-Dr. S. V. Ranade
I got invitation to National Seminar on Inclusive Urban development to be held on 17th October 2013 at at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
The seminar includes technical sessions on Affordable Housing, Urban Planning, Multi-modal transport, Basic Urban Amenities, Social Inclusion, Sustainable waste management, urban Governance & Municipal Finance and Smart Cities. Though each topic in the proposed seminar would require a separate seminar for unfolding various issues involved in it, the proposed one day seminar would definitely be helpful in focusing the attention of stakeholders to the prime aspects of Inclusive Urban Development in the Indian Context.
In the light of the topic and its scope, i am giving my views about Inclusive Urban Developmernt in India
Necessity of Baseline Study
First of all, It is necessary to study and prepare detailed documentation of existing status of city as regards infrastructural and service facilities, socio-economical conditions, environmental quality and limiting factors for growth or change. Many a times, new schemes are proposed without such baseline data collection resulting in failure to yield expected outcome. It should be remembered that major stake holders of urban planning are citizens in that city and not finance and technology suppliers. Hence the planning process must start by understanding problems and difficulties faced by citizens, their demands and aspirations for healthy, comfortable, secure and affordable living. I witnessed such interaction public meeting conducted by Dr. Prasad Modak before suggesting Ecocity project for Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad corporation. The project envisaged active participation of citizens in monitoring and information suppliers for corrective actions. The modality suggested was use of web portal with specially devised map tool for location wise feedback receiving system. However, the scheme could not succeed due to ignorance and connectivity limitations of internet use by general public.
Majority of people living in multistoried complexes in urban area belong to middle class and cannot afford costly smart gadgets and refrain from using renewable energy sources due to high capital investment. However, they do require help of workers from poor families for household duties. These workers need residential accommodation nearby. Due to unavailability of land at affordable cost, they prefer to live even in unauthorized slum type establishments, which lack basic amenities like water supply and sanitation. Hence every multistoried complex gives rise to growth of slum in surrounding or nearby area. Multistoried complexes become excessive burden for existing roads, electricity, water supply and sanitation facilities provided by corporation. Combined result of this situation is unhealthy and insecure environment . Open spaces, gardens and places of recreation are fast disappearing and cities are growing with engulping of nearby villages. The major metropolitan cities in India are facing this problem and situation from bad to worst due to huge influx of population and rampant building activity.
The administration of city infrastructure and services is divided in many independent organizations, who have their own agenda and priorities for development. The development projects get stuck or delayed due to lack of permission or inaction in preparatory work needed to be done from particular agency. Hence project must be planned by enforcing priority criteria for activities to be performed by all concerned parties in fixed time schedule. Any delay in project execution increases cost and may become unfeasible due to financial constraints.
It is therefore necessary to form one central authority to handle the project and it should take advise from committee composed of representatives of all concerned departments, who will act as liaison officers of the respective departments.
Selection and Excecution of projects Urban planning projects can be categorized mainly in following sections
Urban planning for integrated growth of existing cities
Infrastructural changes and additions in the interior part of city – for example improvement of inner roads, drainage and water supply systems, introduction of new transport systems like train, metro, skybus, Development of open vacant area for rehabilitation of slums, construction of utility centers, gardens, playgrounds or other public amenities like health and education services, Enforcement of green initiatives and social harmony.
Expansion of city boundaries and/or development of neighboring villages by strengthening easy and fast communication systems between city and villages
Improvement in City services by providing electricity, water supply, transport and communication and waste disposal systems.
Planning of entirely new urban centre or building complex at vacant location by converting land use pattern
Creating specific zones for development of industries and business centers near city
It is evident that each type of project will need entirely different input parameters and would vary in scope widely as regards financial outlay, time period, technical complexity and utility value. As such, it is not possible to have common guidelines for design and implementation of these projects. However, it is necessary to evaluate these project options for deciding priority ranking so that development can be phased out to match with the available financial assets.
It is observed that ambitious development projects requiring large capital investment are undertaken under BOT scheme without considering the future continuous financial burden required to be borne by corporation or citizens. The vision of development after successful completion of the project is a selling point of project proponents. Detailed financial evaluation of project is generally shrouded in ambiguity. Project proponents submit the project feasibility report to banks for sanction of necessary financial loan. This report contains the cost-benefit analysis of the project. There are legal assurance conditions for repayment of capital loan which have to be honored by corporation or government. Hence it is essential to have transparency , publicity and public consent to these conditions to avoid future disputes.
