Urban Update Aug 2014

Title Code: DELENG18712 ISSN 2349-6266

All India Institute of Local Self Government

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UrbanUpdate Setting The Agenda For Tomorrow’s Cities

AUGUST 2014

k s i r @ s e i cit t Urban n ie il s e r n red & no bomb Unprepa ting on a ticking it India is s

‘Aspire to build 30 km of roads per day’ Nitin Gadkari speaks about the challenges in the roads sector & his plans to revive it

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INSIDE

Inside Cover Story 16 Cities @ Risk

Urban India is on a ticking bomb unprepared to man-made, natural calamities 21 Road Safety: Bad to Worse

One life is lost in every three minutes on Indian roads 24 Building Flexile Cities

To make cities resilient, right policies should be implemented 26 Withstanding Catastrophe

Necessary funds, systems needed to combat disaster 28 Falling off the Roof

Space crunch in cities has increased illegal constructions centre stage 32 Cultural Edge

Adopting Urban Haat can help artisans retain the tradition cutting Edge 35 Pedalling Sustainability

Cycling has become the new way of retaining the essence of old era One on one 38 Aspire to build 30 km of roads per day

Nitin Gadkari speaks about challenges in the sector and the plans to revive it vox pop 41 Heaps of waste glare at urban management

Waste management alternatives need of the hour Urban Agenda 46 Smart City needs citizen centric solutions

City planners should incorporate suitable innovations in building a Smart City RegularS 6 Newscan 4

August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

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EDITORIAL

DR JATIN MODI PRESIDENT-AIILSG RANJIT CHAVAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & PUBLISHER DIRECTOR GENERAL-AIILSG APRESH C MISHRA MANAGING EDITOR LOJY THOMAS, AIILSG ASSOCIATE EDITOR PRATHIBA RAJU Assistant editor ABHISHEK PANDEY PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENT JESSY IYPE DESK EDITOR & REPORTER MEENAKSHI RAJPUT GRAPHIC DESIGNER AAMINI DOGRA MARKETING EXECUTIVE HEAD OFFICE PLOT NO. 6, F-BLOCK, BANDRA KURLA COMPLEX, TPS ROAD-12, BANDRA-EAST MUMBAI-400051, MAHARASHTRA VOLUME I - ISSUE IV FOR FEEDBACK AND INFORMATION WRITE AT info@urbanupdate.in PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY RANJIT CHAVAN ON BEHALF OF ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT PRINTED AT CIRRUS GRAPHICS PVT LTD B-61, SECTOR-67, NOIDA – 201301 UTTAR PRADESH. PUBLISHED AT PLOT NO. 6, F-BLOCK, BANDRA KURLA COMPLEX, TPS ROAD-12, BANDRA-EAST MUMBAI-400051,

Ways to resilience

U

rban stakeholders across the world have been debating upon building resilience in cities. There is no solution that fits every city because the challenges cities and communities face vary from place to place. Local governments define their own goals based on local priorities. But many cities and countries prioritise the actions in response to extreme weather, energy, and economic challenges.

Evaluating local vulnerabilities to extreme weather, from heat waves and air pollution to droughts and floods, while preparing for climate change, has become crucial. Carbon has become sixth element of the universe, thus it is imperative that we reduce the carbon emissions causing destructive acute weather to help mitigate climate risks and avoid the costs of severe impacts.

Resilient urban infrastructure is a pre-requisite for an effective response as disasters affect large areas by various effects and may produce enormous human and economic losses that can have a significant consequence on development of a country. We need to create new finance models to improve and manage risks to community assets through engagement with the private sector and harness innovations in information technology and green infrastructure, which could optimise performance and reduce costs through efficient operation.

Thought leaders are also placing importance on building smarter cities for resilience to natural disasters caused by climate change. Confronted by a natural disaster, smart cities can use sophisticated ICT infrastructure and analytical capabilities to enhance and coordinate the information flow between multiple public agencies, such as transport authorities, emergency services and energy providers, and citizens. With the help of mobile networks, a city municipality can reach the majority of its citizens just in time.

Smart urban communication infrastructure can be crucial in the process of crisis planning, coordination and recovery. Information networks need to be beefed up to connect all stakeholders, including police, hospital and nuclear plants, to complement existing proprietary networks. These networks also need to be used to connect a variety of sensors, to monitor land and ocean changes, and accurately measure crucial parameters, such as wind speed, waves, radiation, and salinity. The connectivity needs to be combined with different types of observation systems and global satellite systems.

MAHARASHTRA DESPITE CAREFUL SELECTION OF SOURCES, NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE TAKEN FOR ACCURACY. THE MAGAZINE ASSUMES NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY KIND IN CONNECTION WITH THE INFORMATION

Ranjit Chavan dgaiilsg@gmail.com

THEREOF. ALL RIGHT RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER.

www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

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NEWSCAN

‘Municipal bodies not empowered as required’ In a reply to a question on the status of implementation of the 74th Amendment to the Constitution, Venkaiah Naidu said the corporations lack capacity to discharge functions and needs to be empowered

NEW DELHI: The urban local bodies across various states had not been empowered as required, they are financially constrained and lack capacity to discharge functions as per the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992, M.Venkaiah Naidu, Urban Development minister, informed Rajya Sabha.

Most of the states have not met the requirements of the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act 1992 in respect of devolution of powers and responsibilities to municipal bodies, he said.

He was answering to a question on the status of implementation of the 74th Amendment to the Constitution under which municipal bodies were to be empowered with transfer of funds, functions and functionaries for effective local governance.

“Only ten of the twenty nine states have transferred functions under 12th Schedule to the urban local bodies,” he stated.

The ten states are Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & 6

August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

‘

Only ten of the twenty nine states have transferred functions under 12th Schedule to the Urban Local Bodies

’

Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Punjab. He further stated that, under Article 243ZE of the Constitution, 14 states were required to constitute Metropolitan Planning Committees for all metropolitan areas but only six states have done so.

These include – Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

The states still to constitute such committees being – Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, MP, Uttar Pradesh and the newly

formed state of Telangana.

Recently at a conclave, Naidu said, “Inadequate devolution of functions and finances to urban local bodies has been identified as one of the major hurdles in improving urban governance which in turn has adversely impacted implementation of various urban development initiatives.”

On the question of water supply to the capital, Naidu said that commissioning of Munak Canal will enable additional water availability of 95 million gallons of raw water per day to Delhi on account of savings in seepage losses in the existing unlined canal.

He said this will benefit about 35 lakh people in water scarce areas of Delhi including Dwarka area.

The Haryana government has completed construction of its part of 102 km long Career Lined Canal(CLC) called Munak Canal at a cost of Rs 520 cr provided by Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

This canal will be commissioned after completion of the Delhi portion.

Responding to the issue of water scarcity in Dwarka area, Naidu said Water Treatment Plant will be commissioned after completion of construction of the 22 km-long twin 1500 mm diameter water transmission line between Irradat Nagar and Dwarka.

Only 600 metre portion of this line is still to be completed for which DDA has to remove encroachments at Bhagya Nagar, Massodabad and Dahiya Farm.

He also added that at present the DJB is supplying 5.5 million litres of water daily to Dwarka area and additional supplies would be available after commissioning of Water Treatment Plant at Dwarka and Munak Canal. Demand-supply gap is being met through water tank services provided by DDA in Dwarka sub-city.

PIN POINT

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘‘ We should take urbanisation as an opportunity and not as a threat Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, on his objective for Urban India

Focus of Smart Cities initiative should be to enhance quality of urban life through an integrated approach to planning and execution besides ensuring inclusivity M Venkaiah Naidu Urban Development Minister, at a session on various aspects of UD

Six dimensions of Smart Cities should be Governance, Smart Mobility, Environment, Ecology, People & Living. Based on experiences of Asian & developed countries, an India-specific model needs to evolve

Rajiv Pratap Rudy MP, BJP, on his views on smart cities

One must strike a balance between development and environment.

Eco-friendly development is a must to ensure that balance of nature is not disturbed

Rajnath Singh Home Minister, on the disastrous landslide at Malin village, Pune

We want to help India to be able to meet this (power) challenge, to make the connections, and to be able to help supply clean electricity to the 400 million Indians who today live without power. I know this is a priority for the Prime Minister, and it’s a priority that we’re prepared to try to share John Kerry US Secretary of State, during his three-day visit to strike US first high level engagement with NaMo government

‘

www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

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A Pedal pusher: More cycle tracks on NDMC area NEW DELHI: In order to boost cycling, NDMC with the help of Delhi Integrated Multi-modal Transit System (DIMTS) are identifying stretches that can have exclusive cycle tracks. The idea is to create cyclists-friendly tracks that will help them to ride without disrupting traffic on arterial roads. “Where continuous tracks can’t be provided, we want DIMTS to find a way of crossing over to the other side,” said O P Mishra, director (projects).

Ex-ministers served eviction notice NEW DELHI: The Urban Development Ministry has issued evictions notices to 16 former ministers who are yet to vacate the houses allotted to them. They have run up a combined bill of Rs 20,92,463 on

‘Digital connectivity of post offices top priority’ NEW DELHI: Ensuring that optimum digital connectivity of all post offices in the country is the top priority for the government, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed the Lok Sabha. He stated that the prime minister was personally monitoring a host of departments and postal services was one of them. “The PM spent about one-and-a half–hours on the postal department and has given suggestions, which will be considered,” he said. He also informed that there was need for reforms in postal department as also upgradation of Grameen Dak Ghar Services, catering to the rural population. The mobile networks, under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) scheme are likely to be set up in 15 months. A proposal to install mobile towers at 1,836 locations in nine States affected by Left Wing Extremism with funding support from USOF has already been approved, he added.

account of a month’s rent.

These former ministers had time till July 26 to vacate their house, but have failed to move out, UD Minister Venkaiah Naidu told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. As per rules, all former ministers and MPs who are not entitled to a government accommodation have a month’s time to vacate the premises.“The eviction notices have been sent, those who want to retain their houses will have to make an appeal, which will be a heard by the legal office of the Law Ministry,” he added.

Science on wheels: Prakash Javadekar along with DV Sadananda Gowda & Dr Jitendra Singh flagging off the Science Express – Biodiversity Special, at Safdarjung Railway Station, in New Delhi on July 28

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August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

NASA’s telescope helps to restore eyesight

WASHINGTON: NASA’s hubble space telescopes not just helps to examine the orbits and universe but they also have inspired surgeons to restore the eyesight of the elderly. Recently, a 79-year old woman, Phyllis Price, was able to see clearly again after mini magnifying glasses inspired by the hubble space telescope were placed inside her eyes. The septuagenarian had suffered from macular degeneration for years. The tiny telescopes inserted in her eyes, magnified the images and also directed them away from diseased parts of the eye and onto healthier areas. This innovation holds hope to an optical disease that affects thousands of elderly people.

Model bill to regulate extraction of ground water NEW DELHI: Extraction of ground water is very crucial, and the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) has circulated a Model Bill to all the states/union territories to regulate and control development and management of ground water. MoS for Water Resources, Santosh Kumar Gangwar said that so far, 13 states/UTs have enacted the legislation on the lines of the Model Bill. Already, 31 States/UTs have made rainwater harvesting mandatory by enacting laws, by formulating rules & regulations, including provisions in building bye-laws or through suitable government orders, informed the minister.

Residents to pay municipal taxes online GHAZIABAD: Ensuring easy methods for tax payments personally, the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) has made provision of online tax payment for 1.25 lakh households in the Vasundhara zone.

The corporation, plans to gradually extend this facility to the entire NCR, launched the system on August 1. The online system will be extended to all five zones of the municipal corporation. The residents can make payments of house, water and sewage taxes through the online system. Residents of Indirapuram, however, can only make house tax payments as the area is yet to be handed over to GMC for maintenance.

NEWSCAN

NDMC to install roof-top solar panels

Big B’s contribution to polio: Dr Harsh Vardhan and the UNICEF representative for India, Louis-Georges Arsenault presented the memento of appreciation to Amitabh Bachchan for his contribution towards “POLIO FREE INDIA”, at a function, in New Delhi on July 27

NEW DELHI: The NDMC will soon install rooftop solar panels on 40 buildings under its jurisdiction, after installation Delhi will become the second solar city in the country, after Chandigarh, a top official said. “We selected our own buildings for the pilot project as we did not require NOC from any agency. NDMC expects to generate almost 8 MW of solar energy within a year from this exercise,” an official said. The civic agency now contributes 16 MW in a bid to resolve the power problem in Delhi.

Railways to eliminate direct discharge toilets BHUBANESHWAR: The direct discharge type toilet systems will be eliminated from the entire fleet of passenger coaches in Indian Railways by March 31, 2022, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was informed. A Odisha-based human rights campaigner Akhand filed a petition stating that the railway toilets contribute to a major chunk of open defecation as faeces is thrown on the tracks.

Acting on the complaint, the NHRC had directed the Railway Board chairman to file a report. The report of Indian Railways informed that they want to eliminate production of all types of new passenger coaches with direct discharge toilet systems by 2016-2017. They plan to eliminate such toilets from its entire fleet of passenger lines by 2021-22. As of now the railways has fixed over 7,000 bio-toilets in 2,774 coaches till December 2013, the report said.

Software on cheap real time traffic data

MADRID: A group of Spanish researchers have developed new software capable of offering a low cost traffic data in real time at a very cheap price. The group which developed new software said that the data are gathered by the nodes in the form of signals broadcasted by GPS gadgets, hands-free devices, mobile phones or other similar tech products being used by the drivers inside each vehicle. The researchers said that the data does not enable personal identification owing to the encrypting technologies involved in the process.

Ban e-rickshaw, says Delhi High Court

NEW DELHI: Viewing that the plying of the non-motorised vehicles is becoming a risk for the road and questions safety of the riders, the Delhi High Court has ordered an immediate ban on plying of e-rickshaws in the capital, saying their unregulated operation is “hazardous to other traffic on the road as well as to citizens”. A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul has asked the Delhi government to ban the battery-operated motor vehicles till its further order. “You (Delhi government) stop them in the meantime. Why allow somebody to continuously take the law in their own hands? These e-rickshaws don’t have insurance, registration.

Even the drivers don’t have driving licenses.

There is no bar on the number of passengers”, said the bench.

