Urban Update July 2014

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All India Institute of Local Self Government

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UrbanUpdate Setting The Agenda For Tomorrow’s Cities

Utility in necessity Each drop counts…

Preserving the resource Tapping the stakes Not a drop to drink,wash !

JULY 2014

thirsty cities

Accessibility of safe and affordable water is the biggest challenge for a ‘water stressed’ India

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INSIDE

Inside Cover Story 16 Water scarcity stares Urban India

Accessibility of quality drinking water is becoming the biggest challenge 22 Urbanisation spurts water crisis in metros

Piped water supply, flush toilets - examples of consumptive nature in cities 24 Utility in necessity

Private players can contribute diligently in getting urban homes water utility 26 Each drop counts…

Learning from ancient times on exquisite water management 28 Preserving the Precious Resource

Limited water availability calls for sustainable water management 30 Tapping the stakes

Procuring equal water distribution through PPP 34 Not a drop to drink,wash !

Impending water woes - a crisis for the urban agglomerates VELO-CITY 36 Keeping pace with unprecedented growth

Indore’s growing consistency takes a backseat centre stage 38 Identical cities or new ones?

Feasible cities are a solution to ease population influx 42 BRT, a smart panacea or a façade?

For city expansion and crumbling spaces smart traffic solution necessary Urban Agenda 46 Smart City means smarter communities

Inclusion of citizens, utilisation of resources is the future to smart communities RegularS 6 Newscan 4

July 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 JESSY IYPE DESK EDITOR & REPORTER MEENAKSHI RAJPUT GRAPHIC DESIGNER 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 IN 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, MAHARASHTRA DESPITE CAREFUL SELECTION OF SOURCES, NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE TAKEN FOR ACCURACY. THE MAGAZINE ASSUMES NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY KIND IN

Finding long-term cure

A

s the country continues to be urbanised, limited water supply has wide-ranging implications for the country’s future. India’s water crisis is caused by insufficient water per person, poor water quality resulting from insufficient investment in urban watertreatment facilities, and dwindling groundwater supplies due to over-extraction by farmers.

Sustainable and long-term measures are required at all levels —federal, state, and local—it will be a great step towards addressing the most critical issues causing the country’s water crisis.

In establishing their water supply plans, cities have usually assumed that the future demand for water will continue to increase. Typically, city water works departments have made excessive estimates of the demand for water and have built water works infrastructure based on the assumption of continued development of water resources and strategies to enlarge the area of water supply.

The cost of development is usually recovered through water rates, and when there is plenty of water in the resource area, conservation of the resource is not promoted. This tends to create a conflict when drought occurs, due to the lack of policies and programmes to encourage water conservation.

The lack of promotion of water conservation and rainwater harvesting is due to the need to recover infrastructure development costs through sales of piped water. The exaggerated projection of water demand leads to the over all development of water resources, which in turn encourages denser population and more consumption of water.

Rainwater utilisation, together with water conservation and wastewater reclamation, should be incorporated into municipal regulations. Various implementation policies should be established to make water management measures a part of the social system. Leadership is very important and local governments must take the initiative to promote the concept of water resource independence and restoration of the natural hydrological cycle. Consideration should be given to subsidising facilities for rainwater utilisation.

Encouraging technology and human resources development to support water management is very important. It is also vital to promote the development of efficient and affordable devices to conserve water, facilities to use rainwater and devices to enhance the underground seepage of rainwater. Together with this, there is a need to train specialists with a thorough grasp of technologies and devices. To promote sustainable urban water management, a network should be established involving government administrators, citizens, architects, plumbers and representatives of equipment manufacturers. It is essential to encourage regional exchanges amongst public servants, citizens and industry representatives involved in rainwater storage, seepage and use, as well as the conservation and reclamation of water.

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

Ranjit Chavan dgaiilsg@gmail.com

www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

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Eco-friendly way to treat waste water

BANGALORE: A city-based scientist has found an eco-friendly way to treat used water without mixing any chemicals so that it can be safely reused. A finding, which helps in effective waste-water recovery and management. Dr Rajah Vijay Kumar, a scientist at Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST) has used the Fine Particle Thrombousthai Reactor (FPTR), a technology, which has the potential to economically treat waste water or effluents dumped by industries and reuse it. “We have built a pilot FPTR reactor to process 25,000 liters of contaminated coffee-wash water in Kodagu district to reuse processed water, complying with relevant standards.

The recovered water costs merely 3.6 paise per litre,” says Kumar.

Railways two-week cleanliness drive NEW DELHI: Littered with plastic bottles, rags, papers, tetra packs , used teacups and betel-leaf stains and dumping waste on rail track, the Railways is striving hard to save its face and upkeep the stations clean via a two week major cleanliness drive at all important stations and in passenger carrying trains across the country, a statement said. “The two-week cleanliness drive includes platforms, toilets at platforms, waiting and retiring rooms and other areas where there is passenger interaction. Circulating areas will also be cleaned and unclaimed vehicles will be towed away. Pre-paid taxi areas will also be cleaned,” the statement said.

Action plan to make Delhi world-class city: UD ministry NEW DELHI: Hoping to make national capital a beautiful and world class city, Urban Development ministry has a made an action plan with short, medium and long term programmes, Sudhir Krishna, Urban Development, secretary said .

He informed that all the stakeholders have been asked to prepare action plan. He also added that vacant spaces, roads and other public utility places would be better managed on a daily basis as priority would be given to cleanliness and maintenance. The ministry has assured to take steps to rejuvenate and beautify various water bodies located in Delhi and decentralise the solid waste disposal system and incentivising segregation of waste at the household level. In addition to this, the ministry is also emphasizing on the need to construct more public toilets across the city including use of recycle waste in a big way.

Key to sanitation: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan visits Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital to review the sanitation drive in the hospitals of New Delhi

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Govt tweaks solar project subsidies

NEW DELHI: With many solar projects in the initial planning stage, the issue of pending subsidies is indeed a blot on the government’s report card. To work it out, power minister Piyush Goyal has notified officials to address the problem of accumulated bills of about Rs 3,200 crore and ensure that the claims don’t pile up. According to sources, given the government’s crude financial situation, the minister has asked the ministry of new and renewable energy to see the possibility of clearing the pending subsidy. According to Solar Thermal Federation of India, the government owes Rs 350 crore alone to solar water heater manufacturers, who make up a Rs 800-crore industry.

Surat earns full surveillance tag SURAT: With the phase of rapid urbanisation growing its branches across the country, it is indeed vital for the governments to adopt security measures for reducing the scope of any untimely crisis. Working on these lines, Gujarat’s diamond city, Surat, has earned the tag of being the first in the country to have a modern, real-time CCTV surveillance network. According to officials, in the first phase, 104 CCTV cameras were installed at 23 locations together with a 280 square feet video wall, one of the largest in the country, at the city’s police control room.

Kolkata best city to live KOLKATA: The fourth-largest city in India, Kolkata better known as city of joy, has added another feather to its cap. In a recent survey, the city has turned out to be the best one to live in, in terms of its quality of life.

It was followed by Thiruvananthapuram, Bhopal and Patna. The survey was conducted by Bangalore-based Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, NGO. The survey evaluates the performance of 21 cities, including 18 state capitals, on parameters namely urban planning and design, urban capacities and resources, empowered and legitimate political representation and transparency, accountability and participation.

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‘Teamwork ensures quality urban life’ Besides provisions like Housing for All and GIS technology to bridge the rural and urban divide, what is essential is the team effort towards achieving an optimum urban development in the metropolis, feels the UD minister NEW DELHI: States and union territories should work together as a team with central government, to ensure quality urban life, to bring about a paradigm shift in policy making and urban governance, said Urban Development minister, M.Venkaiah Naidu.

The minister was addressing the Conclave of Ministers of Urban Development and Housing of Central and State government and Union Territories in the capital.

He also lay emphasis on how public should pay proper taxes and municipal bodies and state governments should provide time bound delivery of services.

“We have to prepare people to pay taxes. Municipality is looking out to state government for fund and help, state governments are looking out for central government. Central government is looking to World Bank and ADB and other aids. All these aids have to be repaid. No one will give us charity,” Naidu said.

He also added that people are keen about delivery of quality and assured services for which they are willing to pay , which needs to be factored in urban planning.

“We have to make our Urban Local Bodies (ULB) viable, sustainable by participation of the people. If we increase the tax and do not use that money for purpose there is a reaction.

We should guarantee the public services, time bound delivery. You assure service people will pay tax. We need to make our people understand the need to pay taxes by assuring them proper services,” he said.

The minister also informed that there should be a radical shift in

Fact file ♦♦ 33 % of our citizens are already residing in urban areas, out of which 18 % of urban population lives in slum, some major cities it is close to 31 % ♦♦ Only 44.5% urban households have closed drainage. approaches to urban planning, development and management to effectively meet the growing challenges of urbanisation, which is being driven by liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation.

Throwing light on illegal constructions, encroachments the minister said ‘preventive’ approach is necessary through strict enforcement of transparency and accountability on the part of all concerned.

“The recent incident of building collapses in Chennai and Delhi are a sad commentary on our urban planning.”

Technology like GIS can be used to bridge the gap between rural-urban divide, said the minister.

“Affordable housing is the need of the hour, which cannot be over looked now,” he added.

With 95 percent of housing shortage EWS and LIG segment, the ‘poor’ sections of the society are the primary focus of the central government for providing universal housing.

The ministry also said they are looking out for various options, particularly a new idea of having a Escrow account by which revenues generated by enhanced housing activity can be invested back in the same sector. “Tax on cement, steel, service charges and other charges, are being collected in the current system. If you go for enhanced housing, the charges that you collect can be put in an Escrow account, which will accrue to the State. For this idea, I need to take the Finance Minister into confidence,” Naidu said.

The Urban Development minister also suggested a 25-point charter for urban planning and management, among which some are highlighted below: ♦♦ It includes making towns and cities slum-free, ♦♦ GIS-based regional urban planning, ♦♦ Satellite-based mapping for cities, ♦♦ Importance to solid waste management, ♦♦ Recycling of water, enhancing rainwater harvesting, ♦♦ Capacity building of municipalities ♦♦ Tap land-based financing sources along transport corridors ♦♦ Exploiting the economic potential of cities with respect to tourism, health, education, business etc, and ♦♦ Promoting cycling through dedicated cycling tracks ♦♦ Transit oriented development policy, parking policy and advertisement policy, for planned development of cities. www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

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India to project 5.5 percent growth rate: World Bank WASHINGTON: World’s third largest economy, India, is paving way to achieve a 5.5 percent growth rate with reforms undertaken particularly in energy and infrastructure, resulting in productivity, strengthened business environment – factors that could raise the region’s underlying growth potential, the World Bank has informed.

The forecasts assumes that with the new Indian government showing signs of economic reforms and transparency in governance, the country could achieve a growth of 5.5 percent in fiscal 2014-15, accelerating to 6.3 percent in 2015-16 and 6.6

Growing years The country could achieve a growth of 5.5 percent in fiscal 2014-15, accelerating to 6.3 percent in 2015-16 and 6.6 percent in 2016-17 percent in 2016-17, while urging developing countries to double down on domestic reforms.

“I think there is, overall a sense that recognition of the need for domestic solutions to policies is increasingly evident in India, as well,” said World Bank economist Andrew Burns.

Subdued manufacturing activity and a sharp slowing of investment growth in India led to GDP growth in South Asia as a whole, slowing to an 8

July 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

estimated 4.7 percent in market price terms in calendar year 2013, the Bank said in a new report recently.

According to Burns: “The situation in India has obviously gone through a difficult period for the last couple of years, with growth below 5 per cent after several years after it was eight and even higher.”

