur 4. A clipping of the news coverage in a local English daily

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The key issues within the participatory forum will help local authorities and stakeholders to form collaborative solutions. Further, the forums help strengthen the initiative through feedback received on various issues faced in the target area. The functioning of the Equi-City cell, which will be on a collaborative basis, will be able to execute the project with the help and support of CDF. Equi-City cell catalyses the efficient delivery of municipal services with an increase in demand from citizens.

♦♦ Transport and Mobility ♦♦ Gender: Safety & Security ♦♦ Municipal Budget & Financing During the launch event, several speakers and specialists in this field presented their ideas focusing on the importance of diversity and inclusion.

Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Global Disability Advisor at the World Bank Group, presented a working paper on the importance of inclusive planning and development of policies. Nhlapo is a well-known figure in the fields of disability and children’s rights.

Public dialogue

Other key initiatives

The Launch event and Workshop was focused on discussions by the experts and CDF core members on the existing issues of Nagpur City on following themes: ♦♦ Participatory Governance ♦♦ Municipal Services and Utilities

Equi-City project is initiating the drive for equitable distribution of municipal services in Nagpur City and to share strategies and approaches that foster livability and sustainability in a city.

Cities everywhere face many similar challenges, but the cities in India—

4 ones which drive national finance, culture and social innovation—must address a set of conditions particular to their size, scale, and intensity. The diversities (of all kinds) in Nagpur city generate substantial output for the nation. Equi-City is creating this network to better identify the range of challenges and innovative responses, while strengthening the livability of the city. Inherent to the resilience of a city is the degree to which it is also livable. If the livability of a city is compromised, so too is its capacity to be socially, economically, culturally and environmentally resilient. Nagpur is continuously building as economic, social and environmentally adaptive city. The city is working towards maintaining the quality of livability that retains its existing population and integrates a steady stream of citizens into the city.

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

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one on one | Shravan Hardikar, Municipal Commissioner, Nagpur Municipal Corporation

Inclusivity must for Better Cities In a candid interview with Urban Update, Shravan Hardikar, Municipal Commissioner, Nagpur Municipal Corporation, explains his plans of making Nagpur a livable and inclusive city. Excerpts…

Abhishek Pandey Editor

Cities in India are gradually changing with the shift of government’s focus on cities through various urban transformation schemes. Politicians and experts are talking about smart cities, inclusive cities, intelligent cities, etc. How are we going to achieve the objectives envisaged under these fancy names?

We must dejargonise the whole concept to make it simple for common citizens.

We in Nagpur are focusing on providing better civic services to all citizens.

What is your criterion of better municipal services?

We are striving to provide social justice that is a larger concept. It is about providing every individual equal opportunity to fulfill their dreams and aspirations without any impediment of caste, creed, religion or economic status. We have to look within whether

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April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

we, as a society, are able to create that kind of infrastructure and accessibility to services. If a student from a poor family seeks quality education and because of financial constraint cannot get admission into a public school, he should be able to get the same quality education in government run schools where education is free of cost. If that is available then the person is not left out of the race.

Is Nagpur Municipal Corporation providing that?

Equi-City project is designed to identify such gaps and address them. We are working to improve our services in all our domains. I don’t mean to say that we are not providing that. It is a societal perception that municipal corporation schools do not provide quality education. Municipal schools may be providing good quality education and

if there are any gaps we will address them. If societal perception is changed about these schools then even the government employees will send their children to these schools.

Nagpur is among the few cities that has started ‘24x7 water supply’ project. How are you providing water supply to all citizens?

24x7 water supply is the general name given to the project. Basically, the project we are implementing is rehabilitation and resettlement of existing water supply system. The objective is to provide equitable delivery of water to every citizen of Nagpur by reducing the losses occurring because of leakages and theft. Transmission and treatment losses have already been removed. Almost 30 per cent, 7.5 lakh people, are now able to access 24x7 water supply. There are still some

parts which are not covered under this because network improvement and replacement of leaking water pipes is in process. When we provide 24x7 water supply in pressurized form to every household then leakage at household level will also be addressed because people will be charged for the loss.

Even after the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA), local bodies do not enjoy much power. The funds allocated to ULBs through State Finance Commission and their own revenue generation measures are not enough to sustain their expenses. Do you think local bodies need more administrative and financial powers?

There are two aspects; one is financial autonomy and another is financial efficiency. Have Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) explored all avenues available to them to the maximum? If that can be done, with no loop holes or obstructions, then that is the first avenue to be cracked by all the corporations.

Secondly, if it still not sufficient then the question of assistance comes and further devolution of powers. If there is a policy change of the government that is full devolution of powers is to happen then it will require a huge policy reform.

It will also require lot of capacity building at the corporation or council level because we do not have that kind of financial preparedness for infrastructure and machinery. It will further require engagement of other reforms through urban and rural local bodies where accounting system, financial transparency and collection system will have to be improved. The service delivery and user charges recovery will have to be strengthened even further.

Many global cities London, Paris, Beijing and New Delhi are facing air pollution. And, they are introducing new policies to curb pollution levels.

The global cities have enhanced Mayoral power, even the police department in many of these cities comes under the Mayor. The situation

is different in Indian cities because they have limited jurisdiction. Do you think local bodies need to take up a lead role in addressing these evolving issues?

There are two main aspects to be seen for analyzing. First, is that the pollution control is a part of corporations’ business. We are the body that looks for reducing and controlling water pollution, waste management. Nagpur corporation is also responsible for the upkeep of public transport. It is the duty of corporations. So if we are making any policy change or decision, even the building plans and implementation of any project, we must ask ourselves: are we thinking in greener terms? Are we designing our public transport with greener fuels? What are our interventions for reducing carbon footprints? Can it incentivise the greener investment inside the city? Are we promoting green buildings? Are we protecting our green cover? Are we promoting public transport over private transport? If we are going to allow unprecedented rise in the private transport, we are not just going to face parking problems but we are also going to face problems of air pollution. Eventually we have to think about public transport.

The target is around 75 per cent plus should use public transport. Having regulatory powers does not assure you cleaner environment. It is the intent in our policies and our incentive structure which are going to govern.

Nagpur is the first city that introduced ethanol run busses. How has been your experience?

We did a pilot run of ethanol busses for a year or so. The results are wonderful.

As compared to a diesel bus, the emission is down to one hundredth, so results are excellent. It is wonderful; it must comply with Euro 5 to Euro 6.

Another benefit is that the farmers and city dwellers, both, got benefit out of the initiative.

Let us talk about cooperation between elected representatives and municipal officials. What has been

your experience?

There is no problem. There should not be any strain because the roles are clearly defined. If somebody trespasses over others’ jurisdictions then a conflict rises. In democracy, you will have to take people in confidence to do the good work. If bureaucrats want to do something and push their agenda, then they will have to get the political representatives on board. If political representatives want to do something, then they will have to fit it under the rule of law. Eventually we will have to work together and whenever it has happened, it has borne good results. The conflicts only come when individuals push their own agendas so it is a personal clash. It was never a problem of system.

You told us that Nagpur is basically a senior citizen friendly city. So what kind of special infrastructural facilities are provided to them?

Basically when we have more people of higher age group then we will have to design the public infrastructure in accordance with them. Elderly people should be given preference in public transport and should be provided with wheelchair assistance, if required. The public areas like parks and gardens should also be elderly friendly.

Medical emergency assistance should be provided at public spaces. Old age people generally miss their children who are working somewhere else, so there has to be some entertainment for these people for their mental satisfaction. These infrastructural and social supports are needed. We are addressing these issues with policy interventions.

AIILSG is implementing Equi-City project in Nagpur and has recently completed one year. What are your expectations from the project?

The project is wonderful and aims very high. We need to make dedicated efforts to show results in short duration working on the key areas, while working on the broader framework. If we are able to make consistent effort, it will give better results.

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

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Sister cities initiative

Cities grow hand in hand All India Institute of Local Self-Government along with Sister Cities International is facilitating a platform for Indian and US cities to work together for inclusive and sustainable growth Vadodara: All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG) announced a partnership of Vadodara with the city of Greenville, South Carolina (USA).

The MoU has been recently signed

by Mayor of Greenville Knox White and Hansa Patel, Executive Advisor, AIILSG and Global Coordinator of Sister Cities International (SCI).

The project would focus on economic and urban development opportunities for collaboration and growth in both the cities. The long term goal is to redevelop the Vishvamitra riverfront along with the rejuvenation of the Reedy River in the city of Greenville. The Vishvamitra has a unique ecosystem which can create an active public riverfront with improved physical and social infrastructure that will transform the heart of the city.

Hansa Patel presented the Riverfront project with information regarding municipal bonds, which are expected to be issued this year, and will help the city to complete the program with the ideas from the Greenville River plan. The Sister Cities task force recommends a

visit of Greenville officials to Vadodara in November this year. Smart city and clean city initiatives, education and research would be the main area of knowledge sharing. u In the process of linking cities, the NRIs of Santa Clara, California, USA have chosen Nagpur, Maharashtra as their Sister city. Nagpur Mayor Pravin Datke signed an MoU with Sister Cities International’s Chairman (Board of Directors), Bill Boerum. Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Sister Cities International USA have linked up for better practices in the field of education, research, information technology and culture.

On July 12, 2012, it was resolved that the Sister Cities International (SCI) and AIILSG will create linking of cities project between the cities of USA and India. This would enable the cities flourish not only on economic

Craig Lundgren, President of Greenville Sister Cities International signing the sister city MoU between Vadodara and Greenville

front but also on culture, academic and municipal management platforms.

It will allow cities to have a bilateral relationship to exchange ideas and their experiences. The signing was attended

by Brad Coleman, Chairman, Board of Directors, SCI and Hansa Patel and Mary D Kane, President and CEO of SCI. AIILSG is recognized by SCI, USA as a coordinating institute to link cities for exchange of ideas to create smart cities. For the growth and development of cities in India, Ahmedabad and Bangalore were linked with city of Atlanta and city of Guangzhou, China in 2014. The initiative has resulted in the Sabarmati River front project under smart city development initiative.

The city of Carolina believes that Sister cities could be of great benefit to both economically and culturally.

We look forward to the opportunity to share these stories with Vadodara and to learning new ways we can continue to enhance our city Knox White Mayor, Greenville South Carolina

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April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

Hansa Patel, Executive Advisor, AIILSG with Dr. Barbara Nicholas and Dr. Debbie Lyles at Greenville Technical College

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NEWSCAN

BMC builds kiosks to quench the thirst of birds Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to provide 100 water kiosks aimed at quenching the thirst of 1.5 lakh birds that flock the city during summers. The kiosks will be opened at select places such as markets, public offices, traffic intersections, hospitals, bus stands and railway stations.

Water will be stored in claymade containers. BMC-owned tankers will supply water to the kiosks while sanitary inspectors will supervise the kiosks.

JMC invests in building open gyms in its parks Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) has decided to set up open gyms in its parks. A budget of Rs 8 Crore has been allocated to set up open gyms in parks of all 91 wards. According to JMC officials, there are 873 small and big parks under JMC’s jurisdiction. “Initially, gyms will be installed in big parks. We have started an exercise to identify these areas. As per initial figures, these gyms will be set up in 200 parks,” said a JMC official.

Proposed surcharge to make Mumbai properties costlier A proposed 1% surcharge by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on all property transactions in Mumbai will make houses costlier. Both BMC and the state government have defended the hike stating increased development CAPEX. The collection of the stamp duty and registration was about Rs 3500 Crore below the BMC target in 2016-17. BMC officials undertook a survey of the realty market and proposed the hike in stamp duty which will be implemented soon.

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April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

PMC launches free H1N1 vaccine drive PUNE: Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has undertaken free of cost H1N1 vaccination drive across 16 civic hospitals and at the state-run Sassoon Hospital. The H1N1 influenza creates a serious situation for those with diabetes and high blood pressure. A PMC official said, “The vaccination would be administered in select civic hospitals so that civic as well as private hospitals can refer their patients consisting of pregnant women, diabetic and high blood pressure patients for vaccination at the select hospitals.”

H1N1 is a human respiratory infection caused by an influenza strain that started in pigs. India registers fewer than 5000 cases per year. The influenza spreads easily via skin-to-skin contact, by sharing drinks and by airborne droplets such as coughs or sneezes. Maharashtra witnessed 16 people dying due to swine flu taking the death toll to 26 in the state this year. Of the 26 casualties, 11 were from Pune city. Senior pediatrician Sharad Agarkhedkar, former vicepresident, Maharashtra Indian Medical Association (IMA), said, “Temperature fluctuations that happen in Pune, allow

the H1N1 virus to invade the body easily as the body loses its ability to adapt readily to an environment that is constantly changing from being too hot to being too cold and vice versa.