Govt to examine effluents overflowing in Ganga NEW DELHI: To control the alarming effluents overflowing from Uttar Pradesh industrial units to river Ganga, the government will examine 956 units on which notices issued by UP State Pollution Control Board.“The National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) have ordered for examination of 956 units in Uttar Pradesh, on which notices issued by UP State Pollution Control Board and for submission of status report,” said Santosh Kumar Gangwar in Rajya Sabha. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified 764 grossly polluting industries along the main stem of river Ganga. CPCB, also informed that about 501 MLD of waste water after treatment is discharged into the river from these industries and they had also inspected 704 units and took action against the defaulting units.

IT hub gets signal-free corridor projects

BENGALURU: The state government of Karnataka flagged off two major signal-free corridor projects and series of infrastructure projects in the city. The corridor will be between ASC Centre and Hope Farm Junction and another one from Government Soap Factory Junction to Magadi Road Junction. Cost of the first project has been estimated at Rs 135.25 crore and the second at Rs 44.8 crore. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had assured that the development of 230 main roads covering 395 km would be completed by December. www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

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Southern states see rapid urban growth

NEW DELHI: Four southern states Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have seen rapid urbanisation in the past 10 years as against the national average, M Venkaiah Naidu, Urban Development Minister said. “Urban population in the four southern states are higher than the national average for the period of 2001 to 2011,” Naidu said. As per the report by the minister, urban population in the country has increased from 27.80 percent of the total population in 2001 to 31.10 percent in 2011 marking an increase of 3.30 percent.

Gorging on chicken or antibiotics?

NEW DELHI: If we are chicken lovers, we are in for a double whammy situation as per a revelation, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has found that we might be gobbling in

‘Cleaning rivers top priority’ NEW DELHI: In order to preserve rivers, a collective effort has been made by the central and state governments through proper management of them. The Ministry of Environment and Forests is supplementing the efforts of the state governments in addressing the problem of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), Ganga Action Plan (GAP) phase I and II, and National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) programmes for implementation of projects on a cost sharing basis between the central and state governments, said Union MoS for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Santosh Kumar Gangwar.

These designed programmes will check polluted stretches of 42 rivers in 199 towns which are spread over 21 states at a sanctioned cost of Rs 10,716.45 crore.

Infra & Realty Sutra Awards 2014: Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari gave away the Infra & Realty Sutra Awards, in New Delhi on July 21

F: A

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some antibiotics with the meat we consume. In the 70 meat samples from different parts of Delhi and Gurgaon, the CSE says that these antibiotics through the chicken meat we eat, we naturally develop resistance to the bacteria that they can otherwise fight. But additionally, thanks to indiscriminate use, the bacteria in the chicken that have developed resistance to antibiotics, can be transferred easility to us if the meat is not properly cooked.

August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

2.5 billion smartphone users by 2015

NEW YORK: Over 2.5 billion people or 35 percent of the global population is expected to use smartphones by the end of 2015, a latest report of US-based industry tracker Strategy Analytics stated. The reason behind this surge is the expansion of lowend smartphones by global players that has helped them make inroads into emerging markets in the developing countries like India. According to the market research firm, the number of global users had surpassed one billion in 2012. Another separate report by Sweden-based Ericsson, smartphone users reached 1.9 billion at the end of 2013 and is set to expand to 3.3 billion by the end of 2015.

Two crore plants to be planted on highways NEW DELHI: Pitching for greenery, the government has decided to plant 200 crore trees on the entire stretch of national highways across the country, which is a one lakh km network and the task will employ jobless youth, said Road Transport, Highways, Shipping and Rural Development Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari. The minister said that similar project can be implemented under MNREGA along the village and district roads and state highways. Gadkari informed that more gram panchayats should be involved in planting trees and the unemployed youth could be assigned 50 trees each which could fetch livelihood.

40 % fares slashed on Airport Metro Express Line NEW DELHI: The passenger fares on Airport Metro Express Line (AMEL) was slashed by up to 40 percent, with the revised structure, the minimum fare on the corridor will now be Rs 20 and the maximum fare will be Rs 100. “The revised structure, minimum fare on the corridor will now be Rs 20 instead of Rs 30 and the maximum fare has come down to Rs 100 from Rs 180,” said DMRC Executive Director Anuj Dayal. Therefore, a one way journey from the New Delhi station to Dwarka Sector 21 using Single Journey Token will now cost only Rs 100.

NEWSCAN

World Bank to pool Rs 6,000 crore for waterways NEW DELHI: It is only imperative for any country’s government to take care of its waterways and that is what even our government is intending to do and its likely to get assistance between Rs 4,200 crore and Rs 6,000 crore from World Bank for creation of two barrages on the AllahabadHaldia cargo and human waterway route – one of the pet projects of the current NDA government.

According to officials, the pact for the fund is likely to be signed next week. The government is also formulating a cabinet note for Rs 105,000 crore investment in the national waterways projects.

“The World Bank has come forward to fund construction of two barrages with an estimated assistance ranging from Rs 4,200 crore to Rs 6,000 crore to enable the country conclude a proper navigation of cargo and human movements in national waterway between Allahabad and Haldia,” Amitabh Verma, chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has said.

♦♦ Fund for construction of two barrages with an estimated assistance ranging from Rs 4,200 crore to Rs 6,000 crore ♦♦ Project includes proper navigation of cargo and human movements in waterways between Allahabad and Haldia ♦♦ The government is also formulating a cabinet note for Rs 105,000 crore investment The Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river from Haldia to Allahabad is a 1,620 km stretch, which was declared as a national waterway in 1986.

The IWAI has formulated an action plan for the development of the channel. The day navigation aids will be available in entire waterway, while the night navigation aids

will be available between Tribeni and Farakka. Further investments will be made in providing 24 hours navigation aids with a modern GPSbased system for the entire waterway.

These waterways will be seen as offering suitable ship building opportunities for the private sector and make an optimum utilisation of the infrastructure. IWAI will use these channels for freight movement.

There are two more national waterway channels, while more are being identified.

The Haldia-Allahabad Waterway is the longest in the country, with an overall length of 1,620 kilometres.

The first cargo ship had arrived at Allahabad way back in 1998 and anchored in Saraswati Ghat of the city. Later, another cargo ship, named MV Rajgopalchari, had left for Haldia along with 600 metric tonnes of cement.

The waterways was also used for shipping the building material during the construction of the New Yamuna bridge.

Digital India is skilled India: Ravi Shankar Prasad NEW DELHI: Stating that the government is commited to improving the digital connectivity in the country, Minister of Communication and IT, Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the NDA government is contemplating on numerous initiatives.

“There is a great need among Indians to connect, This is creating a different India. The government feels that a digital India is a skilled one,” he said while addressing a conference called i-Bharat held at FICCI in New Delhi. The government has allocated a handsome sum to the sector and would focus on expediting the

National Optical Fibre connectivity, which will reach 50,000 gram panchayats, said the minister.

The government has also opted in introducing GUN (Government User Network) and is keen to bring broadband to almost all schools.

Informing the delegates present at the conference, the minister said that the current import of the technology product is 1000 billion and by the next year it will be 4000 billion.

The urban area’s mobile network connectivity is 140 percent and 43 percent in rural areas, he said.

“The electronic manufacturing sector can generate employment to 3

crore people,” felt Prasad.

The government in the Budget 2014 had said that it will allocate Rs. 500 crore for its ‘Digital India’ initiative to set up broadband network in villages and promote local manufacturing of hardware and Indian software products under the Digital India initiative, National Rural Internet and Technology Mission.

Government had also allocated Rs 100 crore for development of Technology Development Fund.

Jaitely had also announced that e-Visas will be allowed in nine airports, using technology to boost Indian tourism. www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

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SWaCH to help ease out solid waste

AURANGABAD: The city civic body is planning to join hands with Punebased SWaCH. “Aurantgabad generates around 500 tonnes of garbage every day.

This unpaid, unprotected army of green workers collects, sorts and recycles the city’s waste to trade for small returns,” said Natasha Zarine, founder member of Civic Response Team (CRT). The civic body would encourage and collaborate with the waste-pickers and utilise their services to manage 80% of the solid waste at source, as the municipal administration is already reeling under manpower crisis, said Dilip Suryawanshi, SWM in-charge in the AMC.

US to integrate clean energy in Gujarat NEW DELHI: The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has signed an agreement with Gujarat Energy Transmission Corp (GETCO) to support the integration of wind and solar power energy with its trans-

Speedsters in Express Freeway on watch MUMBAI: To curb increasing accidents on the Eastern Freeway, a highway which connects faster connectivity from suburbs to south Mumbai, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will install 12 cameras to monitor the highway. The 12 CCTV cameras will be installed between SV Patel Junction on P.D’Mello Road and Panjarpol, a 14 km long stretch. The step was taken ahead after the Mumbai traffic police and officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation recently conducted a survey.

The cameras will capture the vehicle number, face of the driver and the time when the motorist was caught breaching traffic rules. The details would then be taken from the Regional Transport Office and a challan would be sent to them.

August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

MATHURA: The National Green Tribunal has warned “coercive action” against the authorities for throwing municipal solid waste on roads in the pilgrimage town of Govardhan in Mathura. “If we find that our directions are not being complied with, we will be compelled to take coercive action against the respective authorities,” the bench said. The tribunal had last year restrained the Uttar Pradesh government from cutting trees in the holy town of Govardhan. The civic authorities discharging sewage and municipal waste into the ponds and other water bodies in Govardhan is leading to water pollution.

JICA to lend 80% loan to Mumbai harbour link mission system.“This technical assistance will allow GETCO to analyze its power system through modelling and statistical techniques, and to develop strategies to ensure appropriate load balancing and frequency regulation for its transmission operations,” the USTDA said in a press statement. The agreement was signed during the fifth annual India-US Strategic Dialogue, led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State John Kerry.

President doing extra-curricular: President, Pranab Mukherjee and the HRD Minister, Smriti Irani, during the inauguration of various activities - Inauguration of Cricket Practice Pitch, Meeting Football Team, Visiting Renovated Classrooms and Inauguration of “Knowledge Hub”, at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, in President’s Estate, New Delhi on July 25

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Don’t dump waste in Govardhan: NGT

MUMBAI: The Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) is likely to provide 80% loan for the ambitious Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) project.

The project will bring Mumbai and Navi Mumbai closer by half an hour. “Out of the total cost of approximately Rs 11,000 crore, the agency is likely to provide us loan to the tune of 80%; which is approximately Rs 8,800 crore,” said Metropolitan Commissioner, UPS Madan. The Japanese team also did a preliminary survey of the end points of the 22-km long Trans Harbour Link. JICA team is working on several aspects of the project in complete detail. “The agency will provide inputs to enhance the constructability and shorten the construction period”, he added.

Odisha civic body make room for composting BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has asked the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to regulate the trash and designate a dumping site. The board’s move came on complaints from people, alleging sewage is being dumped at various locations on a regular basis. The city produces about 40 lakh lpd of sewage. While the sewerage lines, at present, can channel 20 to 25% of sewage, rest is collected by cesspool tankers of BMC and private operators from septic tanks from residential houses.

NEWSCAN

‘Monitor Himalayan glaciers melting’

NEW DELHI: The centre is taking suitable steps to regularly monitor the glacier dynamics, snow and glacier melting, geometrical changes and climate studies of the Himalayan glaciers, said an official.

MoS for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh said that a number of glaciers have already been taken up for long-term measurements on glacierclimate interaction by several government agencies. HP has 249 glacial lakes, of which 11 have been identified as having high potential for breach. The study found that Gepang Gath glacial lake was risky and threatens Manali-Leh NH downstream Sissu village.

‘Over 9 lakh homeless in urban India’ NEW DELHI: More than nine lakh people are homeless in urban areas, which accounts for 0.25 percent of the total urban population in the country, the Urban Development minister, M Venkaiah Naidu informed.“As per Census-2011, 9, 38,348 homeless people are living in urban areas of the country, which includes 46,724 in Delhi,” Naidu said in a written reply to the parliament. He also added that the homeless people account for 0.25 percent of the total urban population in the country and 0.29 percent in case of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.

‘Efforts taken to tackle monkey, dog menace’ NEW DELHI: Efforts are being made to tackle monkey and dog menace inside and around parliament, M Venkaiah Naidu, Urban Development minister informed Rajya Sabha.The minister said that trained persons will disguise themselves as langoors and they will scare the monkeys.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has hired 40 young persons for this purpose.“NDMC has also acquired rubber bullet guns for scaring away the monkeys. A team of dog catchers visits the parliament house and surrounding areas twice a week for catching unimmunised and unsterilized stray dogs,” Naidu said in a written reply.

NSIC going tech-savvy: Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Kalraj Mishra launching the Business to Consumer (B2C) Web Portal of NSIC, in New Delhi on July 31

IMA demands antibiotics ban

Biometric attendance for urban ministry staff

NEW DELHI: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has demanded an immediate ban on antibiotic use in the poultry industry after a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study suggested that overuse of antibiotics in chicken production is the causative factor behind the growing problem of antibiotic resistance in India. “The IMA has echoed the recommendations given by CSE. Some of these include allowing antibiotic use only to treat sick birds, ban on use of antibiotics in the industry which are critical for humans, and the need to regulate availability of antibiotics and feed supplements,” said a CSE statement. The Central Advisory Committee of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which met, also took note of the CSE study; FSSAI chairperson K. Chandramouli has brought the matter of antibiotics misuse in the poultry industry to the attention of the committee.

NEW DELHI: Making a surprise inspection at his office, the UD, Minister, M Venkaiah Naidu, found officers and junior staff missing from their seats during office hours, following it a set of instructions was given to monitor attendance of employees and ensuring efficiency. He ordered that a biometric attendance system be installed.

Senior bureaucrats have been asked to visit both establishments every day to keep tabs on who’s missing; attendance registers will be removed 15 minutes after “the due time of reporting” and late-comers will be marked absent and penalised a day’s salary.

Eco awards for technology NEW DELHI: Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar recently conferred the Climate Solver Awards to encourage cutting edge technologies that contribute to reduction in carbon emissions. The awards was constituted by World Wildlife Fund -India in an attempt to catalyze an enabling environment for climate innovations.