A firm global growth and a modest pick-up in industrial activity should help lift South Asia’s growth to 5.3 per cent in 2014, rising it to 5.9 per cent in 2015 and 6.3 per cent in 2016.

The World Bank, however, cautioned that forecasts assume that reforms are undertaken to ease supply-side constraints (particularly in energy and infrastructure) and to improve labour productivity, fiscal consolidation continues, and a credible monetary policy stance is maintained. “The financial health of economies has improved. With the exception of China and Russia, stock markets have done well in emerging economies, notably, India and Indonesia,” said Kaushik Basu, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at the World Bank. “But we are not totally out of the woods yet,” he said.

“A gradual tightening of fiscal policy and structural reforms are desirable to restore fiscal space depleted by the 2008 financial crisis.”

The Bank has lowered its forecasts for developing countries to 4.8 percent this year, down from its January estimate of 5.3 percent.

Signs point to strengthening in 2015 and 2016 to 5.4 and 5.5 percent, respectively. The high-income economies will contribute about half of global growth in 2015 and 2016, compared with less than 40 percent in 2013, providing an important impetus for developing countries, the Bank added.

President urges remedial action from new govt NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee’s address on joint session of the parliament concisely reflected the problems and challenges inherited by the NDA government, also suggested the remedial actions to be taken to place the country’s economy back on track, Housing and Urban Development minister M Venkaiah Naidu said in a statement.

The minister also informed that Mukherjee’s address highlighted the need for new mindsets and new approaches to promote ‘Brand India’.

“The essence of the address revolves around the goal of Narendra Modi government of building a strong, self-reliant and self-confident India regaining its rightful place in the comity of nations through appropriate actions,” Naidu said in a statement.

Some of the issues highlighted are development through good governance, minimum government and maximum governance, poverty elimination in place of poverty alleviation, urban India replacing rural-urban divide, transparent and fair policy environment, promotion of labour intensive manufacturing sector among others.

The minister also added that the President has clearly highlighted growing urbanisation as an opportunity rather than a challenge.

The government will build 100 smart cities equipped with world class amenities and integrated infrastructure, he further informed.

“Our commitment to ensure pucca houses to all urban people with water connection and toilets, 24×7 electricity supply and access by the time we complete 75 years of Independence is one of the special highlights,” he added.

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Delhi’s CP, Khan market to get free Wi-Fi

NEW DELHI: Now, you can grab the lucrative incentive of free browsing through a Wi-Fi facility at the popular Connaught Place, Khan Market and Karol Bagh. The NDMC has decided to create Wi-Fi zones in these markets, with free browsing for the first 15-20 minutes. The first public hotspot will start at Khan Market by the month-end.

A survey shall be conducted to identify the suitable spots where the server boxes could be installed, after which the project will be further enhanced in CP and Karol Bagh.

“Vodafone and Airtel have come together in Khan Market to provide the facility. A 4G network would be available to anyone entering the market. After the first 15-20 minutes, the service will be chargeable,” explained Sanjiv Mehra, president of Khan Market Traders Association.

Heat wave spikes Delhi’s ozone level NEW DELHI: As denizens of Delhi are sweltering in the searing heat wave, the extreme weather has increased ozone levels, a recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has indicated. As per analysis of the real-time air quality data from key monitoring stations of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) from January to early June, indicates a rapid build-up of ozone and more frequent violation of standards this summer. Just a few hours of exposure to it can trigger serious health problems, especially among those who are already suffering from respiratory and asthmatic problems.

Public awareness needed to clean Yamuna : Gadkari NEW DELHI: A systematic public awareness involving citizen and students is needed tfor rejuvenation of the Yamuna river and to make its stretch in Delhi navigable, transport minister,

Nitin Gadkari said. A sense of involvement and community participation for the development of river front should be inculcated. The minister asked representatives of the Delhi government, recently, to explore the possibility of constructing navigational barrages in Delhi stretch of Yamuna to augment the flow of the river as suggested by Central Water Commission (CWC) in one of their earlier reports.

NTPC, Dabhol to ease Delhi power woes

NEW DELHI: Reeling under the incessant power shortages in the city, the news to get additional gas supplies from NTPC and Dabhol to help meet the huge demand in the national capital has brought a reason to cheer for Delhiites. The power ministry has assured fuel supply from NTPC to generate power to the tune of 400 MW. They have decided to divert natural gas from the Dabhol power plant in Maharashtra to stations in the capital to help produce an additional 218 MW of electricity.

The ministry has also promised timely restoration of the Bawana-Rohini power transmission line, which was damaged by the storm in the capital and adjoining states on May 30. Delhi’s current requirement of power is 5,800 MW against which 5,300 MW is available.

Over two lakh use Mumbai Metro on first day MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metro which commenced its service for passenger movement recently, registered a footfall of 2.4 lakh , the Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) statement said. “About, 2.4 lakh people travelled on first day. This would redefine the way Mumbaikars travel,” Lalit Jalan, CEO, Reliance infrastructure, said. The Mumbai Metro one corridor is 11.40 km long and it provides connectivity between Versova (Western Mumbai) and Ghatkopar (Eastern Mumbai). The metro also reduces travel time from 90 minutes to 21 minutes.

Delhi Metro Phase III to ‘go green’

FIFA stamps: Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Union Minister for Communications & Information Technology and Law & Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad and the Minister of State for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs and Sports (Independent Charge), Sarbananda Sonowal, release commemorative postage stamps on the 2014 FIFA World Cup

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to conserve environment, the Delhi Metro’s upcoming Phase III stations will be designed and constructed on modern ‘green building design’ principle, that will ensure less carbon emission, water saving and waste management arrangements. The 90 Metro stations will be constructed with reduced heat island effect, roof of the stations will have high reflective materials and landscaped with vegetation. The green building will have plant species, where plants consuming less water will be used. www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

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Naidu assures Andhra special status NEW DELHI: Union Urban Development Minister and senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu recently said the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh would be accorded special category status even as the Telangana Assembly adopted a resolution seeking identical status. “There is no confusion about this (special category status),” said Naidu, speaking at a felicitation organised by the BJP. He said the new government at the Centre would give special status to Andhra Pradesh, which now needs a new capital and is facing many developmental challenges.

Mumbai monorail’s delayed faulty plan MUMBAI: The second phase of monorail from Wadala Depot to Jacob Circle is likely to get delayed because of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) poor planning.

The agency did not take into account the proposed additional railway tracks at Currey Road station while planning a via duct over it. The original deadline which was May 2015 will be further pushed over.”

The MMRDA design for the guideway (over Currey Road station) allowed for only the four existing tracks on Central Railway. But CR plans to lay fifth and sixth lines between CST and Kurla. This was not taken into account,” said Chetan Bakshi, commissioner of railway safety (CRS) for central circle.

World Bank’s water project launched ALLAHABAD: A World Bank-funded project to make potable water available in the villages of ten districts in eastern UP, including Allahabad, was launched at Cha-

naini village in Karchana tehsil recently. The ‘Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Project’ also aims to incorporate maintaining hygiene and cleanliness in the villages by building toilets and launching waste management schemes.

Uttar Pradesh had been chosen as it falls under the low income states (LIS) along with Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand, where the project was being launched with the help of the World Bank.

The project is expected to improve access of piped drinking water supplied into individual homes, said World Bank representative, Alina.

India, Polio free: WHO Representative to India, Dr. Nata Menabde hands over India’s poliofree certification to the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, in New Delhi

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Mumbai Metro II deal to be scrapped?

MUMBAI: Reliance Infrastructure and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) are likely to terminate the concession agreement for the 32-km-long Metro II from Charkop to Mankhurd via Bandra.

According to an official source, a meeting was held on May 6 where it was “decided to terminate the concession agreement because no progress was achieved owing to things beyond the control of the state government and R-Infra”. R-Infra-promoted Mumbai Metro Transport Private Ltd signed the concession agreement for Metro II in 2010. The project later hit roadblocks due to absence of right of way and lack of environmental clearances for a car depot on mangrove land in Mankhurd.

DTC likely to hike fares NEW DELHI: The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) will likey hike fares due to incurring losses, breakdowns, shortage of drivers and conductors every day. The proposal is long-standing and has been cleared before, but was shelved whenever it came to the cabinet. The last fare revision took place in 2009. As per DTC it is incurring a loss of Rs 1,000 crore annually.

A fare hike has been in the works for more than two years now. The matter will come before the LG for approval this month.” As per the proposal, the minimum fare may go up from Rs 5 to Rs 10 in non-AC bus and from Rs 10 to Rs 15 in AC buses.

Delhi Metro inaugurates maiden solar power plant NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro becomes the first ever Metro system in the country to inaugurate ‘Roof Top Solar Power Plant’ at the Dwarka sector 21 Metro station, an official said. The plant, with a capacity of 500 kWp is expected to start power generation by the end of July. According to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the power produced from this plant will be used to cater to the power requirements of DMRC at this station.

DMRC is also exploring the possibility of installing more such such solar plants with the station structures of Phase III.

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Srinagar gets SWM SRINAGAR: In a bid to make historic Srinagar a model city, Government of India sanctioned Rs 91.97 crore for collection, transportation and scientific disposal of solid waste. This was announced by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Nawang Rigzin Jora, while launching the second phase of mechanised sanitation fleet of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and house-to-house garbage collection recently. Under the JnNURM-II, a DPR for solid waste management was submitted to the Urban development ministry for collection and transportation of solid waste from various areas in Srinagar and disposal at Achan land fill site through integrated methods.

“The project has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 91.97 crores,” Jora said. Out of Rs 91.97 crore, 20.44 crore will be spent on collection and transportation of solid waste.

Tides bring waste to shore MUMBAI: As the recent high tides — around 7 metres — hit city shores, the BMC removed 64 tonnes of floating refuse that entered seafronts. According to BMC, areas in G-north ward, which covers Dadar and Mahim, were found to be the filthiest, with removal of 34 tonnes of waste. Filth defaced Marine Drive, Worli sea face and also Shivaji Park. Immediately on receiving complaints about it, the solid waste management department had swung into action. Out of the total waste, 47.5 tonnes was removed.

More landfill sites for Delhi NEW DELHI: The DDA will provide eight landfill sites to the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi, said a senior official.

At a meeting with Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung recently, the commissioners of the North, East and South Corporations, and DDA vice-chairperson Balwinder Kumar decided that the transfer of land would take place soon. In addition, a 60acre plot has also been identified to be used as a joint landfill by all the corporations.

Delhi currently has four landfills in Bhalaswa, Okhla, Ghazipur and NarelaBawana which collectively receive 9,000 tonnes of waste every day.

Garment fair: Minister of State for Textiles (Independent Charge), Parliamentary Affairs, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Santosh Kumar Gangwar inaugurating the “59TH National Garment Fair of CMAI”, in Mumbai

E-rickshaws not to be banned, says Gadkari

IBM to provide smart city tech for Palava project

NEW DELHI: The battery-operated e-rickshaws with motor power of 650mw will not be barred from operating in the national capital and they will be considered as nonmotorised vehicles, said Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari. He also added that e-rickshaws which has motor till 650W will now be regarded as non-motorised vehicles and traffic police cannot challan them. As per earlier rules, e-rickshaw the three-wheeler vehicles with motor power less than 250W and speed less than 25kmph were regarded as nonmotorised vehicles, but the amendment by recent notification to the Motor Vehicles Act withdrew this exemption. The Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had rendered e-rickshaws illegal. As a boost to the operators of e-rickshaws, Gakari informed to buy e-rickshaws, a loan with three per cent interest rate will be provided under Deen Dayal erickshaw scheme.