Those with weak immune systems or with underlying medical conditions like diabetes and hypertension develop further complications.”

Pune has an estimated population of 4 million and with a population density of 5600 people per square km, is vulnerable to this disease. PMC aims to increase resistance against this curable disease by involving civic hospitals which handle a lot of patients.

PMC health officials said that a total of 5379 high-risk persons, including pregnant women, had been immunized against H1N1 virus by the end of 2016.

While civic bodies have also been directed to allocate their own budget for the vaccines, top officials at the PMC admitted that there hasn’t been consistent supply from the state health department. A PMC health official said, “We have now purchased 1000 doses of the vaccine and will stock up further for any future contingencies.”

CITY IMAGES

Monorail passes through block of flats in China’s ‘Mountain City’

The Chongqing Rail Transit No. 2 line, a Light Railway Train (LRT) in China, passes through the inside of a 19-story residential high-rise every single day. Chongqing, a 31,000-square-mile municipality in the southwest region of the country has a population of about 49 million people. The LRT and the building have been built across each other for lack of space in the city packed with skyscrapers. Noise reduction equipment installed at the station ensures the train makes noise similar to a standard dishwasher.

The model can be emulated across cities which suffer from lack of space while simultaneously enhancing mobility.

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KMC starts trauma centre for stray dogs

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has launched a first of its kind trauma care centre for dogs.

The centre will have veterinary surgeons registered under the West Bengal Veterinary Council.

The centre can treat over 35 dogs at a time. KMC launches regular drives for sterilization of dogs at the Dhapa pound. A KMC official said, “We will send a proposal to the Veterinary Council to conduct training for the would-be practitioners in the Entally trauma care centre.”

Amritsar gets new Municipal Commissioner

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Dharamshala to get ‘SkyBus’ DHARAMSHALA: As part of the Smart Cities mission, Dharamshala will soon have its very own Skybus Metro system.

Skybus is prototype suspended railway system invented by Indian technologist B Rajaram and was inducted as a part of the Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC). It ran from 2004 till 2013 when rising costs and safety issues led to its eventual discontinuation. In the case of Dharamshala, though a major part of construction materials for the transport system will be local, critical infrastructure works such as design and survey, rolling stock and automated safety system manufacture, train control, energy supply and communications will be carried out by a Belarus based company. The Dharamshala Municipal Corporation (DMC) gave its assent to the company to begin coach inception and assembly. Technical proposal of SkyWay project hasbeen approved by the DMC

and tendering would be started to execute the project via PPP mode. The proposal approves the SkyWay track having a total length of 15.4 kms in the first stage of the project that includes 15 stations, 3 of which can be used as multifunctional city objects. The second stage of the project envisages track extension up to a total length of 11.8km. Himachal Pradesh urban development minister and Dharamshala MLA Sudhir Sharma said that the Rs 250 Crore project is likely to be completed in a year and would provide employment to local youth. He said that, “SkyWay urban transport solutions would simultaneously become a modern fast and time saving transport artery both for locals and visitors, decongesting the city and reducing its pollution.” With further investment and innovation, the track structure could serve as infrastructure for implementation of high-speed public internet in the near future.

VMC conducts second round of scrap-to-sculpture art Gurloveleen Singh Sidhu recently took charge as Municipal Commissioner for Amritsar city in Punjab. During an interaction with Media, Sidhu stated that providing basic amenities to all residents would be his priority. Sidhu said, “We will find a sustainable solution to the encroachment issue in the city. Sometimes, politicians interfere in such matters. We need cooperation from the public. We have to be realistic sometimes that we can’t provide an immediate solution. We will try to make the things better”.

Sidhu stressed on building a team of MC officials to work efficiently.

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VADODARA: Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) successfully conducted the second round of its scrapto-sculpture camp. One of its most interesting art pieces is the Rockstar, a 13-feet tall sculpture made entirely out of metal scrap, one of 25 such pieces created by 25 artists at the camp. Each artist was given an honorarium of 75,000 while the raw material was procured from the VMC scrap yard. 60-70 tonnes of scrap consisting of gutter pipes, iron rods, metal chains, road roller parts, and an unused water tank were transported to Akota Stadium, where the artists worked, with free public entry.

When Vadodara administration was scouting for ideas to beautify their city, they realized that if there was one thing they had in plenty, it was metal scrap.

Vinod R. Rao, Municipal Commissioner, VMC, said, “Vadodara is an industrial

hub. With burgeoning industries comes scrap. During a brainstorming session for the beautification of Vadodara, the idea came to us to use all this scrap for art.” Moreover, Vadodara is also Gujarat’s cultural capital and home to a number of noteworthy artists. Deepak Kannal, former Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts at Maharaja Sayajirao University said, “The camp is not only a safe way to dispose of scrap but also reflects the artistic ethos of the city. Our students are fortunate to be a part of such an innovative venture.” Other art works consisted of a metal tree without leaves symbolizing the consequences of killing nature and a 6-ton gate made of metal pipes symbolizing Vadodara’s architectural past during the Gujarat sultanate. These works, VMC assesses, would be put up at popular intersections and community areas for maximum visibility.

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Waste to Wealth

ASSOCHAM & PwC promote sustainable waste management The conference on ‘Waste to Wealth’ seeks to bring forth initiatives in sustainable waste management in India. With a population of more than 1.2 billion and 1 lakh Metric Tonnes per day (MTPD) of waste generated, remedial measures are urgently required DELHI: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) organised the 5th National Conference and Awards on ‘Waste to Wealth’ in Delhi recently in New Delhi. The event highlighted the role of institutions in tackling Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) including industrial and plastic waste.

Dr K D Gupta, Chairman, ASSOCHAM Waste Management Council said, “Waste management in India is a prime concern.

Big cities such as Delhi and Mumbai generate about 8000 MTPD and 9000 MTPD of waste on a daily basis. About 50 per cent of this waste is dumped into landfills which poisons the land and underground water table. Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and other agencies need to tackle this menace in a sustainable manner.”

Manish Pathak, Enviropreneur & Co-founder of 3R Management spoke to Urban Update and mentioned some initiatives that his NGO ORM Green had taken to address growing waste in Delhi. He comments, “We have been instrumental in developing green technologies. Our motto is, ‘Zero land fill, zero river pollution and Zero burning’.

Eco-friendly industrial practices are crucial to ensure minimal waste production during the manufacturing process.”

Taking a leaf out of Pathak’s methodology, Indu Tucker Sidhwani, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Gargi College explained about the suitability of ‘Green Chemistry’in

A waste-to-manure plant has been installed at the Sai Baba Temple in New Delhi by ORM Green. It reprocesses 15 metric tonnes of flowers every month and converts the reject into havansamagri, animal food, organic fuel and manure depending on the source of the reject garment cleaning process. She explains, “Carbon dioxide (CO2) cleaning is a new eco-friendly dry cleaning process that is very effective in removing stains from clothes. It’s less harmful than perchloroethylene, the solvent used by about 80 percent of dry cleaners which apart from being carcinogenic also pollutes the air and ground.”

The process involves capturing CO2, a by-product of ammonia manufacturing process, storing it in a separate tanker and then delivering it to dry-cleaning companies. Under pressure, liquid CO2 rinses cleaning liquid from the clothes.

Upon reducing pressure, gaseous CO2 is released. The garments become dry, clean and odour free. Sidhwani remarks that institutional intervention is a must towards ecologically responsible industries.

ASSOCHAM and PwC stressed that policy innovation, formulation and implementation by all stakeholders is the way towards a waste-free planet.

MCG holds camp to issue building plans, OCs

Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) recently organised a camp for approving building plans and occupation certificates on the spot. The move follows the introduction of the Haryana Building Code last year, to bring uniformity in construction and streamline building by-laws. As per the Haryana Building Code, 2016, a completion or occupation certificate will be issued if the building has provisions for the disabled.

NMMC to have three sports teams

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) is developing a pilot project of creating professional teams to represent Navi Mumbai at state and national level competitions.

Kabaddi, Kho Kho and Shooting ball are shortlisted as a part of the project. NMMC has appropriated Rs 1.80 crore for this scheme, to be implemented from July. The players will be paid Rs 15,000 monthly apart from their kits and trainings.

“Local athletes will be given preference during selection trials,” said Revappa Gurav, NMMC sports officer.

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Smart Cities Mission

SMC hastens towards a ‘Smart Shimla’ SMC has initiated a multi-pronged approach towards making Shimla a ‘Smart City’ by taking into consideration opinions of both experts and the citizens SHIMLA: The Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) has prepared proposals worth Rs 2,906 Crore for transforming the state capital into a ‘Smart city’. The priority areas were identified after getting feedback and suggestions from 1 lakh people. Seven capital cities that didn’t appear on the ‘Smart Cities Mission’ list due to underperformance on the set indicators or due to the fact that the state could make only a limited number of nominations, have also been allowed to be Smart City contenders. These include Patna, Hyderabad, Itanagar, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Naya Raipur and Shimla.

The proposals were approved by the State-Level High Powered Screening Committee that met under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary V C Pharka. Pharka said, “Out of the Rs 2906 Crore, Rs 1252 Crore will be spent on re-development of the Lower Bazaar, Subzi Mandi, Ganj Bazaar and Krishnanagar area. Appropriate space will be made available for

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construction of hotels and commercial establishments. City roads will be widened and strengthened. Rs 1280 Crore would be spent on retrofitting of the circular road and three transit corridors.”

The proposal also includes Rs 197 Crore for traffic management, citizen security, and installation of CCTV cameras, Wi-Fi and improvement in public transport, he said. As per the Earthquake Hazard Zoning of India, the city lies in Zone IV (High Damage Risk Zone). Keeping this in mind, the proposal also advises creation of earthquake resistant structures so that both human and non-human entities could be safeguarded in the event of a disaster. The officials also informed that 15 safe shelters would also be constructed in the city and landslide censors will also be put at vantage points for early warning.

The SMC had engaged over 80,000 residents, NGOs, public representatives and RWAs to prepare the draft proposal under the supervision of Mayor Sanjay Chauhan and experts in urban planning and policy implementation.

A 15-point agenda, along with a scale of importance with 1 being ‘Lowest Priority’ to 10 being ‘Highest Priority’, illustrated in the ‘Citizen Engagement Form’ was released via offline and online mediums in both Hindi and English. Many citizens put their views on mygov.in portal in response to the form, detailing the steps that could be taken to make Shimla a smart city.

To combat Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), a waste-to-electricity (WTE) plant has been cleared by the SMC Shimla City generates 55 to 60 metric tons (MT) of municipal solid waste every day. Elephant Energy Private Limited (EEPL) has been selected for this venture. The plant has a capacity to use 100 MT of waste to generate electricity which would generate about 1.7 MW to 2 MW power. EEPL would execute the project and would run the plant for 40 years. Rs 42 Crore has been spent on the plant.

Chauhan says, “The Himachal Pradesh government is actively working with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) towards transforming Shimla into a developed city.”

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Municipal Elections Delhi

Its Raining Promises but No Future Roadmap Manifestos of all three major formations have turned out populist in nature with no road map to bring the cash strapped corporations out of the red. All three corporations are in serious financial crisis and none of them have suggested ways to augment the revenues of the corporations DELHI: Never before has such high voltage campaign been launched for a municipal election. Delhi votes on 23rd April for its all three municipal bodies. The three main contenders BJP, AamAadmi Party and the Congress have put in all their might in these elections to remain relevant in the Capital’s local bodies which is so crucial for them. BJP is trying to retain MCD for the third consecutive term.

The better part of last ten years of its hold over the local body is seen as a corrupt and defunct rule and voters are not taking its promises at face value when it talks about making it corruption free. Therefore party denied tickets to all sitting councillors and their family members. At the same time it is important for Aam Aadmi Party as it is seen as a semi-final before the next assembly elections. This is the first time that the Kejriwal led party is making its full debut in civic polls. It is eyeing to wrest power from BJP and end its ten year rule. AAP did win five out of 13 wards where bye-polls were held last year. For the Congress it’s a fight for survival and to maintain its relevance in the politics of the National Capital.

Election issues

Issues remain static. Some which are being carried over the years and some making it afresh to the list. All three big formations in their manifestos have promised to make civic body ‘corruption free and transparent’.

Cleanliness is the new buzz word.

While Kejriwal has gone to the extent of promising to turn Delhi into London, Congress has promised to make Delhi ‘most clean and beautiful city in the world’ and the BJP has promised that it will make Delhi as ‘envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’. Apart from this,the issues remain the same as last year - water borne diseases like Dengue and Chikungunya, licenses for street vendors and hawkers, regularization of unauthorized colonies and so on and so forth.