Speaking on the occasion, Javadekar said that innovation was the sustainable way of development for any country. We should work towards it. Quoting an example of solar panels in Gujarat, the minister said that it was the innovative use of solar energy that gave three pronged benefits to the society. These included enhancement of energy efficiency, saving land resources and minimising evaporation of water due to placing of solar panels on the banks of irrigation canals in Gujarat. www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

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NEWSCAN

100 Smart Cities In the 2014-15 Budget Session, Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley allotted Rs 7,060 crores for the 100 Smart Cities. These Smart Cities will be seen as satellite towns of larger cities by modernizing the present ones. Herewith below listed are the proposed Smart Cities: Maharashtra (6) Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad, Bhivandi

Uttar Pradesh (6) Kanpur, Allahabad, Lucknow, Jhansi, Faizabad, Varanasi

West Bengal (5) Calcutta, Durgapur, Haldia, Habra, Jangipur

Rajasthan (7) Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Jodhapur, Kota, Udipur

Gujarat (7) Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Junagadh Gandhi Nagar

Punjab (4) Ludhiana, Amritsir, Jalandhar, Patiala

Madhya Pradesh (5) Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Burhanpur, Jabalpur Tamil Nadu (6) Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli Salem, Tirunelveli Karnataka (7) Bangalore, Gulbarga Bidar, Bijapur, Badami, Pattadakal, Mahakuta Kerala (7) Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Ernakulam, Cochin, Thrissur Telangana (5) Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Nalgonda Andhra Pradesh (4) Guntur, Vijayawada, Kurnool, Chittoor Himachal Pradesh (1) Shimla

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August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

Bihar (5) Muzaffarapur, Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Bihar Sharif, Haryana (4) Faridabad, Gurgaon, Panipat, Ambala Assam (5) Guwahati, Tinsukia, Obalguri, Tangla, Goalpara Odisha (5) Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Balasore, Uttarakhand (3) Dehradoon, Haridwar, Roorkee Jharkhand (3) Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Ranchi Sikkim (3) Gangtok, Pelling, Yuksam Manipur (2) Bishnupur, Chandel

‘Capital settlements lack basic services’

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has spent over Rs 3,000 crore on basic amenities but has failed to provide basic facilities like roads and sewer and water lines in the city’s unauthorised colonies, the Computer Auditor General (CAG) said in a report tabled in parliament. “The urban development department, Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, has failed to provide basic services like sewer lines, water lines, roads and drainage to all the 895 unauthorised colonies despite incurring an expenditure of Rs 3,029.21 crore up to March 2013,” said a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, tabled in the Parliament. In 2012, Delhi regularised 895 unauthorised colonies in the capital. Congress leader, Sheila Dikshit, then Delhi Chief Minister had listed these colonies as one of her government’s achievements before being ousted in the 2013 assembly elections. The CAG also said that during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime at the centre, the ministry of urban development “made certain changes” in the guidelines approved by the union cabinet to regularise Delhi’s unauthorised colonies.

Highlighting role of the MoUD, the report said: “The Regulations 2008 after amendments made thereto in June 2008 and June 2012 deviated from the guidelines approved by the Union Cabinet for regularisation of unauthorised colonies in Delhi.

Issue of Provisional Regularisation Certificates was not envisaged in the guidelines.” The auditor also questioned the Dikshit government’s decision of giving provisional certificates to these unauthorised settlements. In the run-up to the 2008 assembly polls, Dikshit had issued provisional regularisation certificates to over 1,200 unauthorised colonies and had announced that some 1,600 colonies would be regularised.

PROFILE

Shankar Aggarwal UD Secretary

Techie takes charge as

UD secretary

T

he Ministry of Urban Development got a new secretary Shankar Aggarwal – a member of the Indian Administrative Service (1980 batch) belonging to Uttar Pradesh cadre. Coming from a diverse and rich technical, administrative and managerial experience, Aggarwal was earlier secretary of the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development before his posting in the Ministry of Urban Development.

An Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkie and Delhi alumnus, Aggarwal during his 35 years of distinguished service has held several important positions in the governments of Uttar Pradesh and India dealing with Housing and Urban Development, Information Technology, Finance, Energy, Technical Education, Small Scale Industries, Transport, Defence among others.

Aggarwal’s assignments in the central governments include Joint Secretary (Small Scale Industries), Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary (Information Technology) and Additional Secretary and Special Secretary (Defence) before taking over as Secretary (Women & Child Development) in May, 2014. He also worked as Private Secretary to the then Minister of State (Personal & Training) Vasundhara Raje Scindia during 1998-99. In Uttar Pradesh government, Aggarwal held the charge of Joint Secretary(Housing & Urban Development) and played a key role

in drafting and implementing the related policies and programmes besides monitoring and evaluation of development authorities, housing board and municipalities.

Born on September 22, 1956, Shankar Aggarwal served as Collector and District Magistrate of Ballia and Commissioner, Jhansi Division, Uttar Pradesh. He also served as General Manager of UP Textile Corporation UP State Cement Corporation and Managing Director, UP State Road Transport Corporation.

The secretary’s vision to achieve optimum standard for urban development can be thoroughly witnessed.

Speaking at two day conference on Finalisation of the Draft Manual on Municipal Solid Waste Management, Aggarwal had spoken on the need to revamp the solid waste management, which can be achieved only through people’s participation and a change in the mindset.

“Our towns are turning out to be a dumping yard and the biggest issue is people’s mindset. Every household should not just think about collection and disposal of garbage, but they should focus on to reduction in generation of garbage and segregation,” he mentioned.

“The urban area of the country contributes immensely to the GDP, but if we want to be global competitive, if we want large number of infrastructure projects we must make the towns much more efficient,” he said.

Talking about the manual on solid waste management, the UD secretary had informed that it is a good step ahead in solid waste management, but lot more needs to be done on this sector and manual is not the only solution.

He also said the technology plays a crucial role in solid waste management.

“If we need to make a real paradigm shift in solid waste management, it can be possible through technology.

Technology is a great enabler,” Aggarwal said.

While being sworned in as the new secretary, Aggarwal had mentioned how the ministry shall focus on inititaives to enhance the urbanisation and empowerment of women in the country.

“The Government of India’s key developmental goal for women is gender equality and empowerment.

Towards realization of this objective, we have paid special emphasis on six key strategies, namely: Economic Empowerment, Social and Physical Infrastructure, Enabling Legislations, Women’s Participation in Governance, Inclusion of all vulnerable and marginalised women, Gender sensitive Policies and Programmes,” said Aggarwal.

“These strategies bring out the crucial challenges posed by traditional determinants of women’s status and empowerment. These include issues such as asset ownership, skill development, and financial inclusion.

We are also sensitive to new and emerging challenges posed by urbanisation, climate change, energy security, migration among others.”

Speaking about National Food Security Act, he said, “The government enacted a landmark legislation - the National Food Security Act, 2013. This is a historic initiative to ensure food and nutritional security to identified eligible households, with specific provisions for women and children.

It gives right to receive adequate quantity of food grains at subsidized prices to about two thirds of our 1.2 billion population, covering up to 75% of rural population and up to 50% of urban population. www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

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COVER STORY

S

wanky metropolis is like two sides of a coin, it provides arenas of suitable job opportunities, growth in lifestyle, at the same time the haphazard urbanisation implicates various lethal risks and crisis like the Uttarakhand flash floods, the Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat, terror attacks targeting civilians, along with an upsurge in crimes and day-to-day road accidents.

Cities are seeing a fast paced growth, it should develop and adapt plans to reduce the risk of both unforeseen and premeditated mishaps.

Building urban resilience is need

of the hour, assessing the risk and making cities prepared to face the consequences of sudden disasters such as extreme weather conditions like flash floods, earthquakes, cyclones, along with serious issues like epidemics, terror attacks, road fatalities.

It is imperative to create a flexile city through the participation of multiple stakeholders with right policies, plans and infrastructure investment, communities that are responsive.

Do we wait for disaster to strike?

No country can afford to ignore the lessons of the disaster management.

e i t i C

But India seems to be waiting for disasters to happen. Only a right risk reduction measures, which are taken in advance with help of a proper technology will help, inform experts. “Indian cities are more vulnerable to earthquakes. Major part of our metropolis belongs to Zone IV or V, which are high risk zones; it needs proper resilience like modern building bye-laws to ensure seismic resistant construction. If there is a strong earthquake in Himalayan region it will lead to one million deaths,�

M.Shashidhar Reddy, former chairman, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) told

k s i r @ s a Raju, Prathib

t editor

Assistan

While urban India is sitting on a ticking bomb with unpreparedness to natural calamities, upsurge in terrorist activities, spiralling traffic fatalities, a wholesome policy formulation in the mandated areas is indispensable

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August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

COVER STORY

“

M Shashidhar Reddy Former Chairman, NDMA

Indian cities are more vulnerable to earthquakes. Major part of our metropolis belong to high risk zones; it needs proper resilience to ensure seismic resistant construction. An earthquake in Himalayan region could lead to one million deaths

“

Urban Update. As per the seismic map of India prepared by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), 58.6 % areas of the country fall into earthquake zone V (very high risk), IV (high risk) and III (moderate risk).

Talking about the guidelines framed by the NDMA, Reddy said, “Urban development ministry is the nodal agency and plays a crucial role to help governments build preparedness at the state and regional levels. It took two years to notify the NDMA guidelines. These guidelines are yet to be transformed into action plan.

This showcases the political will of the central government. For example, the Central Water Commission (CWC), which is the nodal agency for flooding is not equipped to deal with it.”

He also added that simple measures like a rain gauge (an instrument to measure rainfall, which is measured in millimeters) should be fixed in every four sq.km in cities.

Mumbai is the only city, which has installed the rain gauge meters after the 2005 floods, in which the city experienced the eighth heaviest 24hour rainfall - highest ever recorded994mm. Nearly 5,000 people died, while thousands were left homeless.

Nature may not always be predictable, so the laws made by

man should abide nature, informed professor, Gaur Mehmood, civil engineering department, Jamia Millia Islamia University.

“No lessons have been learnt even after last year’s flood in Uttarakhand.

We always try to work against the natural laws. In order to avoid flooding and landslides we need to follow certain rules. Many European countries follow geomorphic rules, but we don’t. Even after such a big disaster the ancient Kedarnath temple still remains intact, just because of the planning by our ancestors, who had built it according to natural laws,” Mehmood added.

Giving an example, he pointed that if the Hathnikund a concrete barrage located on the Yamuna River has sudden flooding, nearly 25 lakh people will be washed away in minutes.

“A well-documented disaster management plan needs to be put in place with the required resources in terms of man / machinery and materials. Periodic mock drills are necessary to educate the public.

Making the police and statutory bodies more accessible,” Pankaj Srivastava,, COO of Maitreya Realtors & Construction Pvt Ltd told Urban Update. Although in global level, there has been considerable concern over natural disasters. In India we focus more on relief and rescue rather than preventive measures.

Even as substantial scientific and material progress is made, the loss of lives and property due to disasters has not decreased. Year after year in the natural and man-made disasters the human toll and economic losses have mounted.

As per government records the death toll on Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat accounted to 13,805 deaths, the super cyclone in Odisha accounted to 9,885 deaths and in Uttarakhand flash floods death toll was 5,360.

High-rise buildings - urban hazard

With unprecedented boom in population and increase in urbanisation, innumerable multiplex buildings have become the norm of

the cities. Many buildings often flout safety norms, particularly fire safety.

As per Mumbai Fire Brigade eight of 10 buildings in the city do not comply with fire-safety norms. It has issued notices to 1,242 high rises since March 2012 for the failure.

Even the ten-floor Delhi secretariat in ITO at central Delhi, which houses the chief minister’s office and other important government offices, do not adhere the fire safety norms, a Delhi Fire Service (DFS) official informed.

“Tall buildings offer a different level of challenge in terms of evacuating the people in case of fire, or earthquake.

Generally, staircases in any building are well protected by way of design, enclosure and ventilation hence these become the safest route for evacuation. However, when it comes to a high rise building this is not as easy as it seems, due to the greater height and larger number of floors.

With the reality of numbers of super tall building coming up in country, norms needs to be updated and lifts are required to be built suitably,” said Pankaj Jain, Director, K World.

Many tall buildings in our country do not have the provision of refuge areas (areas in a building where people can take shelter in case of fire).

At a time when there is a fire incident, it becomes the hold area also for people to wait for rest and for further instructions from the fire brigade department to facilitate during evacuation.

“

Dr SK Nanda Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Gujarat

During the disasters, it is the duty of the concerned government bodies to prevent the rumours that may create panic amongst the affected people

“

www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

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COVER STORY As per the National Building Code (NBC), refuge areas are required at every 24 meters and are supposed to be located near to staircase with safe and protected escape passage connection. The areas should be equipped with basic facilities like drinking water among others.

“Location of the refuge area is equally important. In most cases the refuge area is provided in one corner of the building and usually is not maintained well and hence sometimes becomes unusable in case of fire,” Jain added. All fire escape staircases should be constructed along with the escape lobby to protect the entire path from ingress of smoke and thereby safe evacuation. Handling, containment and stopping spread of smoke in case of fire in high rise building is the most challenging work.

Safety mechanisms

Talking about disaster management, Dr SK Nanda Addl Chief Secy, Home Department, Gujarat said that during the disasters, it is the duty of the concerned government bodies to prevent the rumours that may create panic amongst the affected people.

“Proper message at proper time should be provided to the citizens so the citizens also become aware to face and handle the disaster at individual level.

In case the disaster is unmanageable, it would be desirable to take the help of international organizations who have expertise in managing and mitigating the disasters within the shortest possible time.”

“Emergency equipments like oxygen cylinder, cranes with proper capacity, JCB machine, oxygen cutter, concrete cutter, jackets having lights etc. should be readily available for rescue operations with the team responsible for disaster management,” he added.

Vulnerable to terror activities

India being consistent targets of militants, has seen a series of terrorist attacks throughout its cities. There is an urgent need to upgrade the security apparatus to anticipate 18

August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

“

M P Choudhary Col (Retd)

For urban terrorism, we need to have immediate team of first time responders, who comes into action immediately when there is a terror attack in any city

“

and appropriately respond to such incidents.

As a country we should not be a sitting duck in the fields of cyber security and its security capabilities, inform experts.

Even after five years, the aftermath of Mumbai terror attack, the Delhi serial blasts have left a scar on the minds of the denizens of both the cities.

The resilience and very soul of India’s national and financial capital was turned like a war zone, showcasing our discrepancies in the counterterrorism policy.