MUMBAI: Technology and consulting firm IBM, in partnership with realty player Lodha Group will develop and manage advanced smart city infrastructure in the real estate group’s township project, Palava, in Thane district. The Palava project, is spread across 4,000 acres will incorporate IBM’s smarter city technology. The technology will incorporate advanced data driven systems to integrate information from all operations in Palava into a single system to deliver enhanced quality of life for residents. Located at the centre of the economic triangle of Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Kalyan, Palava project is expected to be completed by 2025 and house one lakh families. IBM will integrate services in areas such as energy, water, transportation, public safety and smart cards with a central command and control center. In first phase is said to be completed by 2015-end.

India’s land degradation neutral by 2030

NEW DELHI : In order to make the country land degradation neutral by 2030, various ministries like agriculture, water resources, environment should work together and come out with a road map, said Prakash Javadekar, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forests and Climate Change. He emphasized that all the stakeholders should work out a road map that addressed the concerns.

Minister spoke at “World Day to Combat Desertification”, which is celebrated every year on 17th June. www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

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Delhi’s power demand touches 5528 MW

NEW DELHI: The power demand in the capital touched 5,528 MW recently the seasons highest and it is expected to reach 6,000 MW this year, which surpassed 5,653 MW recorded last year. The BSES discoms claimed they were providing “stable and quality power supply” in their areas of operation. The discoms also informed that rotational load shedding is being carried out within the given constraints and the daily outage bulletin uploaded on the BSES website. The heavy thunderstorm of May 30 had caused large-scale disruption of power in large parts of Delhi.

‘Set aside 25% for waste treatment’ MUMBAI: To ensure that civic bodies in the state adhere to the 2015 deadline set by the Bombay High Court to set up functional solid waste treatment and processing facilities, the

Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has written to all municipal corporations and councils, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), to set aside 25 per cent of their budget for the purpose. The HC, in its April 4 order, had made it mandatory for municipal corporations to set up sewage treatment plants and facility to treat and process solid waste.

Mandi house line started: First Metro section of Phase 3, a 3.23 kilometre long Metro section from Central Secretariat to Mandi House flagged off

by Urban Development minister, M.Venkaiah Naidu

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MEGHALAYA : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) which has imposed blanket ban on coal mining in Meghalaya has asked the state government to finalise a coal mining plan in coordination with the Government of India. This is the green tribunal’s first major attempt to regulate the unregulated coal mining in coal rich Meghalaya. On April 17 last, NGT banned coal mining following a complaint by the All Dimasa Students’ Union (Adsu) and the Dima Hasao district committee. Coal miners pleaded for a review.

UP pollution board shuts Coca-Cola’s Varanasi unit

Largest housing scheme to be launched by DDA NEW DELHI: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is scheduled to be roll out the largest-ever housing scheme

by July-end. Nearly 26,000 flats will be available across various categories.

Most of the dwelling units will be built in accordance with the Delhi Master Plan-2021 using “green technology”. The first set of 15,000 flats will be ready by July, another major chunk will be ready by Decemberend. Finally, about 1,000 houses is said to be completed by March next year. The scheme offers 24,000 low-cost flats, and the remaining 2000-2,500 flats will be available across LIG, MIG and HIG categories.

The much-awaited scheme comes four years after the DDA offered over 16,000 flats in its 2010 scheme. Previously, the DDA used to announce housing schemes every two years.

Meghalaya should have coal mining plan: NGT

UTTAR PRADESH: A bottling unit of Coca-Cola at Mehdiganj was shut down

by Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) , a s the plant was found to be violating a number of conditions of its license, or “No Objection Certificate” (NOC). The company hadn’t obtained clearance for the extraction of groundwater from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), indicated a government agency that monitors and regulates the process in water-stressed areas. The beverage maker, which is in the midst of investing $5 billion by 2020, has filed an appeal against the order at the National Green Tribunal, seeking the reopening of the unit. UPPCB’s closure order noted that unit had increased production capacity to 36,000 without the Board’s permission.

Solar street lights to make Pune slum bright at night PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will soon install solar streetlights in slum settlements and they are also planning to extend the same in, an official said. The civic agency officials cited that laying down power cables in congested slums being are tough task and the electric cables are posing as hutments are close to electric poles they have decided to install solar street light. These solar lights will also reduce the maintenance and repair apart from helping the civic body save electricity.

In the initial phase of PMC would install 160 street lights each of Rs 62,499.

NEWSCAN

‘Housing for All-ground work done’ NEW DELHI: Housing and welfare schemes Rajiv Awas Yojna (RAY), National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) needs to be further strengthened, a top HUPA official has said.

Speaking to Urban Update in an interview on the low-cost housing scenario, Anita Agnihotri, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) said, “We have to strengthen the two missions RAY and NULM instead of looking for new strategies. We are working on this.” “We definitely feel that it is a large opportunity that the major focus is given to the urban poor and their livelihood,” she said.

Talking about the strategies adopted for providing ‘pucca’ housing for all by 2022, which is the focus of the newly formed government, the housing secretary informed that “lot of ground work is done”.

“Housing for all by 2022, gives us the opportunity to move towards the situation in terms of equity. We have to look at housing in urban area as an

“Housing for all by 2022, gives us the opportunity to move towards the situation in terms of equity. We have to look at housing in urban area as an opportunity, (the vision) looks very big but a lot of ground work is being done” opportunity, (the vision) looks very big but a lot of ground work is being done.”

She also added that the ministry is considering every aspect and financial consultations are being

sought with the banks like the Indian banking association, trade bodies and associations of businesses like FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM. She also informed that 90 percent shortage comes in the EWS and LIG categories. As per a data, the shortage of housing in the country is nearly 18.78 million as per estimates of 2012 and 95 percentage of the shortage is in low-income category.

Talking about the scrapping of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM), Agnihotri said, “Under JnNURM, the HUPA portions of projects housing has already been extended till March 2015. We are already trying to complete all the houses which are been sanctioned. Nearly ten lakh houses across the country, is still to be completed, out of which some are completed, but they yet to be occupied.” The housing secretary also informed that the coming of both HUPA and Urban development ministry under one minister is a positive move.

Finance urban poor housing: Naidu NEW DELHI: In order to formulate new schemes for slum redevelopment and affordable housing, the bank should finance for housing for the poor in urban areas, said Urban Development and Housing minister, M.Venkaiah Naidu.

“There is a need to give a fillip to the flow of bank finance for housing for the poor in urban areas. The matter should be taken up with the finance ministry to extend the jurisdiction of NABARD to the urban areas or give this responsibility to any other agency like SIDBI,” Naidu said in a statement. After holding a series of review meetings

regarding the ongoing tasks of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Naidu has directed for formulation of new schemes for slum redevelopment and affordable housing for the urban poor. Observing that there is a huge shortage of urban housing, estimated at around 19 million, the minister has stated that active participation of all the stakeholders in a synchronous fashion is necessary. “If we carry on with a business-as-usual approach, the housing shortage would balloon to 30 million by the year 2020”, Naidu observed. Informing that nearly 10 million houses are lying vacant or

locked, as per the last Census, he said, “The task would thus require major policy changes and reforms at the level of both central as well as state governments.” He further pointed that the central government will not shy away from granting suitable fiscal and non-fiscal concessions and, the state governments need to ensure speedy clearances of housing and civic infrastructure projects. They should also have liberal building norms for affordable housing projects.

He has also emphasized that the new schemes should aim at bringing maximum benefit to the excluded sections of the society. www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

13

NEWSCAN

Corporation to give affordable stay

CHENNAI: Few months from now tourist can preserve their bus or train ticket to Chennai for affordable dormitories. The corporation is planning to construct dormitory for Rs.10 per passenger per day near railway stations and bus terminus.

The rooms will be likely located at Central and Egmore railway stations as well as the Broadway and Koyambedu bus terminus.

The tickets carried by the visitors will be screened to prevent misuse of the facility, which is expected to house 10,000 passengers per day for a nominal daily fee that is likely to be around Rs. 10 per passenger. The final decision will be taken by the state government shortly.

Rajasthan to build 30,000 toilets in rural area JAIPUR: The state government in collaboration with Hindustan Zinc, will build 30,000 toilets for poor families in rural areas. The construction of these toilets will be under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan programme in 80 villages and it will be completed in three years. Hindustan Zinc will spend about Rs.8.6 crore for the toilets.

Construction of each toilet will cost around Rs.8,500. Under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, Rs.4,600 will be paid by the government, Rs.3,000 by Hindustan Zinc and Rs.900 by the beneficiary. Construction has started in Bhilwara, Chittorgarh and Udaipur districts.

So far, 8,000 toilets have been completed.

Exploring AMEL: Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, travelled the Airport Express Metro Line (AMEL) to explore the possibility of starting a free shuttle bus service connecting the Delhi Aerocity Metro station with the domestic terminal of the Airport (T-1) so that passengers travelling through Terminal-1 can also use the AMEL

Lucknow to launch Master Plan 2031

UD ministry hands over Rs 330 crore to finance

LUCKNOW: The new government needs new norms and new plans to incorporate to every city as per its requirement.

Similarly, the Nawab city’s Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has announced to develop a new city master plan

NEW DELHI: The urban development ministry recently handed over Rs.330.61 crore - the surplus amount generated from housing projects in the national capital -to the finance ministry. “The Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu presented a cheque of Rs 330.61 crore to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley,” a ministry official said. The surplus was generated from the redevelopment of Netaji Nagar and Moti Bagh projects in New Delhi area.

The project was completed in phases from March 2009 to March 2012.

MMRDA budget to boost city’s transport

Patna to get metro train PATNA: Bihar’s state capital will soon start it’s maiden metro train project instead of the monorail, a top official said. The state urban development department was pondering over a monorail project for the state capital. The metro train project will be completed in four phases, and the Patna Metro Train Corporation will be set up before Aug 15. An interim report of the project is said to be sent to the union urban development ministry .The Rail India Technical and Economic Service will conduct a survey for the construction of the metro in Patna. The city is home to more than two million people, and congestion is a serious problem.

14

July 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

taking into consideration facilities which the state capital would require till 2031. The current plan highlights the city planning till 2021. The new plan will cover housing and transport facilities, road connectivity, green cover. The body has also noted to include the city’s extended areas under the master plan 2031.

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA has set aside a budget of Rs 4,240.78 crore for infrastructure development in 2014-15,.

The MMRDA has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore for the second phase of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-2). The size of MMRDA’s budget for 2014-15 has increased by a slight 5 percent from Rs 4,028 crore last year.While metro projects have been sanctioned Rs 634 crore in the 2014-15 budget, the MMRDA has dished out Rs 650 crore, which includes the funds needed for land acquisition, to the extended MUIP project. Of the Rs 634 crore for metro projects, Rs 500 crore have been set aside for the 33.5-km Colaba-Bandra-Seepz underground Metro corridor. Similarly, the authority has allocated Rs 400 crore for the second phase of the monorail corridor from Wadala to Jacob Circle near Byculla.

PROFILE

Sumitra Mahajan Lok Sabha Speaker

Journey from A corporator

TO Lok Sabha speaker

A

new chapter was written in India’s political history, as country’s parliament elected Sumitra Mahajan as the second woman speaker in the maledominated legislature.

An eight-time BJP MP, who is known as a battle-hardened leader has risen from the ranks of a municipal corporator to the post of Speaker in the 545-member Lok Sabha.

Being the second woman speaker of the Lok Sabha after Meira Kumar, Mahajan carries a baggage of beliefs from her counterparts . The eldest among women Member of Parliament, in the 16th Lok Sabha MPs’ list, she is also mentioned as “Sumitra Mahajan (Tai)” (elder sister).

After Mahajan was elected unanimously, Modi said the election of the speaker has taken place according to the highest traditions of parliament.