Populism, taxes and finances

Manifestos of all three major formations have turned out populist in nature with no road map to bring the cash strapped corporations out of the red. All three corporations are in serious financial crisis and none of them have suggested ways to augment the revenue of the corporations. Rates of property taxes,

the single biggest source of revenue for the local bodies, have not been revised since 2002. In 2016, of the total Rs 8351 cr revenue, Rs 1371 cr came from property tax. According to an estimate, there are about forty lakh residential and commercial properties in Delhi but only 10-12 lakh pay taxes.

Corporations are not able to pay salaries to almost half of their employees. And now some announcements by these parties are going to bleed all three corporations financially even more.

BJP has promised that no new taxes will be imposed including on property.

Congress has said that if the party emerges victorious it would exempt self-occupied residential properties and people above the age of 65 from paying property taxes. AAP has gone even further and has promised that if elected they will abolish property tax altogether.

These promises may get them popular votes but they are not going to prove financially viable. This, coming at a time when all three municipal corporations are struggling to manage their funds and improvement in civic amenities has come to a standstill in the Capital. Interestingly without offering any fresh model of revenue generation all three parties are claiming that they will end the financial woes of the corporations within two years of coming to power. One wonders if there is a magic wand. Certainly not for the people who are struggling to get basic services every day.

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

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Eateries under SDMC to open toilets for public

GoI supports infrastructure plans in Mauritius South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) recently announced that in its jurisdiction all restaurants and hotels will allow access to toilets for public.

This will be mandatory from April 1, 2017. SDMC has given them the option of charging up to Rs 5 per use of the toilet.

National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) expressed their concern over crowd management in restaurants in a meeting with SDMC. According to NRAI, restaurants majorly have 1 urinal which will make it difficult for the restaurants to handle crowd in busy hours.

AMC to distribute dustbins to promote waste segregation Under the solid waste management plan, Agra Municipal Corporation (AMC) will distribute two dustbins to each house in the city which would be collected from door steps. Each house will be given two dustbins of blue (for dry waste) and red (for wet waste) colors each. AMC executive engineer (environment) Sanjeev Pradhan said, “Private company Hari Bhari recyclable private limited has started door-todoor garbage collection in ward numbers 71, 74 and 80, which are near Taj Mahal. The company will collect garbage and transport it to the dumping site in Kuberpur. Soon, the company will expand services in other parts of the city.�

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NEW DELHI: National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited (NBCC) India, a Navratna construction major under the Ministry of Urban Development is to execute a USD 20 million (Rs.130 cr) social housing project in Mauritius. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard has been recently signed in the presence of Minister of Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu and the visiting Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Housing and Lands Showkutally Soodhun.

Government of India has sanctioned a grant of USD 353 million for execution of five projects in Mauritius including Metro Express Project, new ENT Hospital and supply of digital tablets to primary school children. The visiting Mauritius leader thanked India for assisting his country in several fields. Naidu said that bilateral cooperation between the two countries has a strategic dimension and both the countries have an important role to play in ensuring peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region. He expressed happiness over commencement

of construction of the World Hindi Secretariat and the Chancery Project of Indian High Commission in Mauritius.

NBCC will undertake construction of 700 duplex type houses with 50 sq.mt net floor area with two bedrooms, living and dining rooms, kitchen, bathrooms and toilets each in 18 months in Dagotiere and Mare Tabac, as per the MoU. The visiting dignitary also informed that NBCC will also execute construction of new Supreme Court Building at a cost of US $ 33 million (Rs.220 cr) in Port Louis in 24 months.

NBCC is a Central Public Sector Undertaking which trades publicly in the market and is largely owned by Government of India. It engages in the Real Estate Development & Construction business, and also provides Project Management Consultancy. NBCC is also designated as the implementing agency for executing projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojna (PMGSY), Solid Waste Management (SWM) and developmental work in North Eastern Region.

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World Water Day

Half of humanity faces water scarcity

The UN’s World Water Development Report on Water for a Sustainable World (2015) warns global water resources may soon meet only 60% of the world’s water demands DELHI: On World Water Day held on March 22, there were some startling discoveries. The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, ‘Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability (2014)’ warned that approximately 80 per cent of the world’s population already suffers from water scarcity. The UN World Water Development Report on Water and Energy (2014) underlined that per capita water availability declined three-fold over the past six decades, from over 5,000 CM in 1951 to 1,600 CM in 2011. This is expected to reduce to 1,140 CM by 2050 due to increase in demand for drinking, agriculture, industry and energy.

63.4 million Indians living in rural areas are without access to clean water as per ‘Wild Water’ a report on the state of the world’s water, released by WaterAid a UK-based NGO. According to India’s Ground Water Resources

Assessment (GWRA), more than onesixth of the country’s groundwater supply is currently overused. The assessment remarked that, ‘Droughts have become almost a way of life in the Bundelkhand region of North-Central India pushing millions of people into a vicious cycle of hunger and poverty.’

According to WaterAid India’s Chief Executive VK Madhavan, “27 out of the 35 states and union territories in India are disaster prone, poorest and the most marginalized across the country.

They’ll bear the brunt of extreme weather events and climate change and will find it the hardest to adapt.”

As per a study conducted by global consulting firm IPSOS on the occasion of World Water Day, 59 percent Indians expressed concern that residential and industrial growth in next 5 to 10 years may impact the supply of clean water.

WaterAid mentions that adherence to the Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs) in letter and spirit is a must if water scarcity is to be addressed.

Friends of Earth (FOE), an international network of environmental organization across the country stresses that lifestyle changes are crucial if per capita water accessibility is to be improved.

Increased rain water harvesting is an easy and cheap methodology to preserve rainwater and ensure that groundwater levels are not depleted.

The case of Mazhapolima in Kerala is a good example. Moreover, bio-toilets with bacterial inoculums reduce water usage and maintenance for almost 50 years. Though used by the Indian Railways, widespread implementation still remains a problem.

“By fixing a dripping tap one can save over 60 liters of water a week. Dripping taps are a major problem in cities and need to be addressed.” says AabidSurti, founder of Drop Dead Foundation, a Mumbai based NGO. Surti along with his plumber Riyaz and volunteer Tejal visited 1666 houses,fixed 404 leaking taps free of charge and saved about 4.14 lakh liters of water. Greywater ‘towers’ is an important step towards recycling Greywater, i.e. wastewater generated in households or office buildings without fecal contamination . It is a circular bag, filled with soil, ash and/or compost mixture and a gravel column at the centre. Vegetables are planted in holes cut in the sides of the bag and each day the available greywater from a household is poured directly on the gravel column making the vegetables grow. Residents of Arba Minch City, Ethiopia use this method.

Ultimately, Surti and FOE agree that increased government and private intervention with an awakened citizenry is the way forward for a water secure earth.

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Ministry of Civil Aviation announces 45 new air routes under UDAN scheme

The Ministry of Civil Aviation allotted 45 new air routes connecting 31 cities under its regional connectivity scheme for civil aviation, also known as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik). The Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi and Minister of state for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha announced that, “The seating capacity in the flights will range from 19 to 78, and 50% of the tickets will be available under the Rs 2,500 per hour per seat cap”. The ministers also announced that they aimed to revive 50 airports in the next two years for commercial flights in small and medium cities. “The Udan network will cover the whole country, giving a major economic boost to hinterland areas,” Gajapathi said.

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World Heritage List to add five more Indian cities DELHI: A New Delhi: Five Indian cities have been included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Namely, Historic City of Ahmedabad, Delhi – A Heritage City, Jaipur City, Rajasthan, EkamraKshetra- The Temple City, Bhubaneswar and The Victorian & Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai. The World heritage list has three major categories cultural, nature and mixed sites. Total 203 cultural, 35 natural and 165 mixed sites have been included. Out of this, India accounts for 27 cultural sites, 7 natural sites and 1 mixed site. The list includes several tourist spots of India namely Agra Fort in Agra, Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi and many others. Khangchendzonga National Park is the only mixed site included in the list.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world. It is considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.

This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and

Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972. UNESCO has ten criteria for including a city or a site. To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius; to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, townplanning or landscape design, are two of the criteria. It has also put some sites ‘in Danger’ list. The list contains 814 sites from the world, none from India.

IMC to prepare report for redevelopment of heritage monuments INDORE: The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) is to prepare a detailed project report for the redevelopment of Rajwada with an initial expenditure estimated at around Rs 12 Crore. Civic body is planning to use a technology known as Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC).

GRC technology covers the structure with small sheets that would resemble the colour and shape of the historic structure. It has been widely used in various parts of the country for restorations. In this technology, small sheets resembling the heritage structures are created, the small sheets

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are then pasted over the original structure. Rajwada is a historical palace in Indore city. “We are considering various options. Our focus will be on strengthening the building. The

building has tilted at one side; we will straighten it. There are wooden works that have gone old; they will also be repaired,” said IMC additional commissioner Rohan Saxena.

However expert’s opinion is that GRC technology might harm the building.

“If you paste anything on the walls, it has adverse effects. Moreover, any building needs that breathing space, with such sheets pasted on the building, the walls are completely cut from the outer environment,” said Himanshu Dudhwadkar, co-convener of INTACH, an NGO working in the field of monument restoration.

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Women4Climate

Women leaders pledge to save planet The world’s leading women mayors convene in New York City to mobilize the next generation of climate leaders New York: Women mayors from the world’s greatest cities and women business leaders committed to use their growing global power to tackle climate change and deliver on the ambition of the Paris Agreement. Meeting at the inaugural Women4Climate conference in New York City, the mayors of Paris, Mexico City, Durban, Cape Town and

““Mexico City is one of the first cities to incorporate gender equity into its Climate Action Program; we have identified 78 actions to reduce the vulnerability of women to climate change in the city” ÁngelMancera Mayor of Mexico City

Caracas, pledged their support to fight climate change and mobilise the next generation of women leaders.

The event officially launched the C40 Women4Climate initiative.

Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, hosted the first-of-its-kind event at Columbia University. “As women, we know all too well that the powerful often seek to silence our voices when we speak out to protect the most vulnerable in our communities,” said Anne Hidalgo. “We are here today to show that we refuse to be silenced. All around the world, in city halls, corporate boardrooms and on the streets of our cities women are demanding action to protect the planet from the threat of climate change.”

The event brought together women mayors from many of the world’s largest and most influential cities. The 15 women mayors that lead cities in the C40 network represent 100 million urban citizens and over $4 trillion dollars in GDP. CEOs and innovative

change-makers that represent the next generation of women leaders acting to reduce carbon emissions and protect the world from the impacts of climate change also participated in the event.

Explaining the significance of role of women in fighting climate change Durban Mayor ZandileGumede said, “Women are more likely to work in industries that will be affected by a changing climate, such as agriculture.

That is why women need to help lead this fight, to ensure that the environment and the future generations are protected.”

Mayor of Mexico City Miguel Ángel Mancera said, “Mexico City is one of the first cities to incorporate gender equity into its Climate Action Program, we have identified 78 actions to reduce the vulnerability of women to climate change in the city. The official launch of the Women4Climate initiative in Mexico City during the C40 Mayors’ Summit was inspiring and a commitment we take with great responsibility.”

It is to be noted that women are leading climate action across the globe.

Former UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, French Minister of Environment Ségolène Royal and Ambassador of France for Climate Change Negotiations Laurence Tubiana were the architects of the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Women held six of the most influential positions at the COP22 global climate talks in Morocco during 2016. Women mayors have been instrumental to implementing the Paris Agreement and their power is growing. The number of C40 cities with women mayors has increased from four to fifteen since 2014.

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

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Hyderabad becomes first ‘Giga-enabled’ city

Makeover of five cities to promote tourism

After launching the 1 GBPS wired broadband internet connection, Hyderabad has become the first ‘Giga-enabled’ city in India. “Hyderabad is the city with highest internet penetration in India. With launch of the net connection, it has now become the first Giga City in the country and is on par with cities like Hong Kong and Singapore. Hyderabad is home to a buzzing IT industry, start-up culture, industries, students and 1 GBPS net connection will be of great use for the people,” said IT and Municipal Administration minister KT Rama Rao. We are laying 47,000-km-long fibrenet in Telangana to provide internet to all households. He also said, “We feel this will open up several new opportunities for people and give a boost to economy”.

ACT Fibrenet, a Hyderabadbased company has launched the connection.

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh might soon see the makeover of five cities in the state. Transformation of Varanasi, Agra, Mathura, Ayodhya and Gorakhpur was among several projects discussed during a meeting between Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma in Delhi. Sources said the first step would be to develop major tourist attractions and places of worship in these cities, followed by renovation of railway stations.

Adityanath banned use of plastic, pan and pan masala in government offices. The chief minister also assured the tourism

Itanagar submits Smart City proposal The Itanagar Municipal Council has submitted the final proposal of Itanagar Smart City to the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. IMC Executive Engineer Tadar Tarang, Nodal Officer of Smart City Itanagar, said, “The ministry was happy with the preparation and submission of Smart City Proposal, Itanagar”.