“The overall policing system is not effective, then how can our cities be safe. Security is indivisible, counter terrorism cannot be separated. We are trying to create a national database since 1996, which was supposed to connect all the police station. Later in 2009, a Crime Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) was announced to facilitate collection, storage, retrieval, analysis, transfer and sharing of data and information at the police station and between the police stations and the States, but they are not implemented accordingly. We still lack a centralised monitoring system, which is a basic requirement of a country,” said Ajai Sahni, executive director, South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP).

He also added that still our police personnel’s have 19th century weapons like ‘lathis’(heavy pole or

stick) and a pistol.

“For urban terrorism, we need to have immediate team of first time responders, who come into action immediately when there is a terror attack. Even after the Mumbai 26/11 incident the policy makers are not giving ample importance to it. We as a country lack both anti-terror and counter terror attack,” Col. (retd) M P Choudhary, who raised the AntiHijack Squad in the eighties and National Security Guard (NSG), which is popularly known as Black Cat commandos told Urban Update.

He also added that every big city and the intelligence agency must have sophisticated equipments. But such equipments are available only with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) the centralized agencies.

“Our country has about 41 different agencies and we lack proper coordination amongst them.

Anyone can prepare a bomb here.

Materials like gelatin sticks carbine, iron pieces, springs, detonators, a pencil battery, laser beam equipment, cartridges, timer’s, chemicals and other instruments are easily available.

There are no specific rules and stricter restrictions to curb the open sale of such materials, which can help in making a powerful explosive,” Choudhary said.

He also added that a ban on the open sale on such materials alone cannot make a difference. The government should channelise the sale or keep a track of buyers.

Giving a solution to tackle the terrorism in urban cities, Choudhary said that the motor-cycle borne highly trained commandos can be a good option.

“The armed police are not always mobile and they are stationary at a place, or such units cannot tackle a sudden terror attack like Mumbai 26/11. To handle a sudden terror attack, a team should be ready and mobile, for this the motor-cycle borne commandos can be the best suitable option.”

“They will always move in pairs,

COVER STORY who are physically tough, well trained young boys 20 to 30 years of age, who have knowledge about explosives,” Choudhary added.

He also added that police with lathis will not match the motorcycle commandos as they can be armed with AK-47 or INSAT, Stun and HE grenades, pistols and carbines with radio sets. Their training and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) would be different.

“Such a system is needed but, the policy makers have no will to push this system. I have trained only 450 such commandos. There was no proper training ground available, we were not able to equip the motor cycles with extra features,” he added.

Lacking such spontaneous commandos, we lost hundreds of life in Mumbai 26/11 attack. The incident showcased that our police force even lacked a proper bullet-proof jacket.

In Bombay High Court, a senior police official admitted that the bulletproof jacket worn by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Chief, Hemant Karkare was not meant for protection from AK-47 bullets.

Karkare, along with fellow IPS officer Ashok Kamte and Inspector Vijay Salaskar, fell to the bullets fired by slain Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail the Pakistani gunmen from their AK47 rifles on November 26, 2008.

However, Jasbir Singh Solanki, head, critical infrastructure group, Mahindra Special Services Group, said “There has been an improvement in the security scenario after 2008 Mumbai 26/11 terror attack, like the formation of the NATGRID (a robust intelligence gathering mechanism set up to track any terror suspect and incident). Coastal security program, which as installed thermal cameras and radars along the 7,500 km coastline.”

He also added that technology is available, but the policymakers’ lackadaisical approach and makes it difficult to improve the security scenario.

“For the past four years, the border management project tendering has

LeaderSpeak

Resilience in cities required to combat disasters For every catastrophe pertaining to natural or man-made, a preparedness, readiness, action rehabilitation, cohesive public participation along with research and development is required as the basic elements of disaster management.

Community coordination is the way forward to mitigate the impact of any disaster. The very recent example is the Perth train accident, in Australia, where a man’s leg came in between the train and the platform.

The incident was seen as an example that restored faith in humanity as hundreds of passengers came out of the train and pushed it to help the person escape an accident.

Similar examples can be witnessed in Japan, the world’s most technologically advanced and earthquake-prone nation.

Such precedents showcase the cohesiveness of people and discipline which helps the authorities in a big way during the mishaps.

Apart from this, rumour and panic

Dr Jatin Modi President, AIILSG

too aggravates the impact of disaster.

There are numerous instances of deaths due to stampedes and theft cases followed by fabrication during a devastation. Keeping the social media from rumour mongering at the time of disaster becomes crucial.

Immediate and regular dissemination of correct information should be followed in order to do away with the hearsay.

Preparedness is a key Cities need to create a pool of data, which has a clear history of disasters at each level. Their managers should also know the availability and the number of essential equipments like the oxygen cylinders, cranes and concrete cutters that is vital and should be stored in such a manner that it can be used optimally during times of need.

Fire safety measures needs to be given due importance, while ensuring that the fire-fighters have safety apparatus like the fire safety jackets, extinguishers, smoke alarms, masks, helmets, escape hoods, among others.

A monitored mechanism needs to be in place for the hospitals wherein a centralised record system of symptoms is updated to alert the agencies during any epidemics, or outbreaks. Right measures needs to be incorporated to train suitable personnel to act in time along with a fitness audit on regular Hansa Patel intervals.

Executive Advisor, AIILSG www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

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COVER STORY not been done. Although NATGRID has been started, the technology has not been in place. Implementation of the security programs is needed,” Solanki added.

The threat of terrorism has been a dominant theme in the metropolis and they always remain as easy targets. As it is estimated, it is not about terrorism, but the way the threat of terrorism is used, is what has the biggest impact on the urban life.

Women safety - an illusion

It is not just one lone story of a 23-yearold paramedical student, who was brutally assaulted and gang-raped on the wintry December night, two years ago, but the uncertainty still lingers on the safety of every women in this country.

The incident has touched a chord and refuses to die down in the mind space of every women of the country.

The protests over the incident emerged as a global torchbearer for awakening on sexual violence against women. The gruesome act was taken to the doors of the Indian parliament which shook the conscience and showcased the status of women safety and was called as a blot on the country’s history.

“Each city should give importance to women safety, simple measures like proper street lights, earmarking areas which are not much safe for women to access, increasing the police presence are some of the vital measures, which should be taken but unfortunately we lack proper urban planning,” Ranjana Kumari, director of the Centre for

“

Mamta Sharma Chairperson, National Commission for Women

The scenario of women safety in our country is very crude. People need to be sensitive

20 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

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Social Research (CSR) told Urban Update. She also added the most unsafe city for women in the country is Delhi. While the southern cities like Chennai, Bangalore is comparatively safe. The number of rapes in the country rose by almost three percent to 24,923, with Delhi reporting 583 rapes in 2013 - making it the city with the highest number of rapes. Mumbai the business capital, known for being more women-friendly, recorded 232 rapes, while IT hub Bangalore registered 90 rapes in 2012.

“The scenario of women safety in our country is very crude. People need to be sensitive, the mindset of the society is very shaky and the way it is projected by the media showcases how a woman is not safe in her house.

For example, just recently a 65 yearold woman won a case where she was thrown out of her own house by her daughter-in-law because the fatherin-law wanted her as a wife. Even though she won the case the police were insensitive to help the lady grant entry into her own house,” Mamta Sharma, Chairperson, National Commission for Women (NCW).As per National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), 44,270 crimes against women were reported to the police in 2012 compared with 228,650 in 2011. These crimes include rapes, kidnappings, sexual harassment, trafficking and molestation.

“It seems the way society thinks needs a check and we should be sensitive and humane towards such issues. Media should play a role in spreading awareness to people on such incidents in our country through street plays, electronic media,” Sharma added.

Crime spirals at urban space

Cities, which provide economic power, job opportunities and promise high income also seems to have escalating in violence. Crime and insecurity is increasing due to lack of basic amenities like food, shelter and survival. The crime rate in cities is much above than the national average and urban centers are becoming the

cauldrons of criminal activities.

As per the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) a total of 26,47,722 cognizable crimes under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were reported in the country and out of them, 5,56,024 were reported from 53 mega cities in 2013.

The crime rate has gone up by 17 percent in cities as only 4, 73,922 crimes were reported in 2012. In the same period, all India crime rate has gone up by 9.2 percent, which underlines that city are increasingly becoming unsafe.

Meanwhile, the strength of police force is much less than 12, 81,317 against the sanctioned strength of 16, 60,953.

Among all mega cities in India, Coimbatore is the most unsafe city.

The city has reported the highest crime rate of 834.3 in the country followed by Indore (809.9), Jaipur (780.6), Gwalior (715.6) and Nasik (702.8). The national average is 215.

Coimbatore has seen a rise of 73 per cent IPC crimes in one year alone.

A majority of vehicle thefts (41%), cheating cases (28%), counterfeiting (29%) were reported from the mega cities where only 13 percent population of India lives. It is also surprising that the national capital is being rated as most violent city in India reporting 10,733 incidents of violent crime that amounts to 54 percent of total IPC crimes reported in the union territory.

Chhattisgarh was a distant second reporting only 6,857.

Direct your queries to

prathiba@urbanupdate.in

COVER STORY

Road Safety: Bad to Worse One life is lost in every three minutes on Indian roads and every year 140,000 lives are lost, which in turn affects three percent of our GDP Abhishek Pandey, Principal Correspondent

R

eckless driving and the juxtaposition of pedestrians, fast-moving vehicles being a common sight, and stating that road safety is in peril would be an understatement.

Nearly seven lakh people have died in road crashes in last five years. 1, 37,423 persons died in 2013 alone. It amounts to around 376 deaths every day or say, 16 deaths every hour.

As per experts, road accidents destroy enormous human potential, with grave social and economic consequences. The death of Union Minister for Rural Development, Gopinath Munde was a highlighter to tell us how important lives are lost in crashes.

After the accident, the government took a couple of affirmative actions to focus on specific measures to curtail the rampant disregard of traffic regulations and mandating speed limits.

But nothing much has come out of it.

It is alarming that India observes 10 percent of total road fatalities in the world. More people are killed in road crashes than murdered by arms or killed in natural disasters in India.

Around four lakh people were killed in various accidents (natural and unnatural causes) in 2013 and 34 per cent of them were victims of road crashes.

Last year, World Health Organization (WHO) released ‘Global Status Report on Road Safety’ underlining the fact that many countries have successfully reduced the number of deaths on roads by improving road laws and taking corrective actions but in many other countries the toll is going up by each passing year.

Vision Zero is a traffic safety principal prepared in Sweden that suggests various safety improvements—from speed limits to vehicle designs with wide ranging awareness programs of

safe driving. The New York City in the USA has recently adopted this model.

Many of these cities are promoting cycling vigorously to reduce road fatalities but in India cycling on present infrastructure of roads could be fatal.

It is not safe even in Delhi.

Pedestrians and cyclists account for more than fifty percent of all traffic fatalities in India. In the times when the government is selling the dream of high speed roads and flyovers, the government must ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists too.

VN Singh, Assistant Secretary of Cycling Federation of India, explains: “cycling on city roads is not safe because of increasing number of motorized vehicles and no separate lanes for cyclists and pedestrians. Footpaths and cycle lanes must be part of road designs particularly in cities; it will certainly help in reducing road fatalities. Cyclists are marginalized on roads and pushed to the corner.

“Most of the roads in cities do not have pedestrian paths or cycle lanes and if there are any, they are encroached upon and used as parking zone or illegal vending zones.”

Drunken driving menace

“Drunken driving should be considered as a serious crime as the driver who decides to drive after drinking liquor knows that he could kills innocent people,” says Prince Singhal, the founder of Community Against Drunken Driving.

Singhal demands that Indian government should make stronger laws to curtail this menace.

“Drunken driving should be made non bailable offence and offender shall be imprisoned for seven years or for life depending on the severity of the accident caused.”

Most of the developed nations like the USA, France and UK have stringent laws against drinking and driving. Offender’s licence is cancelled and s/he is sent to jail for two years or more. While in India, if at all caught, tipplers get away with a fine of few hundred rupees.

The ‘road’ ahead

Many civil society organizations are demanding for good samaritan law in India to ensure if people take an initiative of helping accident victims then they will not be harassed by police.

The spine-chilling incident in Jaipur last year, in which a lady and her infant daughter were killed because no one helped them, is a point in case.

There are several such instances in which victims lost their lives for not getting medical help in time. In most of road accidents, bystanders don’t help fearing legal hassles and police interrogation.

Emergency medical response system should be strengthened to reduce the number of deaths. In most of the road crashes, police officials become first responders. Most of them are untrained to provide rapid trauma care to victims.

The government must join hands with organisations to initiate training not only for police officials but also for university and college students to expand community emergency care.

At last, every one of us must take a small step to help people in need.

Small is beautiful, but small can also change the world.

Direct your queries to

abhishek@urbanupdate.in

www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

21

COVER STORY

threats all over Data about calamities and attacks shows it’s time we built resillience, created environment for preparedness, readiness, and rehabilitation; and empowered the risk-prone cities across the country and in all aspects

Road death rate per 1 lakh population (WHO) 2009 16.8

2013 8.9

Crime Scene in India All India Incidents Crime Rate (per 100,000)

Mega Cities 26,47,722 215.5

Incidents Crime Rate (per 100,000)

5,56,024 345.9

*Mega City: Cities having a population of over ten lakh people. There are 53 such cities in India and 13 per cent Indian population live in these cities

Most Unsafe Cities of India Safest Cities of India City

Crime Rate (per 100,000)

Coimbatore 834.3 Jaipur 809.9 Indore 780.6 Gwalior 715.6 Nasik 702.8

City

Crime Rate (per 100,000)

Kannur 123.2 Mallapuram 125.5 Amritsar 139.5 Dhanbad 141.3 Kozhikode 194.9

Major Terror Incidents in India

22 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

March 12, 1993

Feb 14, 1998

Dec 13, 2001

A series of thirteen explosions in Mumbai resulted in 257 deaths & over 700 injuries

Coimbatore bombings: 46 deaths, 200 wounded due to 13 bomb attacks in 11 places

Attack on the Indian Parliament complex in Delhi, 18 were injured

COVER STORY

Crime against Women Rape 2008 2012

21,467 24,923

Dowry death

Assault on women

2008 2012

2008 2012

8,172 8,233

40,413 45,351

Kidnapping and abduction

Cruelty by husband and relatives

2008 2012

2008 2012

22,939 38,262

81,344 106,527

Road Safety Statistics Top five causes of deaths in 2013 Death by User Category Five states with maximum deaths 70,000

17 %

34.3 %

Road Accidents

32 %

Other

Riders motorized 2- or 3-wheelers

5%

Cyclists

43.4 %

8%

Others

7.8 %

Sudden Deaths

7.3 %

7.5 %

Railway 7.3 % Drowning accidents Poisoning

50,000 40,000

ses rs bu

enge pass ers/ Driv

16 %

9%

Pedestrians

60,000

13 %

Drivers/passengers heavy trucks

Occupants 4-wheeled cars & light vehicles

30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Maharashtra Tamilnadu Uttarpradesh Gujarat Andhrapradesh No. of Road accidents No. of deaths due to Road Accidents in 2013

Oct 29, 2005

Aug 25, 2007

Three powerful serial 42 killed and 50 injured blasts rocked south Delhi, in twin explosions in killing 59 and injuring 200 Hyderabad

Sept 13, 2008

Sept 7, 2011

Feb 21, 2013

Five bomb blasts in Delhi’s Bomb killed 17 people, Two blasts occurred in the shopping centres left 21 dead injured about 80 outside city of Hyderabad killing and more than 100 injured the High Court in New Delhi 18 and injuring 52

www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

23

COVER STORY

Building

Flexile Cities

While we talk about steps in making cities resilient to combat safety measures, it is necessary for town planners and the corporations to implement the policies for making metros livable, Jay Kshirsagar Chief Planner, Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO), shares his view with Urban Update What risks do you think the urban cities are facing?