“It is a matter of pride that in the world’s biggest democracy, a woman is the speaker. Your guidance will be valuable,” the prime minister had said.

The septuagenarian, known for her trademark simplicity, honesty and clean image besides her impeccable winning record at the hustings started her political life at the age of 39.

A lawyer-turned-politician, she became the deputy mayor and then an MP from Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

She was a minister of state in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet from 1999 to

2004, holding different portfolios of human resources, communications, IT, petroleum and natural gas.

A veteran ally from Modi’s cabinet, she handles her responsibilities with élan. An active parliamentarian who has headed important committees, she is also known for her orator skills.

Seeing the crucial sessions – both

2014 Speaker of 16th Lok Sabha 2009 Re-elected to 15th Lok Sabha 2004 Re-elected to 14th Lok Sabha 2003-04 MoS, Petroleum &

Natural Gas 2002-03 MoS, Communication

and IT 1999- 02 MoS, HRD 1999 Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha 1989

Elected to 9th Lok Sabha

1984-85 Deputy Mayor, Municipal

Corporation, Indore 1982-85 Corporator, Municipal

Corporation, Indore

Rail and the General Budget 2014- she ensured every member to co-operate during the proceedings.

My priority is that the house runs smoothly, and we solve issues like economic and other issues, and I hope that we all, including myself co-operate during the session, says Mahajan.

Showcasing her distinguished capability, during an ongoing session she pulled up few members of a party who stated that she was “not the Speaker of Narendra Modi”.

Mahajan told them that if they failed to maintain the dignity of the Chair, it is a “more serious matter.”

She also added that such actions “hurt” the sentiments of the House.

Exhibiting her leadership skills to coordinate, she appealed to the leaders of all political parties to ensure that their members do not resort to undignified conduct and help in the smooth functioning of the House.

“The essence of democracy is selfdiscipline,” she said.

“When we spread disorder, then many unwanted things happen. Charges, counter-charges and unbecoming language is used. This hurts us all, the people of the nation and the democratic principles.”

In an instance one can witness the Speaker’s ability to bind leaders and ensure easy functioning of the country’s legislative assembly.

Talking about the etiquettes of the parliament, Mahajan said: “The whole nation watches how parliament conducts itself. People have voted us not for breaking rules and regulations, but to make laws in the interest of the people and the nation.”

She said it was most important that members conduct themselves with decency and discipline. Members’ attention is drawn daily towards the rules and regulations in Parliament through bulletins.

With many more crucial decisions, policies yet to be seen in the upcoming sessions of the parliament, let us hope the new mild-mannered Speaker Madam can execute the affairs with ease. www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

15

COVER STORY

Water scarcity

stares Urban India

Water an everyday necessity, is a constant struggle for most. Accessibility of safe and quality drinking water is becoming the biggest challenge for a ‘water stressed’ country like India Prathiba Raju, Assistant editor

16

June 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

COVER STORY

R

ising demand due to burgeoning urban agglomerations for water is putting cities to the brink. Access to this basic necessity has become mammoth task for city managers to pursue.

Despite the fact that the quality, quantity and round the clock water supply has remained a challenge, efforts for efficient and sustainable water management led by advance technologies have been sporadic so far.

State of Water Woes

Experts denote that in next 15 years, the consumption of water in India will increase by over 50 percent, but the supply will only increase by ten percent. In the list of 122 countries rated on quality of portable water, India ranks a lowly 120. Although India has four percent of the world’s water, the average availability is shrinking steadily. It is estimated that by 2020, India will become a waterstressed nation.

Talking at a conclave recently Union Development minister, M Venkaiah Naidu, said, “Drinking water is going to be a gigantic and major problem, you can live without wife but not without water. Water is very essential, as the water levels are depleting we need to look out for alternatives like conservation of water, recycling for water, desalination plants. It is need of the hour.”

A report of Water and Sanitation Program (WSP), Running Water in India’s Cities, showcases that India is home to more than 370 million people in urban areas where water supply is managed by the public sector through municipal or state-level departments.

Coverage through piped water supply ranges between 55 percent and 89 percent in urban areas. Though the per capita availability is fairly high, at 90 to 120 liters per day, no city gets round the clock water supply.

Daily supply averages four hours, with many cities alternating supply every other day. Only about 20 percent of connections are metered and non

revenue water (for which no revenue is collected) will be 40 percent in most of the cities.

“

M Venkaiah Naidu Union Development minister

Drinking water is going to be a gigantic and major problem, you can live without wife but not without water. As the water levels are depleting we need to look out for alternatives like conservation of water, recycling for water, desalination plants. It is need of the hour

“

Root Causes in Urban cities

Water crisis in cities can be seen in three categories. First is the water loss in distribution system because of faulty engineering and poor maintenance, second is the rising population and third is the mismanagement of water resources, cite experts.

“One of the major issues of urban water supply lies in distribution.

Studies indicate that upto 50 to 60 percent of water, treated and pumped by the utility, is ‘lost,’ or unaccounted for. In Delhi, 3,156 million litres (MLD) of water is supplied against the requirement of 4,158. But around 40 percent of the supply is lost in

www.urbanupdate.in | June 2014

17

COVER STORY distribution resulting in a much wider gap between demand and supply than what’s recorded. Even though Delhi’s per-capita availability of water is greater than that of Paris, the city does not provide reliable water.

Mumbai is facing an estimated water shortfall of about 400 million liters of the 4,300 million liters needed daily,” said Ashish Deosthali, Executive Director, All India Institute of Local Self Government (ALIISG).

Some cities have used private firms to help streamline distribution in order to provide reliable water and reduce waste. For example, the city of Dharwad in Karnataka, has a constant water supply with the help of private consultants.

Apart from poor management, the rising population seems to be one of the major factors for insufficient water for each person. India with a population of 1.2 billion (Census 2011) has only 1000 cubic meters of water per person per year. A country is considered water stressed if it has less than 1700 cubic meters per person.

“For years the agencies responsible (municipal bodies and state departments) for water supply has not kept pace with population growth.

Due to various reasons like required investment or the basic infrastructure which has not been improved or augmented,” said, Usha P.Raghupathi, Professor, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) to Urban Update.

Water loss is another key challenge.

The poor and leaky distribution networks is leading to large amounts of unaccounted water. Leakages bring in huge water loss. “Most of our cities don’t have water meters fixed, so we don’t know the exact figure of leakages. We don’t know the actual physical loss. Around 50 percent of water gets wasted due to leakages by certain cities,” Raghupathi said.

Voicing the same, Deosthali said, “Huge losses occur due to leakages of the pipelines, and due to illegal water connections tapping into these pipes.

It is estimated that these two factors together account for the loss of 30 – 50 percent. Tumkur a small town in 18

June 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

“

Arumugam Kalimuthu Country Director Water for People

Eighty percent of the drinking water sources across the country depend on ground water. The quality of ground water is a major problem in many cases it is not fit to drink. With deep aquifer increases the chances of water quality deterioration

“

Karnataka state has been estimated to 39 percent of non-revenue water and water loss is about 15 percent due to poor management of supply system.”

Access only to contaminated groundwater

Water scarcity is fast becoming urban India’s number one woe, with government’s own data revealing that residents in 22 out of 32 major cities have to deal with daily shortages.

“As of now 80 per cent of the drinking water sources across the country depend on ground water. The quality of ground water is a major problem in many cases it is not fit to drink. The deep aquifer increases the chances of water quality deterioration,” said Arumugam Kalimuthu, Country Director, Water for People.

The groundwater is known to have contaminants, fluoride being one of them. Nearly 66 million people in 20 states are at risk because of the excessive fluoride in water.

While the permissible limit of fluoride in water is 1 mg per liter in states like Haryana it is as high as 48 mg in some places. Delhi water too has 32 mg. Worst hits are Rajasthan, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

Bacteriological contamination leads to diarrhoea, cholera and hepatitis.

A bacteriological analysis of the water in Bangalore revealed 75 percent bore wells were contaminated.

Iron, hardness and salinity are also a concern.

The urban experts also note that there is an urgent need to look for alternative sources of portable water in places where water quality has deteriorated sharply. Community based water quality monitoring guidelines should be encouraged.

People should be encouraged to look at traditional methods of protecting water sources. Also in places where groundwater has arsenic or fluoride, surface water should be considered as an alternative.

Apart from regulating the contaminated ground water, the state government should empower local groups with real-time information on the status of ground water.

“Groundwater being an open resource, many farmers extract as much as they can. But when everyone does this, it leads to extraction above a sustainable level. This problem can only be managed by a cooperative agreement among the users of the aquifer, who should know how much can be extracted without depleting the resource. The state can monitor and provide this information. Mexico’s efforts at cooperative management of groundwater suggest that this practice can work,” Deosthali added.

COVER STORY

Integrated water management at local level

As the urban areas stare at a water crisis given their increasing population, local municipal bodies and concerned state departments should take more responsibility on integrated water management in the cities.

“The responsibility of proper water management mostly lies on the municipal bodies and in certain cities state departments handles it.

In Rajasthan it is entirely the public health department that handles the water supply. As for Shimla, the division of irrigation and public health department takes care of storage, source development. So the system varies between each state, but the standard pattern of the country is that the capital work will done by the state agency and the operation, maintenance by the municipal body,” Raghupathi said.

Stressing on political consensus on water management; experts opine that central and state governments should empower local groups with knowledge, understanding on water management.

“The 74th Amendment of the Indian Constitution, stressed that urban local bodies were expected to assume greater responsibility, but they have never been able to function like local self-government. Till date not many states have implemented it full-fledged. For water supply and

“

Rudresh K Sugam Program Officer CEEW

In slum, certain households who are not connected to the water supply system might have to rely on informal water vendors. Unless data about their supplies is available, total consumer demand in a defined area would always be underestimated

“

sanitation is part of the 12th schedule of the amendment but it still remains in the states hands”, Raghupathi said.

Stumbling block: Poor data

When it comes to water management, the country lacks specific base line data for each city, which could describe the actual status of water supply.

Good quality water-related data and information are necessary for accurately measuring use and promoting efficiency, designing investment strategies for infrastructure, fair pricing and equitable use of scarce resources.

“In slums, certain households who are not connected to the water supply system might have to rely on informal water vendors. Unless data about their supplies is available, total consumer demand in a defined area would always be underestimated.

Consumers should not be treated as passive recipients of (poorly managed) water services. Instead, they should participate as suppliers, resource managers and data providers to government agencies responsible for supplying water,” said Rudresh K Sugam, Program Officer, Council

on Energy Environment and Water (CEEW). Lack of proper monitoring of water resources development projects creates water stress. Water scarcity can be controlled by the concerned municipal or local bodies. They should prevent misuse of water by the public and enforce stringent action to promote judicious use of water.

Adding that water availability is likely to reduce globally, Raghupathi said,” Future wars will be fought on water, as there will be less water available. We need to change our ways on how we use the water.

“If proper water tariff system is present and if they start paying for what they use they will start to conserve. As we get water in a flat rate”.

Apart from local self-governments, the efforts of civil society organisations in increasing awareness among the urban poor about water quality and their rights to good quality water services is necessary.

“The NGOs and civil society can enroll public sector, private sector and consumer on the same platform.

They could reach out to traditionally marginalised groups, including poor households and people in informal settlements,” Sugam said.

He also said that NGOs can build capacity within their communities, for example, in Delhi and Agra, the Centre for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE India) has set up local water treatment plants with kiosks. These treatment plants provide doorstep supply at affordable rates in watershadow areas.

A close collaboration is essential between the state governments, which have control over the water resources, private partners and the Urban Local Bodies (ULB), which in many states build, maintain and administer the water supply. So they could build latest technology for water supply.