Unlike other cities, no error or doubt on the proposal of Itanagar Smart City was found by the accepting authority, claimed Tarang. The submission event was also attended by Director Town Planning and ULB Amoy Morang, CMEO IMC Habung Lampung, IMC Deputy Chief Councilor Tarh Nachung and the PWC consultant for Itanagar Smart City.

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minister of accelerating the projects announced by Union Government over last two years which could not take off.

Headed that it was discussed on what could be done to promote tourism in the state. Adityanath has also recently dumped Samajwadi Awas Scheme and favoured the Centre sponsored Prime Minister’s Awas Yojna to provide affordable housing to the masses. The state government has released Rs 38 crore to prepare a plan of action and appoint consultants in all the 628 urban bodies in UP for the implementation of the PM AwasYojana.

Pothole repairs: BMC plans to set up its own asphalt plant MUMBAI: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to set up its own asphalt plant using modern technology, especially for pothole repairs.

This technology is brought after testing multiple pothole repair technologies during 2016 monsoon. Officials from the roads department said that municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta had given directions that tenders should be floated for a new plant. Last year, the civic body received a lot of flak from public and courts for the pothole-ridden roads and for the civic body’s failure to repair them during the monsoon. Subsequently, the civic body had tested five pothole repair technologies. Of these, two technologies — Eco Green and Smartfill — showed good results and sustained during rains, said an official. “But the cost of their material is very expensive. So, for this monsoon, we will buy some material from such technologies through tendering process.

And it will be stored with us which then can be used during the monsoon on major and arterial roads across the city for pothole filling on emergency basis,” said Sanjay Darade, chief engineer of roads department. Recently, the Bombay High Court told the BMC to examine

materials used across roads abroad and to bring about better quality materials to fill up potholes so that they did not reappear. Darade further said that buying the material of these technologies would mean spending huge amounts of money on pothole repairs. The municipal commissioner has asked us to float tenders for setting up our own plant using modern technology, he added. “We will invite tenders soon. We will see who comes forward in helping us to set up the plant at the earliest. We hope to build it in a year,” said Darade. Another official from the roads department said presently they had an asphalt plant and were using material from it for pothole filling with the cold mix technology. “It takes lot of time to dry for effective results. But, the material of these new technologies can work on the wet surface,” said the official.

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Lights go out around the world for 10th Earth Hour World Wildlife Fund started a movement saving electrical energy for an hour in Sydney 2007 with the name ‘lights-off event’, which has now become an yearly practice for our planet and is called Earth Hour New Delhi: Over a billion people in seven thousand cities across 172 countries switched off their lights for an hour with the aim of highlighting the need to act on climate change, and saving a few megawatts of power in the process. Delhi saved around 290 MW of power, recently announced by capital’s distribution companies (discoms). “Earth Hour aims to shine the light on climate change. The call for action for Earth Hour 2017 in India is ‘I am an Earth Hour Super Hero.

Are you?’ It urges residents to take up the challenge by ‘Switching Off and Switching onto Solar Energy’,” a BSES statement.

This year Earth hour was observed in many global cities including Mumbai, Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong, Sydney, Rome, Manila, Singapore and Dubai. 2017 marked the 10th anniversary of Earth Hour – the world’s biggest environment event. Millions of people across the world show their love and care for the planet by switching their lights off at 8:30 pm for an hour.

Earth Hour has one big agenda that is to unite people to protect the planet.

Nagpur Municipal Corporation along with Green Vigil Foundation organised a campaign and discussed climate change and its effect with the locals.

They emphasised on factors affecting climate change & remedial measures, need & ways of energy conservation, and shifting to alternate sources of energy. The campaign was attended by stakeholders from all groups including decision makers, politicians, Bureaucrats, Environmental Activists, Representative of Nodal Bodies, Govt.

Students of P A College of Engineering, Mengaluru creating awareness for Earth Hour

Officers, Students and Citizens.

In Kolkata, multi-storied Tata centre office building, five star hotel Taj Bengal and number of other hotels and eateries kept their lights switched off between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm, in a token gesture to raise public consciousness about the Greenhouse Effect. The focus of the Earth Hour 2017 is to spread the message of environmental conservation and sensitizing the importance of sustainable living amongst city dwellers.

Students’ scouts of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ujjain took out a candle march from school premises to Teachers’ Colony to encourage energy conservation on March 25, 2017.

Teacher’s Colony switched off the

electricity for an hour thus signifying saving.

Earth Hour is a movement to protect and conserve our environment organised by World Wildlife Fund (WWF). On its initiation, it gained immense support on the successful ‘lights-off’ event in Sydney, Australia organised by WWF in 2007. Thereafter, it named Earth hour on its first anniversary in 2008.

Dubai has achieved a remarkable reduction of carbon emissions and energy use during Earth Hour 2017, which was organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) in cooperation with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS).

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

25

COVER STORY | Rurban Transformation

COVER STORY | Rurban Transformation

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worlds

26 April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

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Non urban India hosts over 68 per cent of its population. Out of its 58.5 million establishments (including self-owned and having hired worker/s) 34.8 million or about 60 percent are in rural areas. And the establishments in rural areas account for about 67.89 million of the total 131.29 million employment in the country, i.e., about 52 percent. Evidence thus that nonurban India has a significant role to play in the country’s economy

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

27

COVER STORY | Rurban Transformation

employees and other stakeholders.

This is indeed necessary to improve quality of life in urban centres and in order to meet the aspirations of its people.

Rural India V Vijaykumar Sr Advisor, AIILSG

B

eyond the cities, there is vitality and energy in smaller towns especially given our vast geographical spread and diversity in the economic and social fabric. Policy interventions can help make these locations attractive for locals and to stem the urban deluge.

Relentless and rapid urbanization the world over has turned the attention of policy makers everywhere towards finding measures to cope with the population migration and attempting to equip urban centres to meet the burgeoning infrastructure requirements and step up their service delivery capabilities. In India, a slew of urban rejuvenation measures have been put in place to address various facets of the challenge like funding for urban local bodies to augment infrastructure, encouraging the ULBs to embrace technology based solutions and for capacity building of their

Often the rural landscape and the populace are considered as a destination or a container in which to deposit the ideas, innovation and resources which are developed in the urban centres. In many cultures there is a patronizing attitude towards rural areas and an attitude which says that they need to be looked after. Alongside is the feeling that the population in the rural areas are good to only work with their ‘hands and legs’, i.e., manual labour since they are incapable of working with their ‘brains’ i.e., mental work. There is need for realization that the non-urban landscape is capable of being the ‘source’ of ideas and innovation too.

Other considerations may be compelling us to look at the rural hinterland with greater interest.

During the last many decades migration into urban centres has been driven by the quest for meaningful livelihoods.

In fact a decent livelihood and better quality of life for all is the overarching objective of the development agenda.

Thus urban centres became thriving hubs of industry, services and microentrepreneurial activity in the form of the small trader, repair shop or the micro/small industrial unit. However, driven by a prolonged slowdown in the world economy coupled with disruption caused by technology has brought about changes. Manufacturing is no more the answer for large scale job creation across multiple levels.

The Government of India’s Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) aims to leverage the strengths of India’s rural landscape with a cluster development approach. The Mission recognizes the fact that rural centres often function as clusters of several settlements with interdependencies. The programme aims to select and develop about 300 such clusters over a five-year period upto 2019-20 through appropriate policy interventions jointly with state governments 28 April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

While the sector accounted for 16.1 percent of Gross Value Added in India as per the latest Annual Report of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), itis apparently no more capable of generating jobs in large numbers due to improving shopfloor efficiencies and cutting-edge technology based automation. Factory jobs, especially routine non-cognitive ones are being replaced by robots and other automation devices. The theme everywhere is ‘doing more with less’ in the never-ending race to cut costs. In services too, many jobs, particularly at the low end are becoming redundant due to advances in technology as in the case of banking, combined with a structural shift which calls for greater specialized skills in several sectors, as in the case of the software sector enterprises. The informal street corner entrepreneurial activities such as that of the vegetable vendor could slowly be taken away with large supermarkets and organized online service providers.

That leaves agriculture. Agriculture including forestry and fishery contributed 17 percent to Gross Value Added in 2015-16 as per the MoSPI Annual Report. About 41 percent of the total 58.5 million establishments are in the rural areas. Interestingly of the 58.5 million establishments, 45.36 million or 77.6 percent are in ‘non-agricultural’ activities, suggesting that many of the establishments in the semi-urban/rural areas are engaged in non-agricultural activities.

This is an indication of the vibrancy imparted to the non-urban economy by industries such as automobiles and cellphones. Very likely, a large number of establishments in such areas are engaged is retail trade and service/ repairs of these products. However, these varied enterprises in the rural centres will survive and flourish only if supported by robust and healthy incomes from farm and allied activities and therefore farm incomes need to be protected, supported and augmented.

Higher output resulting from enhanced productivity, aggregation of land holdings, higher mechanization,

value added cultivation like fruits, vegetables and pulses, multi cropping, soil nutrition inputs will all aid improvement in farm incomes while providing population with more nutrition and options in their consumption basket. There is evidence of success. According to an IBEF report, India’s production of fruits, for example, has grown faster than that of vegetables, making it the second largest fruit producer in the world.

India’s horticultural output for 2016-17 could be about 285 million tonnes as compared to about 145 million tonnes in 2001-02. The higher farm incomes will enable support a larger non-farm economy in rural areas thereby putting in place a virtuous cycle of economic development and prosperity.

There are other sectors with good potential. Handicrafts and artisan skill based activities have been identified and nurtured since long by various local agencies. There is surely ample scope for leveraging rural knowledge intensive activity such as traditional medicine. The worldwide interest in traditional, non-mainstream medical systems and food products can support and help leverage the very specialized knowledge base in many parts of rural India. Food processing industry is

Often the rural landscape and the populace are considered as a destination or a container in which to deposit the ideas, innovation and resources which are developed in the urban centres. In many cultures there is a patronizing attitude towards rural areas and an attitude which says that they need to be looked after….. There is need for realization that the non-urban landscape is capable of being the ‘source’ of ideas and innovation too. another activity which can be located near the place of produce, use local labour, churn out high quality products and help augment farm income while creating employment opportunities in non-urban India.

Rurban Mission

The Government of India’s Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) aims to leverage the strengths of India’s rural landscape with a cluster development approach.

The Mission recognizes the fact that rural centres often function as clusters of several settlements with interdependencies. The programme aims to select and develop about 300 such clusters over a five-year period upto 2019-20 through appropriate policy interventions jointly with state governments. The clusters selected will comprise settlements in relative proximity and together

exhibit potential for growth. This Mission aims to provide the physical, economic and social infrastructure necessary to exploit its potential. The stated objective is to stimulate local economic development, enhance basic services, and create well planned Rurban clusters.

It is thus evident that while our cities are racing ahead and often vying with each other to provide better infrastructure and services to its residents, non-urban locations in the world are repositories of vast human skills, traditional knowledge, a remarkable diversity of customs and practices and thus possess immense potential with the right inputs.

From just tourism destinations and a spectacle for the curious visitor from the city, these locations can become thriving centres of economic activity by leveraging their rich knowledge and local resources.