The Indian cities/towns are vulnerable to both natural and human disasters. Cities and towns located in mountainous region are vulnerable to earthquakes whereas those located along the coastal region are vulnerable to cyclones. Above all, cities in India experiences organic growth which is unregulated and haphazard and make them susceptible to fire hazards.

Of late cities like Mumbai and Delhi have witnessed terrorist attacks and vital installations of cities are also prone to terrorists attacks which may result in human losses.

How do you think urban planners 24 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

should tackle vital issues like surveillance, terrorism, man-made and natural disasters?

Planners have important role in curbing any disaster whether natural or human made. With regard to earthquakes, the cities and towns have been requested to adhere to structural safety provisions. Most of the building regulations prevailing in India have been able to incorporate structural safety provisions. Now the buildings have to comply with the regulations and builders have to ensure that they are safe from structural safety point of view. With regard to safety against terrorism, efforts have been made to streamline the surveillance and monitoring in all the vital public

buildings have been provided with Close Circuit TV cameras and a dedicated industrial security force takes care of the safety against any terrorist attack.

What measures can the corporations and planners take to safeguard dilapidated buildings?

In large million plus population cities like Mumbai and Delhi, survey of dilapidated buildings is taken up from time to time and through notices, the occupants of the buildings are informed. It has been observed that often the occupants of the dilapidated buildings are reluctant to leave for obvious reasons as they are not in position to afford new houses.

COVER STORY However, the urban local bodies and urban development authorities are continuously sensitizing the people to retrofit the old buildings or altogether construct the new one.

What are the assessments derived from the earlier incidents, like the Laxmi Nagar building collapse.

Anyone held accountable?

With regard to collapse of Laxmi Nagar Building is concerned, it was found that the building had violated the building norms. The East Delhi Municipal Corporation has initiated action against the erring officials.

Usually the ULBs are held responsible for their lackadaisical approach for such incidents. Your comments.

Usually absence of effective monitoring and enforcement are by and large responsible for violations in the building regulations thereby leading to unauthorized constructions. Similarly listing of dilapidated buildings has to be done regularly which is suffered due to lack of manpower in the ULBs. Hence, the ULBs are not in a position to ensure strict monitoring as well as enforcement.

How many fatalities in the recent building collapse, any regulations to be formulated, where are the lapses?

The information with regard to fatalities is available with the urban local bodies. Regulations are already there. It may be stated that all the State Governments have been informed to incorporate the structural safety aspects as per the recommendations of Prof.

Arya Committee, 2004. Prof. Arya was National Seismic Advisor to Government of India. Most of the State Governments have amended their building bye laws, however the problems of ineffective monitoring and enforcement still persists especially in small and medium towns where there is no availability of structural engineers.

What safety measures are there while planning a building in the metros, are the real estate developers and contractors responsible for any slip?

In million plus population cities, most of the real estate reputed builders and developers adhere to building regulations and ensure safety like structural and fire safety. Since, the big cities and their peripheries have witnessed large construction of buildings, it may be possible that in some cases compliance to building regulations may be lacking. Therefore, sometimes the judiciary intervenes and direct the ULBs and Development Authorities to take necessary action in view of any violations. This has happened in both Mumbai and NOIDA recently.

What lessons can be learnt from the Uttarakhand flash floods last year? Are we prepared for such calamities?

Lessons learnt from Uttarakhand: ♦♦ Not allowing construction in the upstream areas of river ♦♦ Strict adherence to building regulations for the building construction in hilly towns ♦♦ Strict enforcement and provision of stiff penalties if the buildings are found violating the building bye laws ♦♦ Large scale afforestation to be done at upstream areas of river.

Was it a man-made disaster waiting to happen?

Yes, unauthorized constructions along the river course led to collapse of buildings.

Earthquakes, Tsunami, cyclones are certain calamities faced round the country now and then? Do we take it seriously or do we sit on it.

Reasons.

Yes, they are certain calamities.

National Disaster Management Agency has been making all efforts to issue necessary guidelines; however, it is up to the various State Governments to act proactively

upon those guidelines to take all the precautions in the event of any disaster. In this regard, the efforts of both central and state government agencies in the wake of Phaillin cyclone were commendable which helped in reducing the casualties to the minimum. Agencies like NDMA, NDRF need to coordinate effectively with the State Governments to reduce the aftermath of the disasters both man-made and natural.

Do you think policy makers ignore the natural disasters and are not prepared on executing optimum relief work?

No, Policy maker never ignore the natural disasters, however, the need for effective coordination is always felt and that is possible with continuous interaction with the central and state government agencies and proper sensitization of the personnel in the urban local bodies and urban development authorities.

What are the immediate measures needed to avoid and stay alert on such disasters? Is technology sound on it?

Immediate measures: ♦♦ Strict enforcement of building regulations. ♦♦ Sensitization of both pre and post disaster measures for ULBs and UDAs. ♦♦ Establishment of dedicated Disaster Management Centres in all the cities and towns. ♦♦ Preparation of Disaster Management Plans for all cities and towns. ♦♦ Making available necessary vehicles and tools for assisting in the operation in view of disaster

Do you think we operate and follow our nuclear and atomic energy on safe norms? What are the regulations followed? Elaborate.

Yes, the location of nuclear and atomic power plant is finalized only based on detailed assessment of the site and all measures are in place to protect the plants in view of any disaster. www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

25

COVER STORY

Floods, cyclone, earthquake, pesticide accidents - these are some voluntary and involuntary mishaps happened in the country’s history. To counter them an optimum management along with resilience is required

Withstanding catastrophe

W

hile we sit working in our cubicle, or are out purchasing the necessary grocery or might just be strolling the footpath, the unnatural strikes. This strike needn’t be necessary a planned one or it could be just a bomb ticking and waiting for the unfortunate to happen.

India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique geo-climatic conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been recurrent phenomena.

It is estimated that about 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various intensities; over 40 million hectares is prone to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclones and 68% of the area is susceptible to drought.

According to the International Disaster Database, more than 600 events took place in India in the period 1900-2012, causing over $53 billion worth of reported damage and claiming over 9.1 billion people.

At the global level, there has been considerable concern over natural disasters. Even as substantial scientific and material progress is made, the loss of lives and property due to disasters has not decreased.

26 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

Jessy Lype Desk Editor & Reporter

In fact, the human toll and economic losses have mounted.

The super cyclone in Orissa in October, 1999 and the Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat in January, 2001 underscored the need to adopt a multi dimensional endeavour involving diverse scientific, engineering, financial and social processes; the need to adopt multidisciplinary and multi sectoral approach and incorporation of risk reduction in the developmental plans and strategies.

Even though natural disasters cannot be controlled, some man-made disasters have left numerous and many generations with only despair.

“

MG Devasahayam Advisor to monitoring committee, CMDA

There is an urgent need of preventive measures. We have funds, we have systems, we need a will to execute them optimally

“

Unattended scars

When the nature strikes leaves behind the scars that remain etched in the memories of thousand survivors.

Disaster management occupies an important place in this country’s policy framework as it is the poor and the under-privileged who are worst affected on account of calamities/ disasters. Disasters retard socioeconomic development, further impoverish the impoverished and lead to diversion of scarce resources from development to rehabilitation and reconstruction.

High rise building offers a different level of challenge in terms of evacuating the people in case of fire, or earthquake. Generally staircases in buildings are well protected by way of design, enclosure and ventilation hence these become the safest route for evacuation. Norms needs to be updated and lifts are required to be built suitable in case of fire, feels Pankaj Kumar Jain, Director, K W Group.

Man-made catastrophe

More than the nature, the wound of man’s own mishandling creates the worst scenario of suffering and wrath of trials for the helpless.

For Rashida Bee, who works for

COVER STORY Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karamchari and has been fighting the Bhopal Gas tragedy case, it has been 20 years and the government is still in the lackadaisical frame in executing proper provisions like relief funds for the victims.

According to her, the government in its records has stated that only a meagre percent were declared dead while a majority had lost their lives.

In 2010, the government of India had given litigation reform stating that they had provided wrong statistics of the data of the deceased. The incident had sparked numerous protests and left a generation with irreparable set of wounds be it physical or mental, says Rashida Bee. The case is still pending in the Supreme Court for more than three years. What the people want is their right to a promising livelihood after so many years of struggling and grappling with the diseases, no employment opportunities, there are many children who are still born with some defects or are handicapped by birth. The water in the city is toxic and DOW (the company held responsible) should give the victims their due compensation, she added.

“Despite promises of rehabilitation made by the prime minister since 2006, the 20,000 people are still drinking poisoned water and 10,000 gas victims who were promised jobs are jobless,” Safreen Khan of NGO Children Against Dow-Carbide said.

The government had “in-principle” agreed in 2006 to the setting up of an Empowered Commission on Bhopal to look into the matters of rehabilitation of the gas leak victims.

Thousands of tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC) spewed out of the Union Carbide factory on the night of Dec 2-3, 1984, killing over 3,500 people instantly and maiming several thousands for life.

This lag will be seen in most disasters toll as the government is reactive not proactive, says Preeti Banzal, PhD scholar in Disaster management communication and former member of the NDMA. Banzal points out that even during the Bhuj earthquake what caused so much destruction was the callous management and building of kuccha (not concrete) houses.

We have suitable equipments to ensure raising an alarm, for instance after the Tsunami of 2004, we were

FIVE MAN-MADE DISASTERS ♦♦ Bhopal Gas Tragedy, India: Imagine waking up in the middle of the night in agonizing pain with your eyes and lungs burning. That was the experience countless residents of Bhopal, India had on December 2, 1984 when the Union Carbide India Limited pesticide plant sprang a gas leak. ♦♦ Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Gulf of Mexico: It started on April 20, 2010 when an explosion on BP’s Deepwater Horizon oilrig killed 11 workers, injured 17 others, and left the well gushing oil ♦♦ Chernobyl Meltdown, Ukraine: On April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded. Fallout from the radiation was estimated to be higher than both atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ♦♦ Fukushima Meltdown, Japan: A 9.0 earthquake on March 11, 2011 created a tsunami that resulted in the damage of three nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant — that had violated safety requirements. This led to the only other Level 7 nuclear meltdown besides Chernobyl ♦♦ Global Warming: Excessive amounts of greenhouse gases, particularly CO2, introduced into the atmosphere have increased average global temperatures forecasting a number of dire consequences. Impacts from rising sea levels, desertification, and damage from intense super storms like Hurricane Katrina have already created some of the first groups of climate-change refugees and some estimate that number to rise to 150 million by 2050

alert and had geo mapping to warn us about the Indonesian cyclone that was about to strike Andhra Pradesh recently, she added.

The recent Uttarakhand floods was the epitome of man-made disasters as the dire need to commercialise a hilly area to attract tourism at the religious centres or shrines led to impending deforestation and the rest was what was called as the most tragic of the catastrophe. Leaving thousand dead, displaced and stranded for days, this one man-made tragedy saw the nature’s fury through flash floods.

Calming the storm

Feels M G Devasahayam, advisor to monitoring committee of CMDA, there is an urgent need of the preventive measures. We have funds, we have systems, we need a will to execute them optimally.

Over the past couple of years, the Government of India have brought about a paradigm shift in the approach to disaster management.

The new approach proceeds from the conviction that development cannot be sustainable unless disaster mitigation is built into the development process.

The new policy also emanates from the belief that investments in mitigation are much more cost effective than expenditure on relief and rehabilitation.

What is crucial is a mapping system that garners timely intervention and preparedness by the state government and the administration among the disaster managing agencies, added Devasahayam. The steps being taken by the Government has been translated into a National Disaster Framework covering institutional mechanisms, disaster prevention strategy, early warning system, disaster mitigation, preparedness and response and human resource development.

The expected inputs, areas of intervention and agencies to be involved at the national, state and district levels have been identified and listed in the roadmap. www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

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COVER STORY

Dilapidated Buildings

Falling off the roof Increasing population has left less space for builders to build houses for all sections, creating the impending rise to illegal structures which is not regulated as per the norms, resulting in frequent structure collapsing

28 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

COVER STORY

A

dilapidation and a structure collapsing is a blot on any city and its planners. It is a well noted fact that the rapid urbanisation has not left much area for the people to reside. Recent incidents of buildings collapsing shows how the policy makers, corporation and the civic agency are leaving lives of people at the peril of tremendous danger.

Conserving structure vital

Building conservation involves various remedial works and building repairs, a thorough identification and recording of building defects that are integral in determining the appropriate conservation methods and techniques. Existing building materials - whether timber, brick, stone, plaster or concrete - should be fully examined and documented.

Studies on heritage buildings in Malaysia have highlighted several building defects that are commonly found are: fungus stain and harmful growth; erosion of mortar joints; peeling paint; defective plastered renderings; cracking and leaning walls; defective rainwater goods; decayed floorboards; insect or termite attacks; roof defects and many others.

According to a Mckinsey report while India set an ambitious target of investing USD 500 billion in infrastructure during the 12th Plan

period, the country has consistently fallen short of meeting such targets.