The ultimate aim of eliminating everyday water tussle by thousands of urban dwellers in the country and assuring clean and safe drinking water remains a challenge for the water managers and awaits their utmost attention. www.urbanupdate.in | June 2014

19

COVER STORY

1618

142 million No access to

m3 Units of water resources per capita

754 billion m (50%) Excess

3

improved water resource

demand of water by 2030

A faucet that drips just once per second wastes

27,000 gallons of water annually

1 child dies from a water-related disease every 20 seconds

X 1000

wat

plo

22.5%

urban household do not have bathroom

Main source of drinking water (urban) 2001-2011

20 June 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

18.6 %

urban households do not have latrine facility within premises

Total households 2011 2001

7,83,65,937 5,36,92,376

Tap water

Well water

2011 70.6 2001 68.7

2011 6.2 2001 7.7

COVER STORY

Source of drinking water in Delhi

Pan-India scenario

MoUD figures

Almost one-fifth of households drink water directly through taps

One-fifth of Indian households drink water directly through taps

of urban households do not have tapped water

15%

20%

Pan-India scenario

Water supply at Delhi homes

of households get water from bore wells and tankers

of households get water from municipal supply

40%

tery

30 %

49%

1400

1200

1000

1000 Cubic kilometers per annum

ot

1200

Billion Cubic Meters

800

600

400

200

0

800

600

400

200

2010

2025

2050 Drinking Water

Water Demand by Sector

Industry Irrigation

0

1997

2010

2020

World Bank Report on Water in India

2050 Available Demand Utilizable

Other sources of water 2011 2.5 2001 2.3

Hand pump/Tube well water 2011 20.8 2001 21.4

New question in 2011 Tap Treated 62.0 Un-Treated 8.6

Well Covered Un-Covered

1.7 4.5

www.urbanupdate.in | June 2014

21

COVER STORY

Urbanisation spurts

Photo Credit: R. Giridaran

water crisis in metros

Urban India is grappling with acute water shortage. Piped water supply, flush toilets are few examples of the rapidly increasing consumptive nature of our highly water intensive cities and towns

W

hile only some cities in the country have started to manage water crisis in a more comprehensive manner, rest of them are yet to follow.

Many metropolis’, which have greater capacity and access to funds are not able to meet even the minimum norm of providing 70 litres per person per day.

A report presented by the urban development ministry, in Lok Sabha indicated, out of 32 major cities 22 have to deal with daily shortages.

The crisis is acute in Kanpur, Asansol, Dhanbad, Meerut, Faridabad, Visakhapatnam, Madurai and Hyderabad — where supply fails to meet even 30 percent of the demand.

22 July 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

Jamshedpur’s acute woes

Jamshedpur in Jharkhand faces acute water shortage, where the gap between demand and supply is a yawning 70 percent. The two main reasons for water crisis in the city is rapid urbanisation and a spurt in population, states the Urban Development Authority (UDA).

“Since the formation of Jharkhand as a separate state from Bihar, Jamshedpur became one of the magnetic points that attract population from various parts of the state. Real estate boom in semiurban pockets of Jamshedpur in the last decade is primarily responsible for the depleting groundwater level.

These buildings go for deep boring and as a result all the ground water

is being pumped out off the ground,” says Ashish Deosthali, Executive Director, All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSG).

“Every inch of land is being used to build concrete structures and buildings. Therefore, there is no place left for the rainwater to seep into the ground, so the water level is not even being recharged as much as it should.

Moreover the extraction rate is more than 100 percent,” he said.

Kanpur’s water level depleting

Being quenched by river Ganga, the Kanpur city is facing a huge water crisis as ground water level is going down at the rate of 45 to 60 centimeters per year.

As per the local government, the

COVER STORY water level at one of the main pumping station at Bhairoghat was depleting from 356.4 feet on April 8 in 2011.

This mark is lowest in last 11 years as previous lowest was 357.3 feet on April 2012. The danger mark at Bhairoghat pumping station is 360 feet.

The government records show 10 major cities in the country either meet daily water requirements or have surplus supply. Nagpur tops this list, reporting 52 percent extra supply while Punjab’s industrial city, Ludhiana, has 26 percent surplus supply.

Other cities managing to meet their water demand include Vadodara, Rajkot, Kolkata, Allahabad and Nasik.

Meanwhile, PimpriChinchwad, a twin city in the Pune metropolitan region as improved the water supply and waste water sector and has received the best city from the urban development ministry.

Best city in water management: PimpriChinchwad

The civic body of PimpriChinchwad installed water meters, took efforts for equitable water distribution, started online bill payment system, call centre for complaints regarding water supply, reduced water leakages through supervisory control and data acquisition system and set up water treatment plants using advanced technology.

Apart from bulk meters,

List of Worst Cities

List of Best Cities City Demand Supply Surplus (in %) Nagpur 420 640 52.3 Ludhiana 350 441.7 26.2 Allahabad 260 312 20 Ahmedabad 960 1000 4.2 Varanasi 275.41 280 1.7 Kolkata 1344 1362 1.3 Nashik 350 350 0 Pune 1125 1125 0 Rajkot 239 239 0 Vadodara

350

Report card The government records show 10 major cities in the country either meet daily water requirements or have surplus supply. Nagpur tops this list, reporting 52 percent extra supply while Punjab’s industrial city, Ludhiana, has 26 percent surplus supply

Par excellence PimpriChinchwad’s local body is taking up one particular area and they are trying to develop 24X7 water supply.

They have unique Helium based leakage detection system, which can plug in the leakage

City Demand Supply Gap(in %) Jamshedpur 180 56.7 68.5 Madurai 211 120 43.1 Meerut 235 135 42.5 Kanpur 674 413 38.7 Dhanbad 161 99.28 38.3 Asansol 72.64 45.4 37.5 Coimbatore 250.66 161.4 35.6 Faridabad 250 170 32 Vishakhapatnam 233 161 30.9 Hyderabad 2170.5 1536.8 29.2

350

0

PimpriChinchwad’s local body is taking up one particular area and they are trying to develop 24X7 water supply. They have unique Helium based leakage detection system, which can plug in the leakage.

Different cities, different issues

The experts opined that they cannot pin point one city for the best and the worst in water management.

“Each city has performed well in different aspects. For example the 24 hours water supply in Hubli and Dharwad in Karnataka, PimpriChinchwad in Pune installing bulk water meters are few examples.

Different cities are doing well in different aspects. These good models today might not be the same few years later” said Usha P.Raghupathi, professor, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).

“Political consensus is also an important factor. Each, one should understand the gravity of the problem. If we don’t act today we will be in serious trouble in the next two decades”, she said.

As per Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO), technical wing of MoUD has estimated that the funds required for 100 percent coverage of the urban population under safe water supply and sanitation services by the year 2021 is Rs.172,905 crores. www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

23

COVER STORY

PPP in Water

Utility in necessity Even as water is becoming the most sought after resource, to an extent of becoming unattainable worldwide, the role of private players can contribute diligently in getting urban homes its utility

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he country’s PPP model in urban water sector has improved for the past few years, but private partners in this sector reveal that it is still not a smooth affair.

There should be more emphasis on project preparation, confidence in the contracting process and awareness on billing and water meters, say experts.

Speaking about the PPP process and how it is working in the field of drinking water services, French MNC giant in water services, Veolia Water India (VWI) who have been engaged with India in various water projects in different states and Cadagua, a Spanish company specialists design, construction, operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment plants inform that there are few changes but lot more needs to be done in PPP water sector.

24 July 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

“In the early 2000, though there was awareness on the increasing water management. We found that we need to augment and increase the water that is produced, treated and distributed,” Patrick Rousseau, Chairman, Managing Director of VWI, told Urban Update.

The company focused on building huge infrastructure projects and increasing the amount of water.

“In 2000 the Indian market was not as open as what we thought it would be. So we went through a slow face.

After two to three years, the awareness of the policy makers sort of changed focus and it became increasingly focused on distribution, quality and access of water. Now many policy makers are trying to look on to the level of good service, fair equitable share of the water of the city,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cadagua, which is in the

field of water and sewage treatment and seawater desalination, informed that lot more awareness is needed for industries on opting for zero liquid discharge.

“In past five to six years, although many industries have come up with norms zero liquid discharge; they are mainly into large cities. Water treatment or waste water treatment we have reached only upto tier two cities, there are many small cities should be reached, the potential is huge,” said Salesh Sharma, Business Head, Cadagua to Urban Update .

Early stumbling blocks

A multi-local player, Veolia Water India informed that there first target was to give 24X7 water supply and install water meters, which will help in better water management.

“We wanted the water supply to be

COVER STORY made 24X7; otherwise the water will not be portable, as there are issues of leakages in the pipeline, if the water is not under pressure, then all the dirty external elements get sucked into the pipeline. Round the clock water supply will also help in better monitoring of the water supply. Installing water meters means having a clear picture on the amount of water used by each and every customer,” Rousseau said.

In order to showcase that it can be done, VWI, in collaboration with World Bank launched a pilot project in Karnataka.

“We joined hands with the World Bank between 2005-10 to demonstrate the feasibility of 24x7 water through five pilot project, which covered an overall population of over two lakhs in Karnataka,” said Rousseau.

Now it is running successfully and providing round the clock drinking water to the municipalities of Belgaum, Gulbarga and Hubli-Dharwad in Karnataka. Each pilot zone covers approximately 10 percent of each city.

The pilot project commenced in 2005 and was awarded with an extension of two years in 2010.

“Municipality decides the tariff... we are in charge of is in making very specific indicators such as 24 hour water supply, decrease of non revenue water, good customer service and better complaint management,” he explained.

Impending issues

Informing that the situation of PPP is improved, issues like implementation of project, short time frame for projects and lack of data still exist.

“It is becoming more difficult than expected, it’s mostly because I think people forget that PPP in water supply is all about partnership, a true collaboration in-between the public, private sector and civil society,” Rousseau, said.

“Mostly the public sector and the local partners think that we private players can change the whole system in about six months it is absolutely impossible. If they were not able to do in 60 years, why would we be able to do

VWI inform that they don’t have any view on it, the decision lies totally on the concerned municipality.

“

Patrick Rousseau Chairman Veolia Water India

Local bodies challenges

In India when it comes to water management, there is a big issue in the data, there is no baseline data and the actual real state of water supply

“

over night? It is not possible,” he said.

Apart from it the lack of data, “In India when it comes to water management, there is a big issue in the data, there is no baseline data and the actual real state of water supply,” he added.

Veolia also says that they need a private partner to engage in PPP, as each city is different and the people responsible also differs from local bodies to other state agencies.

VWI has set up a special purpose entity, Orange City Water, in a joint venture with Vishvaraj Environment Ltd in Nagpur.

Billing and metering barriers

The private operators informs that it is very difficult for making consumers access the volumetric billing, where one pays for the water they use, just like electricity.

“In India they have an illegal connection or they don’t want to pay on what they consume. Volumetric billing is where you get a meter for water, just like the electricity. At times they go on consuming but the water bill is not equal to the water they consume,” he said.

Water meter helps consumers get to know exactly how much water they consume and pay according to the usage. Apart from this VWI has customer service and a toll free number which operates round the clock for complaints.

Talking about the water tariff, the

Explicating about the challenges VWI informed that the things are getting smoother and the city management are getting more serious on water issue than they were before.

“Though there are lot of changes, one of the main challenge is during the bidding time is that pre-qualification criteria are not always clear. The contract and the DPR should be more realistic. There is a lack of expertise within their public sector when it comes to the water projects,” he said.

Talking about issues in contract design, Rousseau informed that first few years are dedicated to ground work. And we need minimum time frame of five years.