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

29

Numerographs | Urban-Rural Dynamics

Internal migration corridor (2001)

Households with sanitary toilets (%) Urban

Rural With toilets

Without toilets

With toilets

Without toilets

11%

45% 55% 89%

Villages can offer solution to

urban crisis 18,452 55.4% villages in India are un-electrified as of April, 2017

rural households defecate in open. This percentage in urban areas is 8.9%

urban households in India have no access to drainage facility

28.5% 74 cr of India’s population is migrant

15%

people in india still don’t have access to internet

Almost three million people move to cities every week globally. Failing agriculture, saturated economic growth, and basic infrastructure deficit have impelled people from villages to migrate to urban centers. Cities that are already overburdened are in no condition to handle growing population influx. An overview of state-of-affairs in Indian villages to understand the areas which need immediate attention and will help check rural-urban migration Team UrbanUpdate

30 April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

Growth rate of population (%)

Growth Rate of Population (%)

35 31.8

31.5

30

32963

2016-17

Urban Urban

16914

32963

2016-17

17.6

0

1991-2001

12.2

12.2

12.2

India 2001-2011 India 2015-16 Rural

India

Rural

Rural

Urban 2014-15

Rural Rural Females per 1000 males Females per 1000 males

2013-14

5

17.6 17.6

899 899

Urban

31.8 18.1

927 927

890 880

26650

2014-15 Rural

Sex Ratio Sex Ratio

930 930 920 920 910

Length completed upto 880 January 2017 (in Km)

India

12.2

31.8 10 21.5

25709

2015-16

17.6

Sex Ratio

910 900 900 890

25

Growth Rate of Population 21.5(%) 20 Rate of Population (%) 18.1 f Population 15 (%)31.8 31.5

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

25709

Urban

Length completed upto January 2017 (in Km)

26650

Urban

16914

2013-14

Internet Subscribers Water AccessWater (2015-2016) Infant Mortality Rate (2015-16) Access (2015-2016) Under 5 Mortality Rate (2015Internet Subscribers 0 10000 20000 30000 40000 60

300

276.44

250

150 100 50

276.44

Urban

Water Access (2015-2016) 60

115.06

Households with 30 drinking water (%)

Internet Subsribers (in millions) Rural 89.3

50

30

Rural (2016)

88

34

Urban (2016)

20

56

Rural

89.3

10

89

90

UrbanTitle 91

71% Women

309m people

Infant years

10

90

91

92

0

UrbanTitle

Rural

Infant mortality (per 1000 births)

0

Internal Migrations in India(2001) 88

89

Households with drinking water (%)

Internet Subsribers (in millions)

34

20

40 91.1

Urban

0

Urban (2016)

56

50

91.1

40 Under 5 Mortality Rate (2015-16)

200

nternet Subscribers

)

Annual Progress Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna

29% Men

Rural

92

Source: Swachhta Status Report(2015), National Family Health Survey (2015-16), PIB, Ministry of Rural Development, The Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicators, December 2016, TRAI, India, NSSO 2007-2008

67% Rural

between 1991-2001

33% Urban

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

31

Leaderspeak | Urban-Rural Divide

Ranjit S Chavan President, AIILSG

Cities, villages can’t grow in silos The promise of inclusive nation building aspires to transform rural and urban areas alike. The reality today presents the stark contrast in terms of efficient services and high-end infrastructure deficit in almost every Indian village. Is sprawl of cities an urban blight on villages?

H

i s t o r i c a l l y, human beings created two kinds of places.

One inside the walls—cities; and everything outside the walls.

Cities became the places of innovations, inventions, industrial revolutions, commercial activities and economic growth while villages produced the food people consumed. With passing of time, cities remained at the centre of modernization in all spheres and villages just got a small pie of such transformation.

All facilities relating to education, entertainment and basic amenities came up in cities; and villages remained outside the development realm. They never grew together and with same pace anywhere in the world.

The high-rise buildings and industrial units decked with thick round shaped chimneys emitting smoke became the icons of our progress and growth. As cities grew, they

32 April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

pushed the rural areas and agricultural land further and far away. The trend is continuing in almost every city around the world. You ask anyone, who has ever lived in a village and moved into a metro city because of professional or economical lure, about their favourite place to live. They will anytime choose a village over the city if it provides certain basic facilities as a city does.

People are looking for integrated agrarian rural experience in urban environment. The trend is picking up in some parts of the world with popularization of urban farming. Experts are of the view that residential communities should be inextricably linked with the sources of their food production and equally connected with the open space network—parks, water bodies, greenways in a city.

Two major prongs can be recognized in the budget this year which focuses on raising rural incomes and create

employment opportunities: raising agricultural productivity and creating non-farm employment.

This is complemented by provisioning of public services such as health, roads, and housing. All the implementing agencies must work together and ensure that the development of villages is not compromised.

Economic divide

Why cannot rural dwellers compete with urban dwellers in terms of income? Why do they have to move to cities for earning a decent livelihood?

Despite focusing on villages for so long, where did we go wrong? Anil Kakodkar, a celebrated scientist and former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India, recently said in his speech at an event, “there is thus no reason why rural income should not match or even exceed urban income, provided our higher education system can do capacity building of rural

youth at scale and quality that is necessary.”

Capacity building of rural youth and building new avenues of employment with innovative ideas are key components for strengthening rural areas.

AIILSG has embarked on this mission and started a mega skill center in Jharkhand to train youngsters from backward areas. The institute would play a role of enabler and train rural youth to become competitive in thisage of cut-throat competition.

Migration issues

Rural-urban migration has remained a major issue and politicians and bureaucrats have often blamed migrants for rising problems in cities. Some countries even restricted the movement of migrants coming from villages.Farmers, laborers who helped build the city were kicked out of downtowns. The best suited example is China that had gated and locked some of its lower-income neighborhoods in some of its cities in 200910, with police or security checking identification papers around the clock.

Chinese government came

up with ‘sealed management’ policy. According to a media report, ’Sealed management’ looks like this: Gates are placed at the street and alley entrances to the villages, which are collections of walled compounds sprinkled with shops and outdoor vendors. The gates are locked between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., except for one main entrance manned by security guards or police to check identification papers. Security guards roam the villages by day.It was said to be an effort to reduce rising crime often blamed on the millions of rural Chinese migrating to cities for work.

However, India has never restricted the movement of people from villages to cities anywhere in the country.

Yet the issue of ‘outsiders’ has been raised by local political parties in metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru but it never did affect the movement of people beyond a short period of time.

The cities had different issues to deal with. Cities have been facing countless problems in handling the population moving into cities. The government agencies have failed in providing facilities and services required of them and one of the major issues

Experts are of the view that residential communities should be inextricably linked with the sources of their food production and equally connected with the open space network—parks, water bodies, greenways

being the non-availability of affordable housing alternatives for floating population. The proliferation of slums in major cities is the result of poor policy solutions to handle the correlated issues such as health, education, employment and rehabilitation.

Every government agency must work towards providing social protection to the poor and vulnerable.

Social protection measures can be called a set of public measures evolved by the state to meet its national and international obligations to eliminate poverty, deprivation and extreme vulnerability. The efforts should be made to address the issues in both areas, urban and rural. The government must mark the areas which need interventions to improve facilities and services to benefit large section of people. As most of the government welfare schemes require residence proof, migrants face hurdles in accessing and availing the schemes and public services, which thus hamper their ability to claim basic socioeconomic and political rights.

There are many other issues faced by migrants but lack of accurate data on the trend is the prime issue of concern and government with social organizations must work together to address the issue with the right approach.

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

33

Article | Rural Governance

Rural Rural Development Development && Governance Governance

Challenges & Solutions

Kumar Dhananjay Consulting Editor

A

lmost 68 percent of India’s population still live in villages. That tells us that the soul of India still lives in rural areas or villages. The progress in science and technology and tremendous economic growth in India has impacted the life in urban areas but rural areas still remain largely unaffected and devoid

34 April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

of development. At the global level, to fight the developmental challenges and address these concerns the strategy has been documented in the form of Sustainable Development Goals.

Success of global strategy depends on timely and effective local actions.

In Indian context, SDGs can be attained only through ensuring comprehensive rural development.

Most of the identified SDGs and their targets are applicable to rural India.

Panchayats have been mandated by the Constitution of India to plan for and implement schemes for economic development and social justice on 29 matters listed in Eleventh Schedule.

Most of the SDGs fall within the purview of these 29 matters. Of the three tiers of Panchayats: at district, village and intermediate level, the Village Panchayats or Gram Panchayats (GP) is the closest to rural community and the most important institution from

the perspective of rural development and governance.

Government Gears Up

India has shown its intent to implement actions to achieve SDGs in its entirety.

Efforts have already been initiated at the highest level towards the same. Prime Minister’s statement at the UN Summit for adoption of post-2015 Development Agenda says “today, much of India’s development agenda is mirrored in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Since Independence, we have pursued the dream of eliminating poverty from India. We have chosen the path of removing poverty by empowering the poor. We have placed priority on education and skill development.

Our attack on poverty today includes expanded conventional schemes of development, but we have also launched a new era of inclusion and empowerment, turning distant dreams

into immediate possibilities: new bank accounts for 180 million; direct transfer of benefits funds to the unbanked; insurance within the reach of all; and, pension for everyone’s sunset years” (NITI Aayog, 2017).

NITI Aayog has also mapped sustainable development goals and targets with schemes and activities of different central ministries.

Similarly, different ministries and state governments have taken up the task to implement it on the ground. Niti Aayog says “the draft mapping of the goals and targets as an initial step on proposed nodal and other Ministries has been carried out in consultation with MoSPI. Further, as an illustration, the Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs), including the ‘core of the core’, ‘core’ and ‘optional’ Schemes being implemented by the States have been mapped along with some of the recent initiatives undertaken by the Central Government. In addition, ministries are implementing Central Sector Schemes and states are also implementing various State Schemes aligned with one or more SDGs” Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has also prepared a draft vision document and identified nine SDGs viz. End poverty, End hunger, Health, Education, Women and Child, Clean Energy, Decent Work and Livelihoods, and Eco Restoration, Afforestation wherein Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) can play important role in achieving the identified Goals and targets. Arun Jaitley in his budget speech of 2016-17 had announced launch of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) for capacity building and training of PRIs on SDGs. In his

Our attack on poverty today includes expanded conventional schemes of development, but we have also launched a new era of inclusion and empowerment, turning distant dreams into immediate possibilities

2017-18 budget speech he announced a slew of measures to alleviate rural poverty. Some of his budget highlights for rural areas were: ♦♦ Using space technology in a big way to plan MGNREGA works ♦♦ During 2017-18, another 5 lakh ponds to be constructed for drought-proofing ♦♦ Sanitation coverage in rural areas has gone up to 60 per cent ♦♦ Swachh Bharat Mission has made tremendous progress in promoting safe sanitation and ending open defecation ♦♦ Rs 19,000 cr in 2017-18 for PMGSY; together with contribution from states, Rs 27,000 crore to be spent ♦♦ Total allocation for rural, agricultural and allied sectors for 2017-18 is a record Rs 1,87,223 crore, up 24 percent from last year ♦♦ Target for agricultural credit in 2017-18 has been fixed at a record Rs 10 lakh crore ♦♦ Coverage of Fasal Bima Yojana to go up from 30 percent of cropped area, to 40 percent in 2017-18, 50 percent in 2018-19 Local bodies in rural areas are completely dependent on central and state schemes to undertake developmental work. However they have to play a crucial role in shaping local socio-economic development while addressing the diverse needs of rural and village community. Part IX (Article 243) of the Constitution, an outcome of 73rd Constitutional Amendment, mandates Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) at the village, intermediate and district level to function as institutions of local selfgovernment. Effective delivery of civic services can improve the quality of life of villagers through ensured safe drinking water, sanitation, healthcare, roads and streetlights etc. The GP as a local government also has to carry out regulatory functions, so that villagers can avail their rights and do not encroach upon the rights of fellow villagers. Development functions of the GP are important for improving the standard of living of villagers and ensuring development of infrastructure

in the GP area.

Substantial resources have been devolved to the GPs - Rs 200,292.20 Cr- for the period 2015- 2020 under the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC). This grant constitutes 90% basic grant and 10% performance grant. The basic grant is intended to improve basic civic services such as water supply, sanitation, sewerage, solid waste management, storm water drainage, maintenance of community assets, roads, footpath, street lighting, and burial and cremation grounds.

This grant will be provided to Gram Panchayats on per capita basis.

Enabling Gram Panchayats perform these tasks

To enable to perform, gram panchayats need to be empowered through various legislative and executive acts/orders.

Various departmental functionaries and elected representatives of GPs must also be oriented about such transfer of functions. To carry out those functions, all related functionaries may be brought under the control or supervision of GPs. Similarly control over funds related to these functions may also be transferred to GPs. Unless devolution of these three Fs: Functions, Funds and Functionaries is complete, Gram Panchayats will find it difficult to effectively carry out those tasks.

Rajesh Sinha of UNDP says “Empowerment of GP will need to be supplemented by a systematic capability development efforts. Elected representatives and functionaries of GP must also be provided training through various methods including exposure visits to GPs doing well. Such trainings must be completed within 3 months of elections and followed by yearly refresher training”.

SDGs can only be fully achieved in India through empowered and active Gram Panchayats. Empowering and activating GPs in turn would require devolution of functions, funds and functionaries and a systematic and concerted capability development efforts. If such conditions are met, we can definitely see a turnaround in rural hinterlands.

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

35

ONE ON ONE | Sunderlal Bahuguna

Chipko Andolan more relevant today!

The octogenarian tree lover Sunderlal Bahuguna is quite worried about degradation of our environment and cutting of trees. The lanky, frail looking bearded man now in his mid 90s, Bahuguna is credited with launching India’s first non-violent agitation to save environment.

Urban Update interviews the environmentalist in Dehradun

36 April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

AbhilashKhandekar National Political Editor | Dainik Bhaskar

W

hen this summer’s onset rang shrill alarm bells across the country with unprecedented rise in temperatures in the third week of March itself (upwards of 42 degrees Celsius) and some deaths reported in Maharashtra due to heat wave, I was instantly reminded of my recent meeting with the world famous environmentalist and Gandhian philosopher Sunderlal Bahuguna.