During the first two years of the 12th Plan, fewer infrastructure projects have been awarded than planned.

We estimate that the average rate of awarding projects has been around 70 per cent of the planned rate. Further, government data suggest that a majority of projects—close to 60 per cent—are plagued by time and cost over-runs, it said.

Rootcause of the fall

There are two root causes of buildings becoming dilapidated. The first being freezing of rent by the Rent Control Act at the 1940s level, that has led to sheer ignorance where the landlord cannot afford even minor repairs. To avert likely disasters, the state government has taken the role upon itself to ensure that frauds are avoided, in addition to repair the buildings. However, the quality of repairs carried out is so poor that the repaired buildings continue to deteriorate.

The second cause can be the greed of occupants for securing additional personal benefit out of extra incentive during the redevelopment. This leads to the neglect of maintenance and repairs and therefore, deterioration of buildings to such an extent that it becomes dangerous, leading to a building collapse.

In the past, Mumbai civic body’s

Falling Short: While India has set an ambitious target of investing USD 500 billion in infrastructure during the 12th Plan period, the country has consistently fallen short of meeting such targets Tragic Toll: On an average, seven people die in building collapses in the country every day. In 2012 alone, as per NCRB, a total of 2,682 people died and 850 people were injured in 2,764 accident cases across the country Ticking Explosion: The building departments of the corporations are supposed to identify “dangerous buildings” and issue evacuation notices and then conduct demolition. But these on-paper exercises rarely yield results and the outcome is a building collapse.

“

Manish Agarwal Managing Director Satya Group

Increasing demand of high rise building in real estate market has created a crowd of tall buildings all over.

Even the owners of traditional houses, who are not able to upgrade their houses to meet the demand of the time and the needs of an expanding family, are tying up with builders

“

efforts in getting unsafe buildings vacated and demolished have met with resistance. A tragic example is that of Shankar Lok Apartments in Vakola, which collapsed in March 2014. The civic body could vacate all but two families from this dangerous building.

The personal greed of obtaining larger permanent accommodation on ownership basis, prompted these two families to obtain an injunction from the court of law against vacating.

Ultimately, the building collapsed, affecting the chawls on adjoining plots as well.

In North Delhi, old, weak constructions in the walled city area and unauthorised constructions in places such as Inderlok, Burari, Wazirabad and Badli are prone to the risk of collapse.

Increasing demand of high rise building in real estate market has created a crowd of tall buildings all over. Even the owners of traditional houses, who are not able to upgrade their houses to meet the demand of the time and the needs of an expanding family, are tying up with builders. Thus, even in traditional housing colonies, we are witnessing four-five storeyed buildings replacing www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

29

COVER STORY the ground floor houses, says Manish Agarwal, Managing Director, Satya Group.

With the advent of these multistorey buildings, we often come across the news of many structure collapses too. In the month of June 2014, Chennai and Delhi witnessed the incidents of two building collapses, claiming more than 70 lives.

As per NCRB statistics, on an average, seven people die in building collapses in the country every day. In 2012 alone, a total of 2,682 people died and 850 people were injured in 2,764 accident cases across the country.

Similarly, thousands of people die, due to building collapses throughout the world, every year. And if one adds the list of fire accidents, the toll becomes much higher. In most of the cases, the buildings were not designed by qualified architects, says Agarwal.

The disasters could be natural events such as flood, cyclone, earthquake or man made events such as fires, chemical disaster, accidents or sabotage.

Therefore, there is need for designing a disaster management plan to ensure that the sources of hazards are controlled and minimised if not and also facilitate implementation of rescue and relief operation including rehabilitation efficiently.

Fire safety essential

In order to ensure fire safety in a building, its fire prevention mechanism is up-to-date. Normally the fire safety in a high-rise building is ensured by separating heat sources from potential fuels, points out Agarwal.

A building smoke system should be designed with innovative automated smoke door systems where in smoke door automatically opens up on receipt of signal from fire alarm system and activates the smoke extraction systems, informs Pankaj Kumar Jain, Director, K W Group.

World over, it has been reported that many people have died due to smoke rather than burns, in case of fire. Mechanical fire suppression 30 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

systems are equally important in high rise buildings since fire fighting generally takes place from inside the building. The building mechanical fire suppression systems needs to be designed with special consideration of seismic isolations and building sway or drift for high rise buildings.

This external system is connected to building hydrant and yard hydrant systems for seamless operations, Jain said. Fire detection system should be provided with full coverage of the building with digital automated voiced evacuation system as per latest NFPA guidelines where in public announcement messages are relayed automatically for the staged evacuation of the building depending on the fire scenarios.

World over landmark high-rises have given utmost importance to this issue. For instance, the 88-storeyed, 452-m-high Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, features an in-built building control system (BCS).

This not only controls electricity and air-conditioning, but also serves as an emergency system during crises.

If a fire breaks out on a particular floor, the BCS curtails the flames to that area by providing a pressure differential mechanism between that floor and the others. Architects should also be aware of the need for a supplementary water supply for pipe systems from fire department pumpers. A fire department connection is normally provided to the pipe in the fire tender access routes and external street hydrants, adds Agarwal.

Often missed in high-rise design is the need for firefighters to move hoses through stairway doors.

This may permit smoke to enter the stairway – which may be while occupants are still evacuating. Also, the National Building Code 2005 which calls for the “inclusion of a complete philosophy and direction for successfully accomplishing the building projects through integrated multi-disciplinary approach right from the conceptual stage to planning, designing, construction, operation and maintenance stages.”

Mumbai –cit The Island City of Mumbai has salty, humid environment and heavy rainfall as well. The city is surrounded by sea & has limited land. About 150 years ago, when industrialisation and urbanisation started in this city, buildings of 4 to 5 storey were built privately in accordance with the then available technology and with conventional methods. These were built of load bearing walls, wooden joists, posts, Manglore tiles roof, ladi coba flooring etc. After 1940, some buildings were constructed of RCC. Middle class families and workers started staying in these buildings on rental basis.

In the year 1948, the Government enacted the Rent Control Act, 1942. As a result the rents were frozen to the level of 1940.

The owners of the old and dilapidated buildings having lost both the means and the incentive gave

COVER STORY

Preventive measures

ty that never gives up up to take care of their rented buildings and to maintain it. The tenants also felt that it was the only responsibility of the owners, both owners and tenants remained reluctant to maintain and carry out essential repairs to their building.

Due to the heavy rainfall and day to day aging of the conventional type material used for construction, the buildings went into dilapidated condition and finally started to collapse, thereby causing loss of life and property. To find out solution on this situation, the Govt of Maharashtra appointed ‘Bedekar Committee’ which suggested to establish a separate Board to carry out essential structural repairs and if required, reconstruction of these buildings on the Island City.

According to the recommendation of the Bedekar Committee, the Govt. enacted the Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Act

1969. Thus the Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board came into existence in 1971.

Previously, it was expected that the problem of Repairs and Reconstruction would be solved within 10 years. However, it was experienced that it would not be possible, as such the activity was entrusted to the Mumbai Housing and Area Development Board that came into existence in December 1977 under MHADA. Due to various work areas, the Mumbai Housing and Area Development Board was further trifurcated in November 1992, and a new Board, viz. Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction Board came into existence which is carrying out all the activities of the Repair and Reconstruction program of old and dilapidated buildings as per Chapter VIII and VIII-A of MHAD Act 1976.

Just recently ten people including five children and three women were killed while two others were injured when a 50-year-old dilapidated four-storeyed building collapsed in a congested area in North Delhi. It cannot be put into numbers the rise of such man-made waiting to strike catastrophes in cities but a corrective measure with check and balance could save the face of upcoming modern cities.

Some preventive measures that can be taken says Deepak Yadav, District Project Officer, District Disaster Management Authority, Office of the Deputy Commissioner (South): “There are many measures which corporations and planners can take to safeguard such buildings such as retrofitting, repairing etc. If no such measure is possible, demolition must be carried out.”

Every developer has to get sanction from the municipal corporation department before starting with any construction. If they do not follow the sanction plan and if the material used is not of standard quality, action by the concerned department is taken against them, he added.

Speaking of the Laxmi Nagar building collapse in Delhi, Pankaj Srivastava, COO of Maitreya Realtors & Construction Pvt Ltd says, the present assessments do not fix the responsibility of failure on an individual or the agency, but just are more of a cover up operation.

“The lapses are in the implementation of the regulations, as the people responsible are difficult to identify with the blame game on one another and difficulty in prosecuting the main culprits.” The guidelines laid down National Safety Council needs to be followed.

Many organizations are also adopting OSHAS (OHSAS 18001 is a British Standard for occupational health and safety management systems). Hence, periodic inspections are essential and should be given priority. Compensation is given on the basis of guide lines listed by the statutory authority, he added. www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

31

CENTRE STAGE

Urban Haat

Cultural edge India is home to thousands of diverse art, culture, craft, musings – an attraction it garners worldwide. But are we providing enough platform to the talented and creative artisans and weavers? Can ensuring adopting Urban Haat in every state be the panacea to these architects of culture, and preserve the long-age tradition

32 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

CENTRE STAGE

W

hen we talk about Indian culture, its traditions and roots, we also refer to how the country is fully diversified and retains its uniqueness through programmes and exhibitions that showcase the art. Seeing the potential in exhibiting this richness of crafts, the government itself has sought many initiatives in bringing the sector’s prospects to the forefront.

Craft or handicraft sector is the largest decentralised and unorganised sector of the Indian economy. The sector generates employment to some 23 million people. The handicrafts and handlooms include metal ware, pottery, mats, woodwork, block printing, paintings, paper mache, yarn weavers. Their work is considered as a vehicle of self expression and conscious aesthetic approach.

Contributing to the economy

The sector invisibly contributes the country’s economy. Stating the contributory role of weavers and artisans as crucial for the economical dynamics of the country, President

“

Pranab Mukherjee President of India

The products in this sector remain vulnerable to competition from cheaper imports and machine made substitutes. More attention is needed in development capacity, skills, designs and infrastructure through facilitation of easier access to credit from banks and other financial institutions

“

Pranab Mukherjee while addressing the National Awards, Shilp Guru Awards and Sant Kabir Awards to weavers and artisans for the year 2011 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi recently said that the textiles sector should not be ignored but nurtured to retain the cultural heritage of the country.

Mohan Ninave, handling publicity of CIDCO (Urban Haat) says that the Urban Haat which started in Navi Mumbai exhibits the buyers potential and ensures economical benefit to the country and the artisan.

Opportunities unrecognised?

The sector has contributed substantially to the empowerment of women, the youth and the disabled, it has provided low investment income opportunities for families in the rural sector while supplementing incomes during agriculture off-seasons.

But Mukherjee opines the products in this sector remain vulnerable to competition from cheaper imports and machine made substitutes. These challenges need to be addressed and must be given more attention to development capacity, skills, designs and infrastructure.

“The measures include, for example, facilitation to get easier access of credit from banks and other financial institutions. Promotion of the products of these sectors in domestic and foreign markets is necessary.”

The handlooms sector in India, with 24 lakh handloom units, provides employment to about 44 lakh and the handicrafts sector provides employment to about 70 lakh persons.

The textile sector provides largest employment opportunities next to agriculture. Between 2010 and the present, despite the overall slowdown in the economy it is estimated that the there was a growth of 34 percent in exports from the handlooms sector and 126 percent in the exports from the handicrafts.

Anubha Sood, manager-market access initiatives All India Artisans and Craft workers Association (AIACA) feels that the market for the craftsmen is on a shaky ground,

because it is as the multi nationals, which are destroying the livelihood of thousands.

In her paper on the Craft as a sustainable livelihood in India, Sood focuses on how the artsians are not equipped with vital technology to enhance their community age old tradition and how their importance is ignored.

Sood says that an artisans earns only a meagre Rs 2,000 a month an average of five member family.

That is where a suitable platform is required so that our cultural heritage is not demoted and left in the peril of exploitation.

Uplifting the craftsmen

Minister of State (Independent charge) for Textiles, Santosh Gangwar had conveyed the nation’s gratitude for preserving, promoting and enriching the traditional cultural heritage and informed about the various schemes being run by the ministry in the 12th Five Year Plan for handloom and handicrafts.

“The main thrust of these schemes is to provide momentum through training and capacity building by integrating technology with craft and weaving techniques, which will lead to value addition in the craft as well as handloom products,” he said.

The minister had also informed of approval of two mega clusters at Guntur and Prakasam in Andhra Pradesh and Godda in Jharkhand.

These clusters are in addition to previously sanctioned four mega clusters.

The ministry is also setting up a Raw Material Bank to facilitate easy and regular availability of certified raw materials to the artisans.

Talking about the popular ‘Setu Yozna’, Textiles secretary, Zohra Chatterjee said that associating designers with handloom and handicraft cluster was reaping positive results.

The Ministry had sanctioned Artisan Cluster Development Project under “Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana- AHVY” in www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

33

CENTRE STAGE district Gautam Budh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh for sustainable development of Punja Durry Craft through artisan’s participation. The programme aims at promoting handicrafts by developing artisans’ clusters into professionally managed and self-reliant community enterprises on the principles of effective member participation and mutual cooperation.

A total of 242 women artisans were covered in Surajpur cluster in district Gautam Budh Nagar and formalised into 16 SHGs. The women formed a cooperative namely Mahila Bunkari Sahakari Samiti Limited which is managed and administered by them.

The cooperative is running a production unit at Surajpur and makes beautiful durries. The durries are very popular and sold through Fabindia showrooms across India and by Setu in overseas market.

Training of women artisans on improved looms include under the supervision of master trainers, design and technical development for new products, knowledge of dyeing of yarns on improved machines and azo free dyes, improved common facility service centre equipped with warping, winding, dyeing, weaving, finishing and packaging infrastructure and complete market access and marketing support. The artisans were covered under Janshri Beema Yojana and Artisan Health Insurance Scheme and Artisan Credit Card Scheme, among others.

The government has ensured various policy interventions to increase the Indian share in the global trade and to increase annual production of textile goods through inclusion of schemes like Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme, Scheme for Integrated

Textiles Park, Integrated Skill Development Scheme and Integrated Processing Development Scheme.

The industry is providing one of the most basic needs of people that holds importance; maintaining sustained growth for improving quality of life. It has a unique position as a self-reliant industry, from the production of raw materials to the delivery of finished products, with substantial valueaddition at each stage of processing; it is a major contribution to the country’s economy.