Highlighting that the tenders are not structured well, Cadagua’s Sharma said that makes international private players to think twice to go in for BOT model in the city.

“A tender should be structured well, particularly as per international level, for example in a tender commercial or financial consultant in place should be given. Many times we cannot find a difference BOT or EPC contract, as the municipal bodies use same terms for both. Though the BOT model is very young in our country, when it comes to international players structure is important. If it is properly followed, they will not mind putting money,” Sharma said.

He also said informed that in waste water treatment, apart from local bodies and state agencies, central government should counter gurantee that they will take 100 percent of treated sewage.

When it comes to funding VWI say it is smooth as the public funding like JnNURM always contributes.

Voicing the same, Sharma said, “For past few years, there is been huge funding coming from JnNURM, it is a big market. Pipelines for water project are higher. Water has been a priority now sewage is also coming up.” www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

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COVER STORY

Each drop counts…

Peekaboo into the ancient past, we can learn the crude nuances of how planners during those times maintained an exquisite water management through conservation of rainwater

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rcheological evidences showcase that our ancestors perfected the art of water harvesting, right from the Mughal ground water supply system, to bamboo pipeline of Meghalaya. The skills of water harvesting seem to have faded away and the need of the hour is to concentrate on water management initiative like rain water harvesting, roof top harvesting and usage of low flush toilets.

Taking into account the present level of misuse of underground water, the Central Ground Water Board indicates that reservoir of underground water will dry up entirely by 2025 in as many as 15 states.

One of the best examples, which showcase that we don’t take water harvesting seriously is that of status Cherrapunji. Situated in Meghalaya, it is known as the wettest place in the world and receives about 11,000 mm of rainfall annually, but suffers acute shortage of drinking water. This is because the rainwater is not conserved and is allowed to drain away.

The country needs to have a proper 26 July 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

awareness or planning is needed so that rainwater harvesting and usage of low flow toilets, which would help in conserve water.

Practicing rainwater harvesting

Although our cities receive ample rainfall; we are not able to use it.

They flow away or discharged into the oceans after coursing its way through the drains and rivers. To prevent this wastage of water we need proper rainwater harvesting systems.

It involves collecting running rain water from building terraces, along roads and other local catchment areas. This water helps ground water recharge and also to prevent storm water drains from flooding.

The cities, which made the rainwater harvesting forceful has made progress.

For example, rainwater harvesting was made mandatory in Chennai city by promulgating an ordinance during July 2003. Compared to many other cities, Chennai is noted to be rain water friendly.

In order to boost the water conservation, the Tamil Nadu government has recently decided to

set up 50,000 RWH structures near the Storm Water Drains (SWD) in Chennai roads at an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore.

Another metropolis, which is taking a lead in rainwater harvesting, is Bangalore. In 2011, Bangalore’s water utility implemented a policy making it compulsory for larger, existing apartment complexes and homes to incorporate rainwater harvesting.

Indore the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh with ever-growing water demand also practices rainwater harvesting. The city has announced a rebate of six percent on property tax for those who have implemented the rainwater harvesting work in their houses or building. In Rajasthan, the rainwater harvesting has traditionally been practiced; there are many forms of ancient water harvesting systems in this state, which has been revived.

Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the rainwater harvesting procedure has not yet been aggressively implemented. Talking about the water scarcity in Mumbai, Pankaj Srivastava, COO, Maitreya Realtors and Construction, said, “Water scarcity is

COVER STORY a problem plaguing most of Mumbai, the city cannot be called water deficient on account of the heavy rainfall it receives every year. The city is yet to see rainwater harvesting be aggressively implemented in its many housing colonies. The city needs to recognize that it cannot let its rain water simply run off into its gutters and drains.”

LeaderSpeak

Recognising methods of water mismanagement

Rooftop harvesting, ideal

Rooftop rain water harvesting system is the only technique through which rain water is captured from roof catchments and stored in tanks. In urban areas, with lack of adequate space, the roof top rain water harvesting can be one of the ideal solutions.

As per ministry of water resources, the roof top water harvesting has not been made mandatory by Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Mizoram and Lakshadweep.

Few cities which followed the roof top rain water harvesting has helped to sought the water problems. For example, Dholera in Ahmedabad, is one of them which have given importance to roof top rain water harvesting.

In Pimpri-Chinchwad, a twin city of Pune, a housing society residents do not worry if there is a shortage of water supply. They have been storing rainwater runoff from roofs in underground tanks.

Low flow toilets help save H2O

Average toilets flush gushes out close to three liters of water in each use.

As per a data, by the by the green adovacy body CSE, the average Indian home uses 135 litres of water per day of which 30 litres is spent in latrine flushes. A low flow toilet with a dual flow feature can reduce the ability to flush down water by nearly 50 percent.

The dual feature has two buttons, one of which is low flow and uses half the amount of water.

Direct your queries to

Dr Jatin Modi President, AIILSG

I

n the 60-odd years since we began managing our own resources, we have managed to throttle and poison all our rivers, suck our groundwater resources nearly dry and shave our forests bald. This is despite a great deal of effort, time, thought and resources that have gone into this ‘management’.

Thankfully, the shortcomings of the present approach are now being recognised. The Planning Commission has taken a paradigm shift during the formation of the 12th Plan. This shift hinges on two facts- that wisdom does not reside in the government alone, and that the power of partnerships is what we need to put forward.

The Commission has built upon the experiences of community organisations focussed on the devolution of water management and has initiated a concerted effort towards sharing water data.

This change is best illustrated by the fact that for the first time

ever, all the working groups were headed by individuals outside the government.

To achieve this devolution of management, it is necessary for us to use the facilities and information that we do have access to. People clamour for water data, but don’t seem to use whatever little data is available. Using these data sets is the only way to exert informed pressure either to overcome our current gendered attitude towards water, ensure an ecological framework for river management, or prevent diseases due to contaminated water.

Our water management also needs to recognise the emergence of new issues. It is now time to reassess its goals and interventions. Peri-urban water security is an accelerating concern; our cities’ tendency to look at their surrounding areas as a source for resources as well as a waste dump needs to be checked immediately.

prathijourno@gmail.com

www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

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COVER STORY

Sustainable Water Management

Preserving the PRECIOUS RESOURCE With increase in water demand due to population growth, rapid urbanisation, agricultural & industrial and other demands, the limited availability calls for sustainable water management Usha Raghupati, Professor, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)

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ater scarcity of. This includes source development, is a growing production, distribution, and cost reality and as recovery. It also includes rainwater recycling of used it is being said harvesting, that “future wars will be fought over water, demand management and water�. However, this seemingly grim cooperation of people. Water needs situation can be tackled by taking to be recognised as an economic and good. steps manage water in aNational sustainable Usha to Raghupati, Professor, Institute ofenvironmental Urban Affairs (NIUA) Water availability from different manner. While bulk of water in the country is used for agricultural sources is increasingly becoming a purposes, urban areas will need more concern. The existing sources of water in cities have dried up, are polluted water in the future.

According to the National Water or encroached upon. This forces the Policy 2012, India has a total cities to look for alternative means far precipitation (including snowfall) of away, in some cases hundreds of kms around 4,000 billion cubic metre, of away.

Drawing water from distant which the availability from surface water and replenishable ground water sources comes at a huge cost and is 1,869 billion cubic metre. About 60% also has associated issues such as of this can be put to beneficial use i.e. getting clearance from different 690 billion cubic metre from surface government departments for laying water and 432 billion cubic metre from pipelines, supplying water to enroute habitations, and managing the ground water. pipelines to prevent leakages and breakages. Gravity systems are few; Water in agglomerates Sustainable water management in most systems need pumping, causing the urban context requires that all water utilities to incur huge expenses aspects of water supply are taken care on electricity bills.

28 July 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

Uncounted for water

One of the major challenges in improving the water supply situation is reducing water leakages. The average unaccounted for water (UFW) for Indian cities is in the range of 3040%, though the estimates vary.

No accurate assessment of this is available as metering of different stages of supply and distribution is generally not done in most cities.

Detecting leakages, fixing them, replacing old pipes and removing illegal connections can improve the water supply situation to a great extent and postpone the capital investment requirements for augmenting supplies. In India, 15% UFW is considered acceptable as reducing it to a level below this is likely to be very expensive.

Resolving water woes

Continuous water supply i.e. 24x7 is a desirable standard for water supply which can lead to sustainable water management. Implementing 24x7 systems can reduce water

COVER STORY

Water, water no where?

Water availability from different sources is increasingly becoming a concern. The existing sources of water in cities have dried up, are polluted or encroached upon.

This forces the cities to look for alternative means far away

Procuring the resource Implementing 24x7 systems can reduce water contamination in pipes due to maintenance of pressure and also conserve water at the household level by reducing storage needs

Tariff woes As water tariffs in India are highly subsidised, there is a tendency to overuse and waste water. With climate change this tendency will have to be curbed through metering and appropriate tariff

contamination in pipes due to maintenance of pressure and also conserve water at the household level by reducing storage needs.

Implementation of 24x7 projects will also lead to saving of energy as pumping needs at the household level will reduce. This is evident in HubliDharwad in Karnataka, which has implemented 24x7 water supply in a few demonstration wards in the city.

Energy and water audits are the starting points of planning for improving water supply. Energy audit will lead to reduction in energy use which can help in conserving energy and reducing the cost of water supply.

Water audits will help in leakage detection and help conserve water.

The economics of water supply operations forms an important part of sustainable water management.

Water utilities have to ensure efficiency of operations in order to be able to recover cost. The low cycle equilibrium (of low tariff, low service level, low cost recovery and low maintenance) plagues most

of the utilities. Fixing realistic and affordable tariff is essential to not only operate and maintain the system to the required level but to also improve the quality of service. If citizens are provided good quality service i.e. assured quality and quantity, they would be willing to pay for the service, provided vested interests do not interfere. The JnNURM has included reforms for sustainable urban water management amongst the 23 reforms that it has enlisted. It includes improved cost recovery to cover operation and maintenance costs; rainwater harvesting; and recycling of used water. Rainwater harvesting improves ground water levels and a prime example of this is Chennai.

Wastewater recycling reduces the demand for fresh water by putting treated waste water to non-domestic use (in the Indian context). Cities are increasingly finding it difficult to cater to the increasing in demand for water. Implementing reforms would help cities cope with the increasing pressure on water.

India will face a bleak water future if it does not change the current systems and practices, and consider water as a finite resource.

The environmental cost of water will have to be realized and reflected in tariff and improved efficiency of service provision.

Since water tariffs in India are highly subsidised, there is a tendency to overuse and waste water. With climate change this tendency will have to be curbed through metering and appropriate tariff. Climate change will bring uncertainties and also in the extreme weather conditions that will pose new problems for the water sector. Water is a highly undervalued resource in India and unless this changes, the country could face major challenges in sustaining economic growth and urbanisation.

Direct your queries to

uraghupathi@niua.org

www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

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COVER STORY

Tapping the stakes 30 July 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

Photo Credit: R. Giridaran

COVER STORY

While the country is coping with its booming populace, what it really is grappling with is the scarce resources like water and electricity and its unequal distribution in both rural and urban areas.

The PPP model is surely paving its role to ease out this menace Col. Rahul B. Gowardhan (Retd), Director (HR & PR) of orange city water

In the last few decades, the two essential services, that is water and electricity supply has deteriorated which resulted into uneven or scarce water supply in the cities and towns and load shedding in most parts of the nation.

Most of the state electricity boards were unable to cope up with the demand of electricity as losses went up and production of electricity was not keeping pace with the demand.

Therefore, the government had to go for reforms in the electricity sector and took some optimum decisions like trifurcation/bifurcation of the state electricity boards for accountability, steps for loss reductions and introduction of various models like PPP, franchisee, parallel licensing etc.