He is as erect as he was in 1974, but walks very slowly and speaks even lowly. Yet, he has not given up hopes completely though he is sad to see what is going around today. He says sooner than later India will have to understand the real import of ‘ChipkoAndolan’. He stood up against those powerful men who were out to damage the ecological balance for their own greed 43 years ago. Much water has flown form all Himalayan rivers since then. Chipko agitation by Bahuguna and Chandi Prasad Bhat and many rural women (like Gaura Devi) in the Chamoli district was the harbinger of many environment movements that began in India much later and the legislations introduced to save environment. But there is nothing like Chipko.

“I am of the firm opinion that forests

and trees are sacred and part of India’s great culture...by cutting them, we not only damage the environment but also finish our centuries old culture” Bahuguna had stated while talking to me. He went down memory lane recounting the valour of ordinary women who had embraced and hugged trees for hours together over a few months to draw national and international attention towards illicit and rampant felling in the Himalayas.

He also recalled that the first rebellion in that poor and backward area took place forty years before Chipko, sometime in 1930 against crass commercialisation of forests. Timber contractors would finish forest after forest within no time. In one incident, as recalled by Bahuguna, people tried to stop the tree fellers in an organised revolt, but the army was let loose on the armless peasants and labourers. As many as 17 people were shot dead and 80 people arrested by the army which was sent by the then ruler to suppress the first of its kind movement for tree protection in British-ruled India. That was probably Chipko’s inspiration.

About Chipko he said, with a visible sparkle in his eyes, the word spread across the world quickly and many environment loving people from Germany, USA, England, Netherlands, France and Sweden started to visit India and went to the Chipko area in the remote parts of the hills in 70s and 80s.

There was one fellow Richard St Barbe Baker called ‘the Man of Trees’ who was going around the world preaching for the protection and planting of trees.

He came to India in 1977 and when he heard about Chipko, Baker met him in Delhi and then went up there to talk to tree agitators and wrote about the agitation to spread the information to as many as 108 countries of the world.

While today’s generation may possibly know just about Rio, Paris, Copenhagen or Marrakesh conferences for climate change and environment protection, Bahuguna fondly tells me about his bold and unique move to seek world’s attention at the World Energy Conference, Nairobi in 1981. Pyjamakurta clad Bahuguna carried a big

bundle of firewood on his back into the summit hall to show to the world what the real problem in India was. Poverty and backwardness were the bane of lakhs of people living in forested areas.

This unusual gesture took the suited and booted delegates from the West at the summit by complete surprise.

Bahuguna’s purpose was served well.

He was happy his message reached across the world.

But 36 years down the incident of 1981, Bahuguna is a saddened man today. He says “forests in India are shrinking fast but there is no trace of a Chipko-like Andolan now. Tropical forest is under grave danger and in the name of development, lakhs and lakhs of trees are being removed to make roads, rail tracks, Metros in cities and factories and what not”. I remember distinctly Bahuguna was telling this author at this ripe age and in a very low tone sitting in the balcony of his daughter’s modest home about the peepul tree’s benefits. The tree, with a canopy of about 160 sq meters can give 1712 kg of oxygen in an hour and absorb 2252 kg of carbon dioxide, he informed me. No surprise then that peepul tree has found so much importance in our ancient scriptures and that it used to be planted in a large number since time immemorial. But no longer! Is that rare traditional knowledge of no use today? Do we want to junk time-tested successful methods? If the way new and little known tree species are being planted in cities on main roads, near airports, in big official buildings is any indicator, clearly we have not learnt right lessons from our forefathers. We seem to want ornamental greenery rather than useful trees that would purify atmosphere, which is more polluted than ever before.

Chipko and GDP race

Is Chipko relevant any longer when India is madly chasing higher GDP growth? Something the poor and illiterate women and men did four decades ago when Rio had not happened, Paris Climate conference was nowhere even in the distant future, is not being mentioned much in the

media. Bahuguna is strangely absent in the modern environment philosophy, though to me he is still very relevant.

His thoughts are practical and can be a guiding force. He continues to be our environment hero. We can brush aside his thoughts and actions only at our own peril.

With the cacophony of development debates deafening our ears and words like GDP rise, black money, Sensex, consumerism, urbanisation, smart cities, demonetisation, metro trains, malls and cricket matches in day and night at large stadia or crowd-pulling multiplexes dominating the presentday narratives, poor trees are clearly lost in the din. Are there no takers?

Have we gone mad not to understand importance of trees and jungles? After meeting Bahuguna, I felt that what he did several decades ago must be refreshed for the benefit of society.

Bahuguna’s struggle has not yet ended.

It requires to be intensified by all. His worries were for the common man.

In the 70s, India was not a global power to reckon with. It was a small developing country which depended on imports of food grains to automobile parts. Europe and America were industrial giants scripting world’s economic roadmap. We had no global voice or standing. Yet Bahuguna was a towering man known in many continents.

Today, the scenario has completely changed and though India is still a developing country, sheer quantum of our 125 crore population has tilted the scales in our favour. Saving our ecosystems appears a humongous challenge in the face of rapid economic growth. Everyone looks to be thinking in terms of material growth with immediate benefits and not long term advantages. When Chipko was launched in faraway northern India and it reverberated in the world that had not invented internet yet, India did not have Forest Conservation Act (it came in 1980), Environmental Protection Act was way too long to be legislated (it came in 1986 in the aftermath of Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984) and forest policy had not been formulated (it

was framed in 1988). But there were people whose voice was being heard.

Yes Bahuguna was being heard. Not any longer-strange, saddening but true.

As the human needs grew steadily and population pressures impacted our overall biodiversity, a set of relevant laws were born in India. Government had no choice but to enact them. But are they effective enough? Are they helping humanity?

Bahuguna being a visionary, knew what was coming and hence led the Chipko agitation in 1974 and carried his anti-Tehri dam crusade fiercely for many years later when problems had not turned that serious, compared to the present day. His 40-day long fast to save rivers Bhagirathi and Bhilangana had shaken the government in Delhi then. Is it possible now? Look at poor Medha Patkar who almost lost her war over Narmada after waging it for 30 long years.

But as a country which is fast turning into an urban conglomerate, India is not willing to realise what a tree gives us to live happily--a 50-year old tree, for example, provides services like oxygen, water recycling, soil conservation and pollution control worth Rs 20-23 lakh, as per green economy experts. But if it’s cut down and sold it would fetch a one-time meagre Rs 50,000 or so. If one tree can provide so much, what the forests would do for us can easily be gauged. If there are no forests, our rivers would run dry and without water no development worth its name can sustain. Trees in city contain heat and pollution. Economists and urban experts would do well perhaps to calculate the cost benefit ratio between physical infrastructure development and crucial ecosystem services. A way out has to be found.

Bahuguna in his long interaction with me did not use any idiom which is coined by the new environmentocracy.

He did not talk about SDGs, he did not tell me about climate change indicators, he was blissfully unaware about any smart city. But he perfectly knew what trees and environment, rivers and birds can do to make human life better and sustainable.

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

37

Article | Adarsh Gram

Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

SAGY visualises an ‘Ideal Village’ that reflects holistic growth in all spheres Smart cities cannot be complete without smart villages. In that respect, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) hopes to create a model of a self-reliant and smart village across 6 lakh plus villages throughout India Pinaki Das | Editorial Assistant

S

AGY is a step towards building an ‘Ideal Village’ that offers its inhabitants increased opportunities for holistic growth apart from basic amenities.

Smart cities cannot be deemed to be complete without smart villages. In that respect, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) hopes to create a modelof a self-reliant and smart village across 6 lakh plus villages throughout India.

Inspired by the principles of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana’ (SAGY) on 11th October 2014. The objective of the Yojana is simple. Each Member of Parliament (MP) is expected to adopt a village, ensure development of physical

38 April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

and institutional infrastructure in the adopted village and turn them into ‘Adarsh’ or model villages. The ultimate objective is to develop three Adarsh Grams per MP by March 2019.

Thereafter, five such Adarsh Grams (one per year) per MP will be selected and developed by 2024.

Funding for SAGY will be raised through voluntary contributions at the local level. Additional resources will be tapped from programmes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), MGNREGA, Indira Awas Yojana, MPLADS fund, Centre and State Finance Commission Grants and CSR funds.

SAGY envisages integrated development of the selected village across multiple areas such

as agriculture, health, education, sanitation, environment and livelihoods. It aims at instilling values such as gender equality, social justice, spirit of community service, ecofriendliness, local self-government and transparency and accountability in public life in the villages and their people so that they get transformed into models for others.

SAGY, launched by the Ministry of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation aims to realize the vision of ‘Gram Swarajya’ A Lok Sabha MP has to choose a Gram Panchayat from within his/her constituency while a Rajya Sabha MP has to choose a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of a district of his/her choice in the State from which he/she

is elected. Nominated MPs may choose a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of any district in the country.

Coming to ground realities of the scheme, here are a few notable cases.

Sachin’s Village

India’s most famous batsman and MP Rajya Sabha, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar adopted a village, Puttamraju Kandriga in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.

The village suffered chronic water shortages and didn’t have adequate toilets but everything changed once Sachin took the village under his care. He released about Rs. 3.69 Crore from the MP Local Area Development scheme (MPLAD) to begin the transformation of the village. Hindu Business Line reports, ‘As on 29th March 2017, the village has round the clock water supply, a toilet in each house, is Open Defecation Free (ODF) and has an underground drainage system and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) amongst other facilities. There has been a drastic change from its beaten down look 2 years back.’

Dubbed ‘Sachin’s Village’ the 399 odd inhabitants of this village, as per the 2011 Census, feel privileged that the ‘Master Blaster’ has adopted this village. D Chenna Subbaiah, a resident comments, “Sachin has provided roads, water and drainage in the area.”

A community hall built at a cost of Rs.1.15 Crore is the pride of the village and is used for a variety of functions.

It can accommodate 300 people at any given time. Kokolu Bujjaiah, a lemon farmer says, “I earn about Rs. 18003000 for 80 kg of lemons that I get from my 1-acre farm. I have two sons but my livelihood is not enough. I am happy with Sachin’s efforts but would feel relieved if my livelihood also improves.’

Along with the MPLAD funds, the state government has spent Rs. 4.5 Crore.

Though the winds of change are visible, the village has a long way to go to acquire the Adarsh village tag.

PM Modi’s Village

Jayapur village in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh has been adopted

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Around 650 toilets have been built in the village but it is yet to achieve the ODF status. Maintenance of toilets is a major issue with delinquents vandalizing property. Lack of adequate penalty emboldens these miscreants.

In terms of electrification, two 25 kV solar panels have been installed by private companies. As a result, Jayapur gets about 12-14 hours of electricity but universal electrification still eludes the village of 4000 inhabitants.

Moreover, 100 solar streetlights have been erected in the area and distribution of 600 solar lamps is underway. Under the Atal Awas Yojana, Vanvasis, a tribal community that lives near forests, has been allotted one-room pucca houses.

But roads built within the Jayapur area have developed potholes due to lack of coordination between government and private agencies. Nevertheless, in comparison with other villages which have minimal toilet coverage and receive about 5-6 hours of electricity, Jayapur is still in a better condition.

Better co-ordination, appropriate penalty for willful destruction of public property and improved infrastructure is needed.

Village strives towards sustainable reservoirs

Prem Das Rai, member of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and MP from Sikkim adopted Kitam Manpur (KM) village in south district of Sikkim. KM lies on the rain shadow area of Darjeeling hills. The mountain springs locally known as Dhara are the natural discharge of groundwater from unconfined aquifers. Rural households access water from these springs, mostly through gravity based piped systems.

With increasing population and impact of climate change, the lean period discharge of these springs is declining.

As a result, villagers face acute shortage of water from December to May. Rai decided to launch a unique spring-shed development initiative ‘DharaVikas’ aimed at enhancing the groundwater recharge and subsequent lean period spring discharge. A series of trenches along the contour lines were dug. To prevent soil erosion,

“If every MP transforms villages in his/her constituency into model villages, large number of villages in the country would have seen holistic development”.

Narenda Modi | Prime Minister, India

horticultural and forestry plantations were undertaken in the barren lands.

Small ponds were dug at regular intervals to arrest the flow of water and to facilitate groundwater recharge.

Majority of the work was carried out under the MGNREGS. This has led to rejuvenation of groundwater levels and has also lessened episodes of drought.