Pleothra of culture through Haats

The Urban Haat is a new concept, an ever-permanent fair for crafts, food and cultural activities. The craftsmen from various areas and the cultural happenings provide a panoramic view of richness and diversity of handicrafts and artefacts.

The project is a part of Government of India’s policy to set up a permanent marketing infrastructure at prime locations in the country to eliminate middle agencies. The Development Commissioner (Handlooms) and Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) are the coordinators and Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) is the nodal agency for implementation of the project.

Built in low profile design, it aims to be a place to choose and eat from a variety of food stuff available from across the country. A place for craftsmen, artists, performers to exhibit their skills and for visitors, it is a place to relax and enjoy.

Government of India, under Ministry of Textiles has a policy for setting up of Urban Haats in the country. Such projects, which are fulfilling the criteria laid down by the

Forex earnings The Indian textile industry is one of the largest in the world and earns around 27 percent of the foreign exchange from exports of textiles and its related products. As per a data released recently by the WTO Secretariat for the calendar years 2009, 2010 and 2011, the share of Indian textiles and clothing exports in world’s export was 3.98 percent, 3.98 percent and 4.11 percent, respectively.

34 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

government are financed partially, says Ninave, Publicity manager for CIDCO, Mumbai.

Started in 2005, such haats should be incorporated in almost all states so that economic revenue as well as aestheticism is showcased globally, he added.

The capital too has such haats situated around, which gives the denizens a chance to peekaboo into what these artisans from around the country has to offer.

The popularity of artisans and handloom weaver cannot be compared, it is almost the same, but yes the apparels, jewellery are the most sought after in Dilli Haats, says Saramma Iype, Handicrafts promotional Officer, Ministry of Textiles.

The registered weavers, artisans are allotted space at Dilli Haat out of the 120 stalls provided in the arena. They gain recognition for their work and art during the peak season, mostly in December, added Iype.

The concept of a urban haat is to upgrade craftsmen. The stalls selling handicrafts are allotted on a rotational basis to craftsmen who come from all corners of the vast & varied land of India at nominal payment for a period of 15 days. This ensures that visitors get to buy authentic wares at prices that have not been inflated by high maintenance costs.

Analysing and understanding the concept of Urban Haat which are functioning in New Delhi and Kolkatta, it is felt that Navi Mumbai is the right place for establishing an Urban Haat. Out of the various townships constituting Navi Mumbai, Belapur is located at the centre. Spread over an area of around 600 hec, it is a part of Central Business District of Navi Mumbai. The township proves to be the best location of Urban Haat for numerous reasons.

The surrounding commercial area spreads over 136 hectares, with estimated number of jobs of more than 50,000. It has close proximity to Sion-Panvel Expressway and Belapur hover port station.

CUTTING EDGE

Pedalling Sustainability

Cities across the world are rediscovering the uniqueness of the twowheeler, the bicycles. While deducting commuting time, environmental concerns, the bikes can be seen as a new age way of retaining the essence of old era – a solution to choked roads Jessy Iype, Desk Editor & Reporter

Cycle sales

28 % Bought cycles post Raahgiri

Non-Motorised Transport usage

87 % Started walking / cycle trips

W

hile we see the cities bombarded with the never ending plying of the public and private vehicles, we also include the low-cost most, reliable and efficient mode of transport, known as a bicycle. Going back to our old era, it is said that cycles and rickshaws, which are now seen as symbols of poverty was indeed a sign of development when the West adopted it.

The need to make cities liveable has become more than immediate desire, and many are back on better wheels. While we talk about walking and cycling along with effective public transport is the only solution to urban traffic chaos and other issues related to it.

The benefit from promoting cycling lies in reducing energy consumption and pollution levels. It is estimated that every car that is off the road saves 5.1 metric tonnes of CO2 a year and a five percent increase in cycle trips across the world would cumulatively save 100 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Being environmental friendly, it’s the best

suited alternative.

Regulatory role

The policies have literally pushed cycles off the road, forcing the poor who use them the most to spend more and more on transportation.

While prioritising the concept of cycling at every scale – in political and legal decisions, allocation of funding, and transport planning and policy, within the fabric of the city, on the roads and in the design of the built environment is required for sustainability.

Public transport within the city is almost non-existent and erratic where it exists. “I do cycle to work couple of times a week. It is a distance of about 10 kilometres, and the trip takes less time on a cycle than on a car because of the terrible traffic. But the roads are highly unsafe – cars drive at the maximum possible speed and there are no dedicated cycle tracks,” said Manas Fuloria.

“A strict enforcement of speed limits and dedicated walking and cycle tracks in our cities would enable many more of us to leave our cars at home.

That would be a huge contribution to www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

35

CUTTING EDGE

RAAHGIRI DAY: A Unique Example Sarika Panda Bhatt, Urban Planner, EMBARQ India

M

ore than 10,000 people came out of their houses on 17th November 2013 to reclaim their streets as country’s first ever car-free day, Raahgiri Day had arrived! Without vehicles dominating the streetscape, pedestrians, cyclists, and runners converged on the streets; children took the opportunity to play soccer, cricket, and badminton; skating enthusiasts honed their skills; and fitness enthusiasts enjoyed Zumba classes.

Ever since then, the movement, which happens every Sunday on dedicated stretches of roads which are blocked temporarily for motorized traffic and opened for people.

According to the Integrated

36 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

Mobility Plan of Gurgaon, the mode share of walking, pedal cycle and cycle rickshaw equals to 33 percent; yet the city does not even have a single kilometre of cycle track and only 30 percent of the footpaths are usable as almost all infrastructure designed only for private vehicles, data shows that on an average there is 1 pedestrian/cyclist death in Gurgaon every day.

Local inhabitants, who could no longer sit back and watch the state of infrastructure planning in the city, joined hands to create a new future for their city. With the backing of the local administration - The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) and Gurgaon Police there was a commitment to create an example of

a clean, green and sustainable city.

The conceptualization and planning of Raahgiri Day in Gurgaon goes back over a year.

Close to 500 people die in Gurgaon every year on account of poor road safety, majority of whom are pedestrians and cyclists. There has been a remarkable impact on road safety at the Raahgiri stretch since the event has begun.

However, since the event began in November 2013, the statistics speak a lot about the potential that this initiative has to make our roads safer. This has also to do with the phenomenal support from Gurgaon Police, who conduct activities at Raahgiri Day every Sunday to generate awareness around road safety.

CUTTING EDGE the economy (as India imports most of its oil) and to the health and wellbeing of our citizens,” he added.

Economics, health on wheels

According to a study, there is at least 30 percent reduction in mortality among adults who commute to work by bicycle. World Bank report suggests that bicycles are nonpolluting, low-technology vehicles that provide energy-efficient and flexible transportation at low prices.

At prices often below $100, bicycles cost a fraction of motorized vehicles.

For example, Indian one-speed bicycles can sell for under $40.

In a country like India, where there is a road space crunch and numerous infrastructure projects still pending, the unique concept and cycling can reap health and improve the economic state of affairs in cities.

Eco-friendly

Despite a high user base, Indian cities have no plans for cycles. It is estimated that Delhiites make 2.8 million trips a day by cycling, which is almost equal to the number of trips made by car. The city hardly has any safe cycle-lanes.

Chennai, which has about 1.4 million cycles, is no better. Given the fact that the average trip length in Indian cities is within 5 km, bicycles are the best suited for such commutes. It is disheartening to see urban planners overlook this advantage.

“Its ironic that a poor country like India neglects cycling, walking and

“

Dr Manas Fuloria MD (Europe) Nagarro Software Pvt Ltd

Its ironic that a poor country like India neglects cycling, walking and public transport while a rich country like Sweden emphasises them? ... people prefer to walk or cycle or take the bus not for reasons of cost, and not even for reasons of health, but simply because these are more convenient; public transport is erratic

“

public transport while a rich country like Sweden emphasises them? Here in Stockholm, rich people prefer to walk, cycle, take the bus (often running along dedicated corridors) or the tram, “Tunnel-bahn” not for reasons of cost, and not even for reasons of health, but simply because these are more convenient.”

Cycling tracks, new idea

In order to boost cycling, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) with the help of Delhi Integrated Multi-modal Transit System (DIMTS) recently had identified stretches that

Cycling globally Many Asian cities are promoting non-motorised transport actively: ♦♦ Changwon in South Korea offers financial incentives to bolster cycle use ♦♦ Hangzhou in China has a vast network integrated with the bus system and ♦♦ Yogyakarta in Indonesia has introduced an accident insurance scheme

has exclusive cycle tracks. According to NDMC, the tracks will help them ride without disrupting traffic on arterial roads.

“Where continuous tracks can’t be provided, we want DIMTS to find a way of crossing over to the other side. We have requested it to be the consultant for the project,” said OP Mishra, director (projects).

The NDMC area has few stretches where cyclists can ride freely.

As per Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an environment think tank, Delhi tops in daily cycling trips and is second only to Mumbai in walking trips. Even in car-dominated roads like the Outer Ring Road, the share of cycles is quite close to that of autos with seven to nine percent.

Pedal pushers in Indian cities

♦♦ Public bicycle Mysore is a historic city with numerous palaces and ancient monuments. Being an important city for the state, the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), Government of Karnataka has developed public bicycling scheme (PBS) for the city and has already done a pre-feasibility study on the same. In the prefeasibility report a total of 26 stations were identified for a pilot project. ♦♦ Bicycle rental market With non-motorised transport becoming increasingly important in the sustainable integrated transport mix, the Atal Indore City Transport Service Ltd. (AICTSL) is keen to set up a formalised public bicycling scheme in the city, building on the existing availability and usage, and incorporating a model which would include sophisticated bicycles, docking stations and revenue from advertising to offset operational costs.

This will showcase an increase in the cycling mode share, which is currently at 14 percent.

Direct your queries to

jessy@urbanupdate.in

www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

37

ONE ON ONE

Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari

38 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

ONE ON ONE

What are the basic challenges you face in the ministry of road transport & highways?

The biggest challenge faced, by my ministry is the legacy of the previous regime which we have inherited. The UPA regime ruined the road and highways sector in the last ten years by indiscriminately awarding the contracts without following the rules laid down for the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

We have to make a fresh beginning where the NDA left ten years ago.

Under the stewardship of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, tremendous progress was made in the roads and highways sector. Please give us some time before we can take the road sector out of the mess created by the previous government.

How many road projects are stuck due to the land acquisition issues and what are the benefits of the Land Acquisition Bill, what is its current status?

When the Narendra Modi government took over after a resounding victory in the Lok Sabha elections, we found that as many as 189 ambitious road projects worth Rs 1,80,000 crore were stuck in different parts of the country.

Many of these stalled projects were awarded without acquiring even 10 percent of the required land. Several others were stuck due to problems in land acquisition, delays in forest and environment clearances, non-transfer of defence land and hurdles in rail over bridges.

Work could not start on the project

where financial closure took place two years back. Due to these reasons the road sector is facing hardships.

I have already held marathon interactive sessions with all the stakeholders to clear the bottlenecks and I am confident that we will be able to remove most of the hurdles before August end. We hope that many of these stalled projects will be resumed as a result of our efforts.

I can assure you that steps are underway to improve the country’s road sector.

As far as delays due to the Land Acquisition Act are concerned, projects worth several thousand crores are stuck acquisition.

We have discussed the Act enacted by the previous government with the states and their suggestions have already been forwarded to the Prime Minister. Many disputes are pending in the Supreme Court and High Courts.

UPA had a target of constructing 20 kms roads per day. But they were not able to achieve 7 kms. You stated to build 25 kms per day, how feasible is it? Please explain.

As a result of the mess created by the UPA government, road sector alone accounts for Rs 2,40,000 crore Non Performing Assets (NPAs) by banks. I have already held meetings with bank officials in this regard. After clearing the backlog, Road Ministry will aspire to build 30 km of roads a day. This will be visible only after two years.

Hurdles for projects worth Rs 40,000 crore have been removed recently.

We have cleared projects worth Rs 21,000 crore in Jammu & Kashmir, including Ladakh, and Rs 15,000 crore in the North East. Work on LehLadakh tunnel would start soon and the project is estimated to cost Rs 9,000 crore.

Financing of road projects may not be a problem as the government is considering allowing foreign investors to buy stakes in a proposed corporation to be formed by the Road Transport Ministry. We are in the process of holding talks with some such investors and may be willing to offer 26 percent stake in the proposed corporation in lieu of funds to the tune of Rs one lakh crore.

Will you encourage FDI and PPP in the road sector? Elaborate.

The (PPP) model, I am afraid, is not feasible at present for award of road projects due to a host of issues created by the previous government.

The schemes may now be bid out on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode at least for some time.

Unlike PPP model where the private sector has to fund the road building, in the EPC model, the government funds a highway, with private firms designing and building the road.

Eleven projects under PPP by previous regime which are stuck for two years will be rolled under EPC. A committee for such projects has been constituted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under his chairmanship to fast track the road projects.

In a first of a two part one-on-one series with Urban Update, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari speaks about the challenges facing the Sector and plans to revive it

Aspire to build 30 km of roads per day www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

39

ONE ON ONE

Road accident rates are alarming in

‘

Our focus would be on equitable development without discriminating against states.

I am confident that after two years, roads and port sector will help India’s GDP to grow at least by two percent

‘

My effort is to find out an amicable solution. We don’t want to destroy contractors and hope that all problems will be solved.

The DPR (Detailed Project Report) will be ready soon for projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore after which steps would be taken for forest and environment clearance and land acquisition.

Road Ministry has set a target of awarding 7,000 km worth of road projects during the financial year (2014-15), under the BOT (Build, Own, Operate) and EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) models.

The ministry which had set a target of awarding 9,000 km of projects in 2013-14 could award less than 2,000 km projects by the end of the period.

Our focus would be on equitable development without discriminating against states.

I am confident that after two years, roads and port sector will help India’s GDP to grow at least by 2 percent.

the country. What are the measures ministry is taking in this regard?

I fully appreciate your concern over the alarming rate of road accidents in the country. I also admit that road transport departments in the country are not as sensitive as they should

be in addressing the issue of road accidents.

I can assure you that we are serious about this unfortunate situation and are committed to improving the situation.

We are taking up road repairs besides working with other agencies, including the police department, to identify accidental spots on highways with a view to reducing the number of accidents in the country.

Please elaborate on Deen Dayal scheme for the e-rickshaw?