PPP benefits Maharashtra

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ater, an essential need of human being is badly handled resource in India. Fresh water resources are increasingly becoming scarcer and availability of fresh water per capita is coming down. The importance of this resource is realised and lot of initiatives have been taken worldwide to conserve and use it sensibly.

Even after 66 years of independence, adequate quantity of drinking water is not available to large segment of population. In cities and towns during morning and evening, it is a common scene that dozens of young children, women having jars, cans or pots in their hands, troop to the nearby public taps to lug water for drinking, cooking, washing and cleaning. The question arises, is there a shortage of this life sustaining commodity? Answer to this is – NO. In most of the cities and towns quantity of water supplied is adequate but it is due to lack of proper infrastructure, unequal distribution and poor maintenance of network citizens are facing problems.

Today, all progressive states have shown progress in this field. States like Maharashtra and Gujarat are almost load shedding free and their electricity losses have reduced drastically in years.

Maharashtra is the pioneer state in introduction of franchisee model in the electricity sector. Bhiwandi was the town where losses were very high and service was poor. It was handed over to franchisee and within a span of two years losses reduced and tremendous improvement in service was seen.

There was no effect on tariff as it was regulated by the state regulator and was at par with any other town of Maharashtra. The initiative was well appreciated and a number of states have now introduced PPP or franchisee model. The success story of electricity distribution of Maharashtra is being replicated by other states.

Networking water, a crisis

The networks in the cities are very old, poorly maintained and no adequate thought is given for developing them to keep pace with the growth.

This is not only resulting into huge losses, unequal, inadequate supply at places but also poor quality water (contaminated water).

In summers the situation becomes

critical as supply is evidently scarcer.

As per the standard requirement worked out, each human being living in a city needs about 100-135 lpcd water and if one calculates the quantity needed as per population and quantity supplied, it is found that adequate water is supplied to most of the cities but problems still exist.

For example, the Nagpur city, where population is around 2.5 million, the water supplied to the city is over 640 million litres per day. It is much more than the requirements as per the norms. Then where is the problem?

Problem persists in the distribution system, which is an absolutely uneven one through age-old network. The losses in city were very high due to direct tappings, leakages and thefts.

Non-Revenue Water amounted to over 60%. The story is same for other cities too.

Pave way for PPP

The central government realised the ills of the system and necessity of immediate solution, introduced through Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM), and introduced the PPP (Public Private Partnership) model in the water sector.

In the PPP model, 70 percent of the capital is invested by the central and state government and 30 percent by the private investor.

Maharashtra, a progressive state took initiative and introduced JnNURM –PPP model in Nagpur, Aurangabad and Latur.

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation took lead in introduction of 24x7 water supply in Demozone (Dharampeth) area way back in the year 2007. It has successfully implemented the scheme in Demozone and riding on the success extended the scheme to the city and became the first major city in the country to go for 24x7project.

This was followed by many cities like Mysore, Delhi, Naya Raipur, Khandwa, Hubli, along with which many more are to follow. The PPP models introduced are diverse from refurbishing infrastructure to service www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

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COVER STORY

Resolving scarcity

OCW’s canopy

The government took optimum decisions like trifurcation/bifurcation of the state electricity boards for accountability, steps for loss reductions and introduction of various models like PPP, franchisee, parallel licensing

OCW is cruising their way by educating consumers about advantages of 24x7 water supply scheme, paying small cost (tariff) for better service and good quality of water and not to fall prey to false propaganda of vested interest

contracts for billing, collection and metering.

At present, the focus is on distribution improvement, as it’s a herculean task to change/improve network which is over 30 years old and in the city where growth is unplanned and haphazard.

All the drawings and designs are not available and people are not ready to co-operate due to fear of privatisation.

Resistance to change

The resistance to change is from all quarters, some politicians feel their hold over this business is going, some union leaders feel that jobs of municipal corporation employees are threatened, some consumers who are presently not paying for water feel that their ‘right for free facility’ is vanishing.

Some good consumers who are paying regularly but are misinformed that private operator will charge heavily for this resource. There are vested interests and parties who tirelessly want to oppose as their survival is threatened. All these kind of oppositions, teething problems of operator and continuous pressure of monitoring agencies have affected the performance of private partner and construction phase and rehabilitation is delayed.

Orange City Water-The success story

Notwithstanding all the opposition, the Private operator, Orange City Water Pvt. Ltd. (OCW) is cruising their way by educating consumers about advantages of 24x7 water supply scheme, paying small cost 32 July 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

(tariff) for better service and good quality of water and not to fall prey to false propaganda of vested interest.

Social welfare teams are deployed for liaison with public representatives, educating and convincing consumers.

The results are now being seen and progress is visible. Nagpur city has an advantage as it has already implemented it in one of the zones and people can see it physically.

Veolia Water, partner of OCW and known worldwide for water operation along with Vishwaraj Environment Ltd. is leading firm in infrastructure.

Their expertise and experts employed from the field are reaping in results.

The quality of water has improved and percentage of unfit samples is reduced from average of 20 percent in October 2012 from 2 to 3 percent.

Leakages are being plugged, water tanks (ESRs) being cleaned, new connections are being issued speedily, customer care centres established for customer convenience and a 24x7 call centre for addressing, monitoring and resolving consumer’s complaints.

There is an urgent need of action to meet growing demand of water in the cities across the country.

Retaining the correct path

Projects of water supply are expensive and require expertise. Most of the municipal bodies are not in a position to invest and lack expertise of high standards is at larg.

JnNURM has certainly provided an opportunity to municipal bodies to undertake improvement through PPP where they need to spend no money.

Private sector is ready to invest, use

latest technology and managerial skills to implement. However,there is an unfounded fear of losing control over water supply and control over tariff but that’s not true, as all assets are owned and continued to be owned by municipal bodies and being partner in the project have control over the scheme.

Similarly, tariff and regulatory functions are retained by the municipal corporations.

The results of PPP model in electricity, water treatment plants and other sectors are encouraging.

Similarly privatisation in civil aviation and telephone has not only improved quality of service but also brought the tariff down. Even in some cases, electricity generation per unit cost of private company is lower than state utility, state figuers.

Water distribution/supply is a new field for private operators but it is catching up pace. In today’s scenario, looking at the advantages of PPP model, it is win-win situation for everyone and certainly will prove to be a proactive step for progress and prosperity.

The author has also been the Executive Director of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company for 5 years and seen the transformation of electricity utility. He visited and studied functioning of many utilities including RECs in the US and franchisees in India

Direct your queries to rahul.gowardhan@ocwindia.com

NOTE

Hansa Patel Chairperson, ICLEI South Asia, Executive Advisor All India Institute of Local Self Government Vadodara, Gujarat

Cities, brace up for disaster Management When disaster strikes in any region of the world, it is the local level where the impacts are first felt. It is time to target disaster reduction to build resilience of the nation at its grassroot level

E

ach disaster on this day is not only a local but a global disaster that calls for international communities to act and react to its impact so as to plan the strategy and minimize the damage and to create a culture for response and preparedness to restore the global peace. Unplanned urban development makes the world more risky due to lack of preparedness.

In order to avoid the crisis, there is a tremendous need of early warning

system and early preparedness to reduce risk to the community.

The rootcause

India is the second largest country in terms of population. It is situated on the tectonic plate and placed on the high seismic zones. Furthermore, it is surrounded by the sea. The geographical location makes India prone to natural threats, but the economic development of the country adds challenges of manmade and Industrial disasters.

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984 is still sticking the citizens’ mind, thus the sense of alertness and preparedness required to mitigate and combat disasters has risen. A holistic approach to the technology of disaster management and the role of ordinary people in emergencies is now focused. The government took several important measures with major legislative changes to set up crisis groups at federal, state and local levels.

Take charge

Considering the susceptibility to disasters, local governments have become quite aware of their responsibility.

However their capacity building has to be set up and the technical know-how must be asserted in the official of local bodies. Apart from the responsible role by the central and state government, the local government has to play a vital role which should be focal, vocal and nodal. Now we are stepping with strong commitments to plan a risk reduction strategy due to the international experience. We have to lay the path for sustainable future to build resilient cities.

Inter-level integration

Inter-level integration and governance are both challenge and inspiration to all of us. Challenge is in the recognition and much needs to be done to promote a sense of awareness and preparedness for a sustainable future. We are inspired by our expertise by applying for technological advances and by working together in common cause of protecting the human lives, infrastructure and economy. For this we need to develop a very creative, proactive, innovative and supportive culture by sharing each others panacea. Local bodies, be they urban, suburban or rural should play a good role in their efforts to reduce the damage affecting the community, infrastructure and economy. Therefore inter-level integration, increased cooperation, coordination and compatibility have to be established. The goals of sustainable economic development and peace should be the common goals of every local body. www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

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COVER STORY

Not a drop to

drink,wash !

Impending water woes is a crisis for the urban agglomerates; population influx and improper water management are only acting as fodder to this unending saga to procure equitable means to quality drinking and sanitation Ashish Deosthali, Senior Executive Director, AIILSG

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t is said that there are three basic necessities for a human being-food, clothing and shelter. But water among them is the most vital one as it is required for the most prime needs of an individual. It is estimated that a person consumes atleast 2-4 litres for drinking and 10-15 litres for essential purposes. But in reality, what is seen as the biggest threat to the future is the fight for availing this basic necessity.

India, which is estimated on improving over the past decades to both the availability and quality of municipal drinking water systems, while its large population has stressed planned water resources with the rural areas being left out.

In addition, rapid growth in India’s urban areas has stretched government solutions, which have been 34 June 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

compromised by over-privatisation.

India’s water crisis is often attributed to lack of government planning, increased corporate privatisation, industrial and human waste and government corruption. In addition, water scarcity in the country is expected to worsen as the overall population is expected to increase to 1.6 billion by year 2050. To that end, global water scarcity is expected to become a leading cause of national political conflict in the future, and the prognosis for India is no different.

Shortage in metropolis

The growth of cities and industries is inevitable and this influx will have massive implications on the use of water and discharge of waste. There is an urgent need to look for alternative sources of portable water in places

where water quality has deteriorated sharply. Community based water, quality monitoring guidelines should be encouraged. People should be motivated to look at traditional methods of protecting water sources.

Also in places where groundwater has arsenic or fluoride, surface water should be considered as an alternative.

Distribution execution

As far as management and supply of water is concerned, currently, it is estimated that as much as 40-50 per cent of the water is ‘lost’ in the distribution system. Even this is a estimate, as most cities do not have real accounts for the water that is actually supplied to consumers. The 12th Plan proposes that the water supply programme for each city must provide for demand management

COVER STORY and reduction of the cost of supply.

Even as urban areas are helpless at the water crisis given their increasing population, an even bigger problem is management of wastewater or sewage. The 2011 census shows that only 32.7 percent urban Indians are connected to a sewer system and that 12.6 percent of those living in urban areas still defecate in the open. If adequate sewage treatment systems are not in place, then it is difficult to control water pollution. Delhi and Mumbai, which generate around 17 percent of the country’s sewage, have nearly 40 percent of the country’s installed capacity. Having realized the importance of water conservation and proper sewage systems the plan should focus on: ♦♦ Investments: that will focus on demand management, reducing intra-city inequity and on quality of water supplied, ♦♦ Protection of water bodies, ♦♦ No water scheme will be sanctioned without sewage component, ♦♦ Plan deliberately for recycling and reuse of treated wastewater, and ♦♦ Plan on a regional scale

Tubewells should be banned

Water shortage leads to long queues and street squabbles with people’s patience running out. Concrete buildings and waste material have taken the place of the shrinking water bodies. Scarcity of water has led to the digging of tubewells in every plot of the newly-constructed colonies. This has further aggravated the problem with the fall of the water table. There is a need for formation of separate water bodies independent of government interference, manned by professionals appointed for a contractual basis and paid according to work efficiency.