SAGY officials have taken cognizance of existing model villages that’ll serve as case studies. Two of them are as follows: ♦♦ Mawlynnong, located in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, is so clean that one can’t find a cigarette butt lying around. It has a lot to do with villagers adhering to keeping their surroundings clean Modi acknowledged Mawlynnong as ‘Cleanest village in Meghalaya’ via the monthly radio talk, ‘Mann ki Baat’. ♦♦ Punsari village, in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat, is a noteworthy case. It has two primary schools, a primary health centre, street lights and a drainage system. Headman Himanshu Patel along with the 11-member village council spent Rs. 28 Lakh on development schemes between 2006 and 2012.

Today, Punsari is Wi-Fi enabled and has CCTV cameras. It is extensively studied by urban planners so that similar models can come up elsewhere in India.

Ultimately, SAGY is an initiative that needs consistent efforts from all stakeholders to transform villages into ‘Adarsh Gram’.

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

39

one on one | Chhavi Rajawat, Sarpanch Soda Village

Arzoo Arora Editorial Assistant

The Changemaker What inspired you to take up political career, the road less taken by rural women, especially the educated ones? Why did you choose rural political life over a white-collar job in a metro?

2009-2010 was the worst drought the area had suffered and over the years, in spite of funding through Panchayati Raj having increased, I had only seen the conditions in the villages in my area worsen. When my village Soda’s residents made the request for me to run for office as Sarpanch, the hope especially in the eyes of the elderly melted my heart and, on humanitarian grounds I could not refuse.

With my education and experience in the corporate sector I thought of playing the role of a bridging agent between the village, the government and the private sector. The idea has been to connect the dots by bringing in funding and the required expertise of varied sectors and collectively working towards the much-needed integrated development in the village.

I am still seeking the required support and hope some of your readers will come forward in this initiative of developing our villages one village at a time.

40 April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

What sort of difficulties did you face while executing your duties as the village head of Soda?

The post of Sarpanch per se (at least in my area) appears ornamental. A Sarpanch in Rajasthan receives an honorarium of INR3500/-p.m.; a panch member gets INR200/-p.m. (provided s/he attends the two Panchayat meetings held every month) while the salary of the Panchayat Secretary (a government employee) is much more than its elected representatives (going upto Rs.50k/mth). The basics itself is skewed. (Without my parents’ support, I too would have struggled.)

In addition, the Panchayats are at the mercy of local government officials (i.e. officials at the District and Block level) even to get projects sanctioned and can barely use the funds at their own discretion. If the government officials at the grassroots carry the vision, it translates into development on the ground otherwise, the rural sector remains hindered by the apathy and egos of the very folks who are employed to assist that development.

As a young woman working honestly thus, swimming against the tide, male egos often get hurt and insecurities created because the system is not used

to someone like me working at the Panchayat level…as a result, every step I take forward it does its best to break and push me back ten steps and more. That’s why there is a greater need for me to receive support from the private sector, which hasn’t been easy either. Unless and until I do not get an opportunity to meet the MD/CEO of a company, support through private sector doesn’t easily come by.

Within my village alone the advantage I have is that the residents see and treat me as “the daughter of Soda”.

Development needs to be holistic and should carry a long-term vision, which is the target I set out for my council and myself. It initially wasn’t easy but my village recognizes, accepts and respects that vision and form of functioning. As a woman, specifically, it is a lot easier to naturally be inclusive and it is perhaps for this reason that apart from women even the youth and children very easily share their challenges, concerns and dreams with me.

Despite the fact that women were given 33 per cent reservation in local bodies under 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, the power-shift has not happened in true sense. Still, most of the women just represent their male family members. Do you agree?

How can we change this?

Through intensive training programs and initial handholding.

Did your management study help you in executing your duties efficiently as a village head?

Absolutely.

How is your political career shaping up? Do you wish to continue in politics? Would you recommend more girls to join politics?

This is a medium for social service for me to help develop and improve conditions for my fellow citizens. I would recommend more people to come forward to participate in the process of Nation building in whatever capacity they can and, the youth of India needs to do so as well. We need better people in politics and people

should certainly step up to it, at the grassroots level as well because this is where one can actually directly execute and impact the larger base of the society.

There is a also a need for more students from schools as well as professional colleges such as business schools, engineering, architecture, etc. to come intern in villages to better understand rural India and participate in its development initiatives and reduce the divide that exists between the urban and rural India. The private sector employees should spend at least a month in villages with teams working on different aspects and while their contribution will help uplift the village it will also help them better understand the rural market.

You have set an example by promoting self-reliance and self-dependency by inculcating entrepreneurship among villagers. What challenges did you face in the process?

I have not been successful in that space because I was unable to find the required trainers to come to the village to help train our residents and create the required skill sets. In that space we are still looking for support.

Can we make a rural-urban connect for empowering villages and checking migration?

Yes, by creating skill sets and a better ecosystem within our villages. Without “authentic” smart villages - that does not refer to digital village alone but one with an integrated development - the concept of smart cities itself will never be sustainable.

Financial powers of panchayats are limited to initiate any development work. What can be done to make panchayats financially strong?

Do they have scope of generating revenues from their own resources and land pool?

As mentioned in the previous question: Panchayats need to be empowered in the true sense of the word. Funds coming directly into the Panchayat accounts need to be increased; a

percentage of land sales should go to the Panchayat as its own income and, it’s important to allow the Panchayat to use its funds at its discretion. In addition, it is pertinent to increase honorariums of Panchayat elected representatives so they can contribute their time towards the development of the Panchayat instead of worrying about how to continue providing for the family – not all Sarpanchs come from privileged backgrounds, even just commuting from the Panchayat to the Block/district level to get the projects sanctioned involves a cost.

Services like health and sanitation, education and internet connectivity still remain issues of concern. Do you think that civil society organisation and corporate houses through Corporate Social Responsibility can play a significant role in correcting the situation on ground?

Absolutely, and they SHOULD participate more proactively. If the government has not been able to develop the rural sector in all these decades, it is about time others stepped up to improve the condition of our nation.

What will you consider your biggest achievement as the village head of Soda? Are you satisfied with the projects implemented in your tenure?

What are your plans for the village?

The area had witnessed the worst drought in 2009. I received no support from the government nor the private sector at the time and, had to turn to my own family with whose support I was able to raise INR20 lacs. With the funds, I was able to de-silt 10% of our main reservoir which covers a total area of 100 acres. By de-silting, I was able to increase its capacity to conserve rainwater that happens to be our only source of drinking water.

Sadly, all ground water in our village has been declared unsafe even for the purpose of irrigation owing to high levels of salinity and natural contamination. 2010 witnessed good monsoon and I was thrilled to see the reservoir fill up with the very first

shower and provide some respite to the village where reservoirs would run dry as early as December and residents had no choice but to drink the contaminated ground water for almost 6 to 7 months until the next monsoon and longer if there was none.

Besides this, when I started constructing broader roads keeping the future in mind, I shared that vision with the residents of Soda, their participation and cooperation in coming forward to remove encroachments by going to the extent of breaking down walls of their own homes was the most touching moment for me and; Just by providing women the required moral support and getting them to start voicing their needs has been my top achievements in the village.

Am I satisfied? No, because I have not received the required funding nor expertise to complete many of my projects and make them sustainable.

I am still seeking support and the key areas to work on in my second tenure are to: ♦♦ Improve quality of education especially at crèche and primary school levels and introduce mediums of learning to improve their cognitive skills; create playgrounds for children; a stadium for the youth and introduce arts and crafts in our Girls’ middle school and High school for the children to create and recognize their own talents. ♦♦ We invitepeople with varied expertise to train and create skillsets for our children, youth and adults and help provide an alternate source of income that’s more sustainable and viable vs. the rain-fed, seasonal agriculture. ♦♦ We have just set up a skill development centre and look forward to receiving support from the private sector to create the talent pool they wish to recruit. ♦♦ Seeking expertise to introduce organic farming and improve animal husbandry practices while also creating sustainable and fair market linkages. ♦♦ Seeking funds to protect the available natural resources.

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

41

Article | Urban Drainage

Sustainable Urban Drainage & New Urban Agenda Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) are the most appropriate current solutions but these can only be implemented with good policies, supportive stakeholder groups and partnerships so that the new ideas, which cut across existing methods and practices, can be accepted

Kulwant Singh CEO, 3R WASTE Foundation

W

ith rapid urbanisation there is an urgent need of city development and to reduce the impact of flooding on residents and in other places, and the worsening of the water quality in streams, rivers and lakes caused by the expansion of cities. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) provide a natural approach to managing drainage in and around sites. SUDS work by slowing and holding back the run-off from a site, allowing natural processes to break down pollutants. SUDS deal with

42 April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

run-off close to the source, rather than transporting it elsewhere via the public sewer system. Sustainable drainage systems have several benefits; slow down surface water run-off to help reduce chances of flooding, reduce risk of sewer flooding during heavy rain and recharge ground water to help prevent drought, among others.

The New Urban Agenda (NUA) adopted at the HABITAT-III Conference in Quito last October is also supportive.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems require several changes in thinking and practice in city planning. There are many barriers to progress including the perceived costs added to development, the increased maintenance activities required, the attractiveness of big infrastructure projects to politicians whereas drainage projects are very often just ‘normal work’. The barriers to more sustainable drainage are high but a whole portfolio of potential ‘Green’ infrastructure solutions are available to be applied in any city in the world.

To achieve more widespread use of sustainable drainage principles, greater integration into Green Infrastructure is necessary, and its multiple benefits need to be clear. Major developments and redevelopments give the opportunity for the reallocation of open space to improve its use through multiple functions.

Sustainable drainage has the potential to provide habitat improvements which provide places for breeding, give connectivity between SUDS and with natural areas, and link directly to zones of natural habitats thus providing more sustainable solutions and greener solutions to drainage problems.

SUDS are physical structures built to receive surface water run-off and provide a drainage system thatdeals with run off as close to source as possible, seeks to mimic natural

drainage and minimises pollution and flood risk,among others. Traditional systems on the other handmove rainwater as rapidly as possible from where it falls to a point of discharge e.g. watercourse. This causes a number of problems including increased flooding, poor water quality as run off can contain pollutants and less infiltration to ground leading to poor groundwater recharge.

Therefore, using SUDS is most important for sustainable development.

All developments must carefully consider appropriate sustainable surface water drainage options.

Careful design of drainage systems and/or the provision of treatment facilities prior to discharge will assist in reducing the environmental impact of new development. This range of techniques is known as SUDS. They can be successfully applied to most development and can even be fitted to existing development.

Building regulations

Incorporation of SUDS should be reinforced as part of the development process by changes to Building Regulations. Such regulations may stipulate that, in order of priority, rainwater run-off should discharge into one of the following: ♦♦ an adequate soakaway or some other adequate infiltration system; or where that is not reasonably practicable; ♦♦ a watercourse; or where that is not reasonably practicable; ♦♦ a sewer

Methods of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems Permeable surfaces and filter drains

Filter drains and permeable surfaces are devices that have a volume of permeable material below ground to store surface water. Run-off flows to this storage area via a permeable surface.

Examples of this are: grass, reinforced grass; gravelled areas, solid paving blocks with large vertical holes filled

with soil or gravel, solid paving blocks with gaps between the individual units, porous paving blocks with a system of void within the units and continuous surfaces with inbuilt system of cavities.

Permeable surfacing encourages surface water to permeate into the ground.

Depending on the ground conditions, the water may infiltrate directly into the subsoil, or be stored in an underground reservoir (e.g. a crushed stone layer) before slowly soaking into the ground. Pollutant removal occurs either within the surfacing material itself, or by the filtering action of the reservoir or subsoil.

Infiltration devices

Infiltration devices drain water directly into the ground. They may be used at source or the run-off can be conveyed in a pipe or swale to the infiltration area. They include soakaways, infiltration trenches and infiltration basins as well as swales, filter drains and ponds. Infiltration devices can be integrated into and form part of landscaped areas. Soakaways and infiltration trenches are completely below ground, so water should not appear on the surface. Infiltration basins and swales for infiltration store water on the ground surface, but are dry except in periods of heavy rainfall.

Soakaway is an underground chamber lined with a porous membrane and used to store surface water, and then allow its gradual infiltration into the surrounding soil.

Swales and Basinsare dry channels or ditches and basins are dry “ponds�.

They can be created as features within the landscaped areas of the site, or they can be incorporated into ornamental, amenity and screen planted areas where they would be maintained as part of a normal maintenance contract.

They provide temporary storage for storm water and reduce peak flows to receiving waters. Swales and basins are often installed as part of a drainage network connecting to a pond or wetland prior to discharge to a natural watercourse. Infiltration trenches and filter drains: Infiltration trenches are stone filled reservoirs to which

stormwater runoff is diverted and from which the water gradually infiltrates into the ground. Filter Strips:An area of gentle sloping, vegetated land through which surface water run-off is directed.