The scheme to facilitate a bank loan at 3 precent to buy e-rickshaw by unemployed youth from the economically backward sections and lower middle class has been named after our ideologue and mentor Pt Deen Dayal Upadhaya.

The battery-operated e-rickshaw up to 650 W won’t be covered under the Motor Vehicle Act Those operating it won’t need a driving license. There are nearly one lakh e-rickshaws in DelhiNCR region.

To be continued...

40 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

VOX-POP

M

ountains of waste are segregated each day within all urban areas across the country. What is alarming is with every passing day, the piles keep in-

creasing and lands to maintain them keep decreasing.

While taking an initiative on waste, the Ministry of Urban Development has come up with a manual that is still under drafting process, but the pros-

pect of it shows that an initialization to this never-ending issue has been taken under the scanner. Various experts in the sector have voiced their views to Urban Update on the topics in the manual.

Heaps waste glare

of

at

Urban Managers Team Urban Update

Procuring waste management alternatives to combat issues like shrinking landfill spaces, segregation at source, making cities sustainable is the need of the hour. Going forward the only option left for city managers is to implement environmentally sound waste treatment system www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

41

VOX-POP Talking at the recent national workshop on drafting the manual, Urban Development secretary, Shankar Aggarwal said that a revamp in the solid waste management can be achieved only through people’s participation and change in their mindset.

“Our towns are turning out to be a dumping yard and the biggest issue is people’s mindset. Every household should not just think about collection and disposal of garbage, but they should focus on to reduction in generation of garbage and segregation.” Unless we become collectively discipline and follow certain rules and regulations to make our towns better.

“The urban area of the country contributes immensely to the GDP, but if we want to be global competitive, if we want large number of infrastructure projects we must make the towns much more efficient,” he had said.

“If we need to make a real shift in solid waste management, it can be possible through technology. Technology is a great enabler,” Aggarwal said.

Eye-popping stats

According to a statistics, the total municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in urban India stands at 68.8 million tons per year, an increase of over 50 percent compared to 2001. The country is set to generate 920 million tons per year, at the rate of 440,000 tons per day by 2041.

As per Kasturi Rangan, task force waste to energy urban India currently generates 1, 70,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste a day. Only 19 per cent of this waste is treated and rest (81 per cent) goes to dump sites causing serious problems to health and environment.

“Cities are not able to manage the urban solid waste. There is an issue right from collection, segregation to disposal. For example, Delhi alone generates about 7,000 tonnes of waste per day, but only a portion of it is collected, out of which very less waste is disposed in a scientific manner,” Avikal Somvanshi, senior researcher, Centre for Science and Environment 42 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

told Urban Update. The taskforce also indicated that India will need 66,000 hectare of land to dispose of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) by 2030.

Civic lag

As per the experts the civic agencies showcase a very lackadaisical approach when it comes to segregation of waste.

Talking about the new draft of the Municipal Solid Waste 2013 Somvanshi said, “The new draft is better than the earlier one. But only new rules and regulations can be useful only when it is properly implemented it is in the hands of the urban local bodies to implement it,” he added.

Rajesh Jain, Managing Director, WAPP told Urban Update that if we get technologies like plasma gasification, it will help discard waste instead of incineration.

On landfill depletion, he said, “India has less land space for waste, but the population influx seems neverending.”

Tab Regulation

Talking about the malba, the construction and demolition waste, Somvanshi said, “India has no policy and not even an estimate on how much malba we are generating in the country.”

“When CSE (environment think tank) did a research we found that it is ten times bigger than the municipal solid waste. Just because it does not smell like kitchen, animal waste they are ignored,” he added.

Sneha Palnitkar, Director, Regional Centre for Urban Environment Studies, AIILSG, said, “The solid waste management is a biggest issue faced by any urban local body. Many cities like Navi Mumbai, Pune are doing a fair job in the waste management. But managing waste is not just municipal bodies’ job, it is also the responsibility of each urban dweller that they have to segregate the waste, dispose it in a proper manner.”

She also added that the new draft policy in solid waste management is comprehensive and it is user-friendly.

Dr Amiya Kumar Sahu, President,

Shankar Aggarwal, UD secretary, MoUD

“Every household should not just think about collection and disposal of garbage, but they should focus on to reduction in generation of garbage and segregation”

Avikal Somvanshi Senior Researcher, CSE

“There is an issue right from collection, segregation to disposal.

For example Delhi alone generates about 7000 tonnes of waste per day…very less waste is disposed in a scientific manner”

Shyamala Mani, Professor, NIUA

“Even in the decentralised model, they haven’t clearly indicated whether the corporation by the PPP has to collect dry or wet waste – rag pickers should be used – their role in the last mile segregation, i.e. from the house to dustbin, is not clear”

VOX-POP

Dr Amiya Kumar Sahu, President, NSWAI

‘We need to adopt and indigenous model on waste management’

Sneha Palnitkar, Director, RCUES, AIILSG

‘It’s also the responsibility of each urban dweller to segregate, dispose’

NSWAI feels that garbage management needs a proper mechanism and topics like incineration should be seen as recovery processes.

“We need to adopt indigenous model on waste management and take inspiration from western regulations as well, that is when it will be solely justified,” he told Urban Update.

Irfan Hanjerwala, founder, Hanjer Biotech said that incineration is followed in metros globally but there is no prescribed emission standards followed by India uptil now.

Lakshmi Raghupathy, former director, Ministry of Environment & Forests said, “The waste management scenario is in a very pathetic condition and with the growing throwaway lifestyles it may pose a major threat to life.”

“Considering the fact that MSW Rules were notified in 2000, there lack of enforcement mechanism and no punitive action has been taken for noncompliance,” she said.

“Most people are ignorant and do not know that there is a rule that we have to follow. Even if it is known there is a tendency to evade the law or find loopholes in the law. We are not disciplined citizens and we lack civic sense,” Raghupathy added.

Single Window Clearance necessary Irfan Hanjerwala, Founder, Hanjer Biotech

‘There is no prescribed emission standards followed by India till now’

Lakshmi Raghupathy, Former Director, MoEF

‘Most people do not know that there is a rule and we have to follow’

Jain feels that the concept off single window clearance is the best. And the role of PPP is essential as the cost and gestation period will increase.

Shyamala Mani, professor, NIUA, told Urban Update that the government is supposed to provide land, IEA and then hand it over to concessioners.

“In few cases the concessioner has to declare the land himself. The government doesn’t allow to give the tender, this needs check.”

Sahu informed that the MSW 2014 has not being decided by the committee properly.

“There is a need to consult ULBs as they are the ones responsible to implement the rules,” he said.

Hanjerwala also added that getting a land is an exhaustive procedure and would take a long duration for acquisition.

Segregation at Source

Stressing on the need to aware people on the segregation at source Raghupathy says, “It is easier said than done.

Lots of attempts were made in different areas but these did not having lasting effects. We need to educate people and facilitate the activity.”

“There is a need ensure that the segregated wastes do not get mixed at any point. We need to motivate people to do it willingly as a community action or there should be stringent action taken,” she said.

On proper practices being implemented for segregation waste at source, Mani said, “There is a section in the draft where they are giving a lot of impetus to decentralized doorto-door waste, small scale bio-gas, but recycling has been left out.”

While Sahu feels that no local model has been made available to this issue, and segregation at source needs to be practiced through awareness to the politicians, policy makers, private players, ULBs, among others.

Suitable technological advancements

While segregating and making waste effective as fuel or a monetary benefit suitable technological advancement is required.Sahu told Urban Update, “For recovery processing, the planning commission should consider Bio-methanisation, RDF (Reduced derived fuel) and plasma gasification as suitable technology for waste segregation. After all waste has a price value and can reap in money,” he added.

Mani on the other hand feels that the rag pickers are not given due importance in the manual.

“Even in the decentralised model, they haven’t clearly indicated whether the corporation by the PPP has to collect dry or wet waste – rag pickers should be used – their role in the last mile segregation, i.e. from the house to dustbin, is not clear,” she said. www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

43

PRODUCTS

Piping Equipment The requirement for flexible, easy-to-install fittings for carbon steel drainage piping has led to the widespread replacement of screw-type joints with mechanical joints for drainage - named MD. To meet these demands, Hitachi Metals has developed lightweight mechanical joints made of nodular graphite cast iron (Ductile) instead of the conventional joints made of gray cast iron.

Features

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Fugro Roadware A software by Fugro Roadware is Vision 2.2 software, which offers faster process times for pavement management data, compared to previous versions. The software allows users to view collected data for the entire road network at once on a built-in map.

Features

♦♦ Vision 2.2 features distributed processing support ♦♦ 64-bit version of the batch processor reduce data process times ♦♦ The software’s WiseCrax2D identifies potholes, ravelling, curbs, drop-offs and faulting ♦♦ Colorfully display them, along with their severity levels, on 3D pavement images

Compact Tractors Cab enclosure manufacturer Curtis Industries LLC has released its cab system for the Massey Ferguson GC1700 Series sub-compact tractors; the company offers two cab system options.One option features and all-steel cab frame, doors and roof that are made of powder-coated commercial grade steel, as well as a tilt-out windshield and dual sliding glass windows.

Another option features vinyl doors, a welded structural-steel frame, full perimeter weather stripping and clear vinyl rear panel.

Features

♦♦ Steel and glass rear panel ♦♦ Full visibility for optimum viewing ♦♦ Steel roof with acoustical headliner ♦♦ 12 volt heavy duty electric wiper, moulded automotive style safety glass ♦♦ Pin-hinged doors for easy removal 44 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

EVENTS

Events Calender I-Bhagat August 1, FIICI, New Delhi Interactive session on development issues of UP August 5, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi National Conference on Hydropower in India August 5-6, New Delhi Tuberculosis awareness, prevention & wellness programme August 6, Hotel Hyatt Regency, New Delhi Conference on Disaster, Prevention, Relief & Rehabilitation August 6, Hotel Holiday & Inn, Jaipur CII & DRFHE August 6, Nellore, India Summit ICT for development August 7, Hotel Four Seasons, Mumbai Technical Conference Air Pollution Control and Monitoring August 7-8, Tansen Marg, New Delhi 4th Regional Conference on Infrastructure Management August 20, ITC Maurya Hotel, New Delhi World Renewable Energy Technology Congress And Expo August 21-23, Convention Centre-NDCC, New Delhi ICT Innovations for NexGen Governance August 26, Hotel Hyatt Regency, New Delhi

‘Breastfeeding mothers mislead by food giants’ Showcasing that the support to women for breastfeeding and policies are in a dismal state in the country, a conference called ‘Say No to big food companies in public nutrition policy & programmes’ held on July 28 here ensured a platform that brought together organisations to fight the cause of ignorance on the issue.

According to a report on infant feeding practices, in India out of 26 million infants in the country every year only six million start breast feeding within an hour from their birth. It is well known that India is also facing increasing prevalence of obesity and non- communicable disease which are caused mainly by unhealthy dietary patterns influenced by the intense marketing by big food corporations. According to WHO and leading science journals like Lancet, risks of sugary drinks and junk foods

The pointers that required what is required by the Govt of India: ♦♦ Bring in a strong legislation to prevent direct and indirect conflicts of interest in public policy making ♦♦ Withdraw and avoid future partnerships where there is direct and indirect danger of conflict of interest ♦♦ Regulate marketing of processed and unhealthy foods by food corporations ♦♦ Removes any conditionality under NFSA to impose 50% of the required dietary allowance (RDA) for micronutrients, to come from the meals served at the Anganwadi centres

on health are high on obesity, diabetes and even deaths.

There is a global acceptance of the need to prevent conflicts of interest in order to protect public nutrition policy from vested interests.

‘Waste has a price’ While speaking on the valuable role of waste and its monetary utility, that is left undiscovered, Dieter Mutz, Director, GIZ team, stated that waste management has a price and that too an acceptable one.

He was briefing at the national workshop on Finalisation of the Draft Manual on Municipal Solid Waste Management, he said that the country needs to be realistic on the issue and take note of the less space on landfill sites and that the manual should be clear intention of implementing suitable regulation on this impending cause of waste management in the country. Revamp in the solid waste management can be achieved only through people’s participation and change in their mindset, said Urban Development secretary, Shankar

Aggarwal. Speaking at the workshop he said, “Our towns are turning out to be a dumping yard and the biggest issue is people’s mindset.

Every household should not just think about collection and disposal of garbage, but they should focus on to reduction in generation of garbage and segregation.”

The workshop was an eye-opener and beneficial for the 250 partcipants from 24 states and 20 organisations including private players.

According to a statistics, the total municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in urban India stands at 68.8 million tons per year, an increase of over 50 percent compared to 2001.

The country is set to generate 920 million tons per year, at the rate of 440,000 tons per day by 2041. www.urbanupdate.in | August 2014

45

URBAN AGENDA

Smart City needs citizen centric solutions Apresh Chandra Mishra Managing Editor apresh@urbanupdate.in

With the new age technological innovations, it is imperative for the city planners and corporations to execute smart-citizencentric solutions to ensure optimum governance 46 August 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

I

t was Smart City World Expo, where an expert opined ‘No city in the world can claim to be a smart city till date’, inviting great amount of deliberations as to what a smart city really means.

From sensors to big data, urban centres throughout the world have seen innovations at various levels.

While some cities failed in some areas, some set examples are yet to follow. What is hence missed is a holistic and integrated system, as the cities are becoming more technology centric than solution centric.

The Smart City concepts have driven technology companies, which have promoted it at forums. Led by strong business models for these companies, the idea was sold at city, state and central levels, making it politically attractive. At present, the Smart City proposition has become a political agenda in most countries in the world.

A smart city deals with departments and communities, to become more transparent and accountable, to manage resources more effectively,

and to give citizens access to information about decisions that affect their lives. Making it a citizencentric city.

The first stage of a smart city is to have an integrated infrastructure, which cities across the world need to create.

The real challenge is the second phase, to infuse those systems into daily life, to open up data for citizens in such a way that they can utilise it, and to build a system that engages with citizens in the decision-making process and service delivery.

The involvement of citizens in processes is one of the major aspects in cities becoming smarter. In a world, where people are passive with respect to participation, citizens need to be provided with innovative, convenient and appealing methods to facilitate their involvement.

In lieu of this, it should be made imperative for city leaders and policy makers to comprehend in implementing smart solutions with or without technology with immediate effect in urban cities.

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