It is seen that in majority of cases these projects are awarded to big corporates or agencies collaborating with foreign companies under the pretext of quality assuarance and capability of capital investment. The use of imported machinery and technology is facilitated in this process with benefit to foreign suppliers. The project work also often carried out by these companies from local contractors on subcontract basis stripping off the profit margin. Local expertise is overlooked and the employment of local people remains at the lowest cadre of data entry or labour. Application of foreign technology without its customisation to suit local conditions may give unsatisfactory results. The cost of such projects is highly inflated considering manhour costs applicable there. The project excecution control remains entirely in the hands of these outside parties.
It is possible to form separate development authority for corporation with powers to get financial loan from banks and advisory panel of experts for project planning and execution and award the project to local contractors by splitting it into many small subunits. This will help in having full control of project with corporation and would generate business potential for local parties and employment to local people. Cooperative sugar, textile and dairy industries can be considered as role model for such development work. Employment of local people in such projects will ensure active collaboration and participation of people.
Inclusive urban planning implies All inclusive means comprehensive or integrated development. There are three main types of development strategies Eco city planning
Emphasis on environmental quality which includes safe and adequate water supply, green building practices, passive architecture, efficient wastewater and solid waste disposal facilities, tree plantation, preservation and development of gardens and open spaces, pollution free transport system, Use of renewable energy sources. Dr. Prasad Modak has prepared a ecocity development plan for Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Corporation and evaluation of its progress will help in identifying the training and operation needs for success in effective implementation of the project. There are many development projects The 24x7 water supply scheme suggested by Dr. Dahasahasra, Sheri Nalla diversion scheme designed by Walchand College of Engineering, Proposal of drawing water from Warna are some examples of this category for Sangli-Kupwad-Miraj Corporation
Digital city planning
Emphasis on development of comprehensive e-governance system for city administration and control of all operations with use of central web portal and sensor operated modern technological devices and digital communication systems. Network of data fiber lines would serve as main communication channel for flow of diverse information streams from individual houses and places to central control room and vice versa . Use of automatic energy saving gadgets, electronic sensors and devices in buildings for security and control of various appliances, is already common in most of the modern constructions in advanced countries and in India also its use is increasing. However, to use this system for business activities and city administration is a novel concept. The system envisages provision of security, comfort, convenience to every resident with minimization of expenses in maintenance, travelling, energy use and increase in work efficiency avoiding time delays and prompt service facilities. For a new project, the cost can be drastically brought down by eliminating need of many infrastructural establishments. I happen to attend one presentation by Shri. Ajay Shirgurkar of Unique Consultants & Services on this concept. and I was glad to know that his company is providing technical know-how in this field at international level.
Socio-Economical Planning
Emphasis on harmonious relations between different sections of society, improvement of standard of living and well being of all community irrespective of differences in income or type of work levels. This would need development of social community centers, religious places, museums and libraries, education and health care facilities, soft loan facilities and business promotion initiatives. This section depends of active role of social and political leaders and workers to establish cordial relations between administrative machinery and people and provide proper channels for grievance redressal and seek proactive suggestions from public..
Inclusive urban city development should try to integrate all the above three concepts so that city dwellers will be able to live comfortably, would become more productive and would be able to provide great social initiative to replicate such model at at other places. This can be achieved for the new habitat where there are no restrictions of existing structures or administration practices.
For development projects in the existing cities many factors may limit the implementation of all above concepts. As regards ecocity development, major structural changes will have to be made. Difficulties with arise from availing necessary land space at desired location with necessity of relocation of population, legal land acquisition, dismantling and clearing existing structures. Even removal of debris and transport of construction materials and equipment will need traffic diversion works for considerable time period. Provision of electricity, water supply for construction will also pose problems. Care will have to be taken to reduce environmental and noise pollution during project construction.
In case of implementation of digital city concept, education and awareness of the people about use of new technology devices and methods would assume prime importance. This task is not easy and the project may fail miserably if people do not know or reluctant to use the modern methods of communication and use of utilities. Many changes and modifications will be needed to bring it is practice for Indian conditions. As an example, use of regional language in communications will have to be provided for its wide acceptance.
Different sustainable models for urban growth
Development of project near existing village or group of villages
Development of industry cluster well connected to city by express transit routes
Development of remote all inclusive complex example industry with its own establishment of colony or habitat