Filter drains are similar to infiltration trenches but have a perforated pipe running through them. They are widely used by highway authorities for draining roads.

Basins and ponds

Basins are areas for storage of surface run-off that are free from water during dry weather conditions.

These structures include flood plains, detention basins and extended detention basins. Ponds contain water in dry weather and are designed to hold more when it rains. Ponds and Wetlands can be particularly beneficial during time of storm due to their capacity to hold large amounts of water and therefore reduce flood risk. Algae and plants in wetlands can significantly assist with filtering and nutrient removal. The ponds and wetlands can be fed by swales, filter drains or piped systems. Of the various methods, large ponds and wetlands are generally more appropriate for larger sites in excess of 5ha. Infiltration trenches, swales and porous pavements are suitable for both large and small sites. Many large sites may incorporate a mix of different mechanisms. It is important that developers establish the soil conditions and hydrology of the site (storm water run-off, water table height, water quality) and consider appropriate SUDS at an early stage in the site evaluation and design process.

This will ensure that the best drainage solution for a particular site is found and incorporated into the layout, development costs and timetable for implementation. Planning conditions or legal agreements should be used to secure implementation of SUDS where appropriate.

New Urban Agenda

At the Habitat-III Conference in Quito in October 2016, New Urban Agenda (NUA) was adopted which aims at enhancing effective urban planning

and management, efficiency, and transparency through e-governance, information and communications technologies assisted approaches, and geospatial information management.

Further, New Urban Agenda underscores the need to promote adequate investments in accessible and sustainable infrastructure and service provision systems for water, hygiene and sanitation, sewage, solid waste management and urban drainage among others.

NUA seeks to ensure that this infrastructure is climate resilient and forms part of integrated urban and territorial development plans, including housing and mobility, among others, and is implemented in a participatory manner, considering innovative, resource efficient, accessible, context specific, and culturally-sensitive sustainable solutions.

SUDS should be part of local economic development strategies which also coordinate land use, infrastructure and investment planning.

Financing and investment planning are also important driving concerns. Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) should identify set of policies that will allow cities and their surrounding regions to reap the benefits of economies of urbanisation and localisation, attract and leverage private investments while minimising risk hazards. To be successful, SUDS have to be an integral part of the local and regional urban planning and strong building bye-laws.

Available evidence indicates that in low and middle income countries, urban drainage sector is among few other sectors including sanitation and solid waste management that has made little progress in addressing the need for institutional reform and financial sustainability. New approaches are needed in urban drainage sector in delivering services to the informal settlements. The whole life costs of the systems of drainage infrastructure can be correlated to the pattern of urbanization, with compact cities providing the most cost-effective solutions to drainage infrastructure investments.

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

43

BOOK REVIEW | GOOD READS

Abhilash Khandekar National Political Editor | Dainik Bhaskar

A

s one of the advocates of the proposal to build a new city outside a fort, Mir Momin looked forward to an opportunity to indulge in his passion for town-planning. His ambition was to create a city better than Isfahan-the most beautiful city in Iran-which he had seen grow as a child. It was thus the soaring imagination of the Sultan and the vaulting ambition of his Prime Minister that was responsible for creation of a city. Mir Momin plunged whole-heartedly into the project of building a new city. He invited some of the architects and master builders whom he had known and heard of in Iran to come to help him execute the project.

Mir Abu Talib, Kamal-ud-din Shirazi and Sheharyar Jahan were persuaded to come. Even before their arrival the preliminary work of clearing the site had been started and rough sketches drawn up. A permanent camp of draftsmen and planners was set up near Chichlam.

Construction started soon after laying the foundation stone. The Sultan came

in a richly caparisoned elephant. Mir Momin spread before him large sheets of paper the topographical plan of the area.” Show me how the city will be laid out looking at the sketch, he exclaimed: ‘ Ha! Four Minarets. I hear there is one Minar in Delhi--very very tall.’

My Lord will have four minarets at the four corners of this magnificent building. It will be a perfect square with three storeys. On the roof will be a mosque facing the Mecca’.

The more you read about urban planning and ideas of pre modern technology days, the more you start respecting the planners and visionaries of the bygone era. The above brief details of the city-in-making have been purposefully mentioned here to share with the readers the keen sense of Royal rulers for urban planning and creating utilities for people so many centuries ago.

Enlightened readers may have by now understood that the above references are about building the historic city of Hyderabad that was founded in 1591some 425 years ago-as Bhagnagar, which later acquired the name of the present day’s important city in southern India-Hyderabad!

The book being introduced to the readers of Urban Update is a beautiful

A beautiful biography of a city

44 April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

piece of history writing, literary prose and urban anecdotes which chronicles colourful and unbroken history of Hyderabad which was also referred to in the modern times as Cyberabad, thanks to its strong positioning as an IT industry’s major hub in India under then Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

In my series of introducing some city-centric books, I have so far written about two books on cities from South India, namely Bengaluru and Chennai.

Both earlier books told stories of the cities evolution in different styles. The author of ‘Hyderabad’ has dealt with his topic more from historical and political sides giving much greater details about developments since year 1591, including of the characters such as the 14-year old village girl Bhagmati who was immensely loved by the prince who later became Sultan of Golconda and then created a city as a gift to his beautiful fiancée.

Hyderabad sits nestled amongst one of the oldest rock systems of the world.

These gneissic granite rocks are 2500 million years old. Rain, sun and wind have for aeons, through their collective and continuous physical and chemical action, worked them into weird shapes.

Golla Konda later on became Golconda, a fort still the main identity and tourist attraction of Hyderabad. The fort was built during Kakatiya rule (AD 10001321) with capital at Warangal, some 150 kms north of Hyderabad.

Like Chennai and Bengaluru, Hyderabad too was part of Madras Presidency. That the old Madras Presidency state of Andhra Pradesh has now been bifurcated and two states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have been created a few years ago after fierce agitations, blood bath and arson, the importance of the twin-city of Hyderabad-Secunderabad has not diminished a bit.

Looking back at it through the eyes of this wonderful author Luther, one thing is clear that Mohammad Quli, the Sultan of Golconda and founder of the new city Bhagnagar was a great visionary. He made his Prime Minister Mir Momin build not only many

palaces for him and his wife Bhagmati (after whose name Bhagnagar was built), but also sprawling gardens, hospital and imperial palace of justice.

He made a beautiful palace for his wife and named it Hyder Mahal, also a title he bestowed upon her. A Persian writer Mohammad Qasim first wrote about Hyderabad, which was part of Bhagnagar. “As the air of Golconda had become impure and unhealthy” Quli built a magnificent city at a distance of eight miles with wide and clean roads and rows of trees planted.

Sultan Quli ruled the area from 1518-1543 and later seven of his descendants carried on the dynasty until 1672-99 when Abdul Hasan, Tana Shah having done a treaty earlier with Maratha King Shivaji in 1677, was deposed by Aurangzeb after a series of wars between Golconda army and the Mughals. While Shivaji reached Bhagnagar in 1677, Aurangzeb reached Golconda in January 1687 in an effort to get the state surrendered. There is a long history of Mughal dynasty, Maratha king’s fights with them, role of Golconda sultanate and so on written in the book with neatly divided chapters which are highly readable for a general reader too. About five years after Aurangzeb’s death in 1707 when Farrukh Siyar ascended the Mughal throne, Qamruddin was given the title of Nizam-ul-MulkFateh Jung (Nizam, for short) and governorship of the Deccan.

AsafJahi dynasty’s Nizams ruled from 1720 to 1948--in all 10 Nizams. Salar Jung in whose name stands a huge museum in Hyderabad today which is also the biggest tourist attraction due to its varied and very rich collection, was the Prime Minister/Dewan of the Nizam. The last of the three SalarJungs was Yusufali Khan who held the high office during 1912-1914.

In modern days, many people are aware of the Nizam and Nizamshahi in that part of today’s TelanganaMaharashtra’s geographical areas.

In entire Marathwada region of Maharashtra, consisting eight districts, the local Marathi people celebrate their liberation from the Razakari system.

Kasim Razvi president of MIM and

Book Hyderabad, A biography Author Narendra Luther Publisher Oxford University Press Pages 434

Good

Price Rs 475/-

Reads

Recommendation Read it from library

leader of Razakars wanted Hyderabad to become an independent Islamic state, just like the plans of Bhopal and Junagarh Nawabs.

The informative book while tracing various facets of the historical city, also tells us about the city’s floods, the spread of malaria and its control by Ronald Ross (he got the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1902 for his discovery) who was posted in Secunderabad, about an old bridge made in 1578 which is still in use (can we expect structures built by today’s engineers in the government department to survive over four centuries?), some interesting stories of Governor Generals posted under Madras Presidency, French and Britishers’ love for the city, then about photography being started in the city, thanks to the patronage of the rulers and so on. India’s pioneering photographer Deen Dayal who was first appointed by Maharajah Holkar of Indore later joined Hyderabad Nizam where he was not only appointed the State photographer, he was also given the title of Raja in 1895. Photography was invented in 1838 and within a decade it arrived in India. Deen Dayal (1846-1905), toured India but set up his studio after Indore, at Secunderabad and employed 50 persons. Incidentally, for those interested in photography,

the Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts in New Delhi has recently created a special gallery dedicated to Raja Deen Dayal.

Well, the city and erstwhile state has seen many historical happenings, wars, Muslim and English rules and evolving of the city into a boisterous capital and then a global IT hub. While Telengana’s creation happened as recent as in June 2014, the two distinct regions existed much before. The merger of the then Hyderabad State into Andhra Pradesh which was created in 1956 with a seasoned politician and freedom fighter Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy as its first CM. Much later a film star suddenly rose on the political horizon of Andhra Pradesh by founding Telgu Desam Party and became chief minister for three terms.

NT Rama Rao whose follower was Chandrababu Naidu, the second time CM of AP, now a smaller state.

The book also gives recent history and political activities but provides a rare insight into the former Royal state and how Southern Muslim rulers were different from those who ruled Delhi and also attacked Hyderabad.

The brief history of Char Minar with a short mention of Delhi’s Qutub Minar makes very interesting reading and provides an insight into the psyche of Hyderabad’s creator.

www.urbanupdate.in | April 2017

45

URBAN AGENDA | Smart Villages

Roadmap for smart villages Mahatma Gandhi said, “the future of India lies in its villages”. Despite government’s focus on villages for many decades, villages remain poorly serviced and governed. India has been an agricultural economy yet the sector is still not a well-paying livelihood option. Generating new avenues of employment in villages, reviving agriculture and improving services in rural areas are some of the components that need to be included right away in rural development policies

T

he visual perception of Indian villages has not changed much though certain corrective policy measures and infrastructural reforms have taken place. Governmentsneed to transform our villages into smart habitats by generating lucrative economic opportunities and addressing the basic challenges rural areas are facing for decades. Delhi and Mumbai add almost 200 migrants every day. A combination of factors like agriculture becoming less remunerative, poor civic services, defunct infrastructure, and unavailability of good career opportunities has accelerated the migration from rural areas to cities.

New avenues

Like any other field agriculture needs to be viewed with a new prism to make it economically rewarding. Most of the initiatives targeted to transform agriculture have always been seen as philanthropy gestures, not as a sustainable business model in India. The country is supporting start-up culture to give boost to entrepreneur skills among youngsters. There must be some provision where government bodies support the idea of reviving agriculture through various transformative solutions like opening up of market for agriculture produce in strategically targeted locations for greater economic output, providing technical and financial support to the new ideas of marketing and innovation.

For example: a growing demand in cities for organic and chemical-free food was driving a spurt in online and offline stores that sell such products. Many social enterprises were being formed and the concept was being widely

46 April 2017 | www.urbanupdate.in

discussed to enable villagers to market their goods to cater to this demand. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promoted the idea in many of his election speeches in north eastern states.

Rural Development Ministry must take this into account.

Government initiatives

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) has proved to be a transformative scheme.

Thousands of villages which were cut-off from the outside world were connected. The national rural road construction program has built paved roads to over 100,000 villages since its launch in 2000. A research report ‘Market Access and Structural Transformation: Evidence from Rural Roads in India’ by Sam Asher and Paul Novosad examines the labor market consequences of high rural transport costs by estimating the causal effects of a USD 37 billion rural road construction program, which has provided over 100,000 Indian villages with paved connections to the wider road network. It states, “These effects are driven by villages close to large cities, where a new rural road represents a larger proportional decrease in total transportation costs to external demand for rural labor and production.” Similarly the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has brought significant improvement in employment generation in rural India. The scheme that is termed the biggest poverty reduction scheme provides jobs to over 50 million households. However, the government needs to find out some innovative ways through which rural workforce can be provided skills and improve their employability in the evolving markets in rural India.

Ashok Wankhade Managing Editor bhau1008@gmail.com

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