A ban on tubewells can make a vital difference to groundwater recharge.

Even a single digging of tubewell contribute to much more extraction of ground water. Licenses need to be made compulsory for every well digger. The imposition of high water charges could be a viable solution

for discouraging the misuse of water.

Water charges need to be imposed on volumetric use of water with the metering of all water supply points. A ban needs to be imposed on building activities in lakes. Rooftop water harvesting should be made essential, registration of colonies should not occur without water harvesting.

Depleting water table

The ground water table is depleting in high rate in the urban cities because of rapid increase in population. The reason of depleting ground water is because of the digging of tube wells in each household as it an open resource. The major solution to restrict extraction of ground water is impose high rate for digging and taking permission from the authority should be made mandatory.

Successful programs undertaken

There is emphasis throughout the country on watershed development and rainwater harvesting. Watershed development involves levelling land and tapping rainwater in small ponds created by building small dams in the streams (called check dams).

This water increases soil moisture, recharges groundwater, and permits a second crop to be planted.

India’s eleventh five-year plan (2007–12) covered some 15 mh with watershed development, and many NGO-led efforts have shown the program’s success. For example, Anna Hazare has transformed the village of Ralegaon Siddhi in Maharashtra into a model sustainable village through water harvesting and cooperation.

Another example is Rajendra Singh, whose NGO Tarun Bharat Sangh has

Grappling with untreated water Regardless of improvements to drinking water, many other water sources are contaminated with both bio and chemical pollutants, and over 21% of the country’s diseases are water-related.

Furthermore, only 33% of the country has access to traditional sanitation

transformed the Alwar District of Rajasthan through community-based efforts in water harvesting and water management. Singh is known as the “waterman of India” and was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2001. Similarly, with the support of the government, NGOs, community groups, and other civil society organisations, the state of Gujarat has built over 100,000 check dams. Some economists have attributed Gujarat’s eight percent-plus growth rate of agricultural GDP to these efforts.

Rainwater harvesting is another practice which contribute to the much groundwater recharge. It has been estimated that only a 50sqm of roof in an area having rainfall of 800mm can harvest water upto 32,000 litres of water. IT too can play a major role in smart water management by use of SCADA and GIS.

Tackling water crisis in India

India needs to promote watershed development. The example of the state of Gujarat, as well as the efforts of Rajendra Singh and Anna Hazare, have shown that this approach is effective and profitable. Moreover, it can be undertaken at the local level all over the country and can be accomplished in a relatively short time. Third, India must educate people about the need for dams to store water. The environmentalists should be engaged in a dialogue to work out alternatives and build a consensus.

Keeping the monetary role of water sector the government has included private players in management of water sector in an efficient way.

Nagpur and Mysore has implemented for water supply management. As clean drinking water is necessary for every human, municipalities of many cities needs to supply clean drinking water to the citizens aand continous clean drinking water supply.

Direct your queries to

ashishdeosthali@gmail.com

www.urbanupdate.in | June 2014

35

Keeping pace with unprecedented growth Indore has been a consistent in developing into an optimum instance of urban development.

The city, that is witnessing rapid pace of urbanisation while facing its impacts on the ecology within it, stands out in showcasing numerous urban initiatives Team Urban Update

W

hile the urbanisation has fueled economic growth, it has also resulted in a huge strain on existing physical infrastructure. The city of Indore, which has an unprecedented real estate boom is undergoing a profound change, but is still battling some impending civic issues. The city has indeed proven to stand alone and face the wave of changes and retain its structures intact in its urban design, policies and infrastructure projects.

Declared water deprived

As per a case study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Indore had been facing severe water scarcities for over two decades, with 36 July 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

a steep dip in the rainfall. Compared to the region’s average annual rainfall of 1,092 mm, the city received only 517 mm of rain in 2008.

In 2011, for four months (from April to July) Indore was declared waterscarcity hit district due to potable water shortage and declined underground water table.

The city which serves as a hub of trade and commerce has a population of 1.83 million in 2001, which is expected to grow to more than 3.3 million by 2030 is located in a rainshadow area of Western Ghat. As per a city development plan report indicated that nearly 40 percent of the city populations are still deprived of tap water supply and have to depend on water tankers.

Indore is heavily dependent on the Narmada River (70 km away) for its water supply. Apart from the river the Bilawali and Limbodi water tanks, as well as from the Yashwant Sagar dam (the dam was built on the Gambhir river 20 km from the city) and a few local borewells.

Issues from Narmada

The Narmada river is the main source of water supply to Indore.

Though the state government has been providing grants for the supply, there has been several challenges. For example, absence of water meters installed to keep a tab on the water being supplied, resulting in theft. Moreover the breakage and poor maintenance of the pipelines is another side of the

VELO-CITY

Not a drop As per a city development plan report indicated that nearly 40 percent of the city populations are still deprived of tap water supply and have to depend on water tankers

Retain forest In order to reduce the water treatment cost, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has thought of conserving forest cover and plantation on the bank of Narmada, the main source of water

coin that needs to be catered to.

The huge electricity cost for the Narmada water supply is also considered a big drawback.

Water tax tariff in Indore is said to be the highest in the state, as the huge power bills run up by the project in lifting water from the intake well, located over 70 km away from city.

In order to reduce the water treatment cost, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has thought of conserving forest cover and plantation on the bank of Narmada, the main source of water.

Speaking at an environment conservation seminar organized by Centre for Environment Protection Research and Development (CEPRD), chief conservator of forest (CCF) Pankaj Shrivastav informed that forest cover on Narmada bank from Omkareshwar to Mandaleshwar to Maheshwar will purify water and also help restrict flow of pollutants like soil particles, nitrogen and phosphorous into the river.

Managing solid waste, vital

Sewage, solid waste and storm water management seems to be a great challenge faced by the city. Being a flat terrain and poorly draining soils make it prone to flooding, which is exacerbated by an inefficient drainage system.

A study conducted by the Asian

Cities Climate Change Resilence Network (ACCRN), uncollected solid waste is clogging about 200 km of natural drainage within the city.

As the city is battling with inadequate storage facility and mixing of different types of solid wastes are reported due to poor management of solid waste, as well as a lack of public participation and demand, the study indicates.

The city needs to think about sustainable solutions on solid waste, sewage and storm water management.

Indore Habitat Project

With a growing population, close to touching one million, the city’s slums are proliferating and the urban poor living in these faced the consequences of poor living conditions. It was in this scenario that the Indore Habitat Project was taken up in 1990, with the objective of reducing the serious deficit in urban shelter and services in Indore. The eight year project which was implemented in 183 slums demonstrated the potential of improvement of slums, rather than their clearance.

The major components of the project were infrastructure improvement, health care, and community development; community water supply, individual or community toilets, and paving of streets, street lighting and solid waste management. The focus on preventive health care environmental health awareness and primary health services was also a part of the project.

Creation of neighbourhood groups, vocational training for women, adult literacy, pre-school and non-formal education, and development of community savings mechanisms formed an integral part of the community development component. The unique feature of the Indore project was the concept of Slum Networking as the approach to infrastructure provision.

Indore has all the charms of metro, amazing airline connectivity with the rest of the country, intricately and intelligently designed railway lines making it easily accessible and the state-of-the-art auto, taxi and bus system including 170 bus stations right

in a city. With efforts on developing a new model for every state by the newly formed government, let us hope the vibrancy of the city is retained through viable solutions to the scarcity problems.

The success of BRTS corridor

Several cities in India are building or planning Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRTS) as a strategic component of sustainable urban mobility development, but certain states experience like Delhi and Pune, had set back thinking on the attractiveness of BRTS. Indore stands apart and above, by being a leader among the 12 Indian cities currently developing BRTS under auspices of the MoUD. Recently Urban Development ministry had announced a one-time-assistance under the JnNURM’s urban infrastructure and transport stimulus package for the purchase of buses for urban transport for all 63 mission cities. Indore was able to successfully secure funding for 170 new buses estimated at a total value of Rs.70 crores .

Including 170 new buses, out of which 20 low floor low entry air-conditioned buses, 30 low floor low entry regular buses and 120 semi low floor buses there is a potential to double the current ridership. As of April 2008, the ICTSL operated system carried 100,000 to 110,000 passengers per day.

Conserving water for slumdwellers

A collaborative project called Slum Environment and Sanitation Initiative (SESI) funded and technically supported by Water Aid India and UNHABITAT has been successfully implemented about households in 17 slums of Indore.

The project highlights that proper implementation could help slumdwellers with access to piped water and pit latrines. A survey conducted in 2006 that 72% of slum households in Indore did not have access to piped water supply from the IMC and they have to depend on standpipes, public borewells or wells and 4.7% from among these do not have access to even safe water sources. www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

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CENTRE STAGE

100 Smart Cities

Identical cities or new ones?

In the wake of globalisation comes realisation of the emerging need of cities, suited in accordance to accomodate the bomabrding populace...twin or sister, feasible cities are definitely the cuurent requirement for the planners Jessy Iype, Desk Editor and reporter

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hile we discuss numerous issues and concepts of planning, ideation, policy amendments what needs to be understood is the basic role of urban design while cities emerge. A city is like the fabricof any country- it gives the outlook to the quality of the typography and the many strands of

38 July 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

place-making, environmental stewardship, social equity and economic viability into the creation of places with distinct beauty and identity along with the populace.

100 cities promise viable?

Rapid urbanization in India will create unplanned cities with poor quality of life unless steps are taken to inte-

grate urban design and planning with governance structures, and primitive planning methods are revamped with the latest technology.

The newly formed NDA government in its manifesto had promised the concept of 100 new cities in the country along with a freight of bullet trains and numerous infrastructure cushioning. But how much is the word

CENTRE STAGE of mouth viable or the possibility is suited is whtat the government needs to plant upon.

The number of cities as well as the number of people living in India’s cities is rising steadily, and it is estimated that around 700 million people will be living in the country’s urban centres by 2050. It is inevitable that many villages and small towns will expand to become large cities but is that enough? What is going to guide this process? “Unfortunately, there are no proper plans in place for these new settlements as well as for the existing cities that are witnessing massive urban sprawls,” laments Ranjit Sabikhi, a well known architect and urbanist.

Some experts feel the political parties should not just fuel promises on the basis to gain voter’s sympathy, rather build growth through the optimum utilisation of available resources.

“It is easy to drive people in election rally , what is hard is to lead them. We all know that loftier the building the deeper must be the foundation be laid.

Are we ready to rebuild the nation or build only new to gain public sympathy. We should re-build ourselves from childhood, i.e at the dawn of independence.Tomorrow’s growth depends on the use we make of today’s material and experiences,” Somnath Sen, Associate Professor at IIT Kharagpur.

Regulate rural-urban migration

While we see a great population influx from the rural sector due to numerous opportunities in employment and academic-wise, the issue of limited space to accomodate the high number of migrants is often ignored.

“There are hundreds of developers who are capable and are involved in catering to the large requirement of inventory. The main challenge/hurdle has been land acquisition and conversion. Though the govt. has tackled part of the problem, there are still major hurdles. The new law-makers are expected to address the faster land acquisition and conversion and approval processes(which is far better now in many states compared to the previous

“

Onno Ruhl World Bank director India

With the right policies in place, the faster a country like India urbanises, the faster it could reduce poverty and increase shared prosperity

“

decade),” feels Sundar Rajan Tatachar, MRICS Director-Development.

But, being aware of the issues and requirements, the policies and regulations should not exceed the already delayed development.

Points Pedro B. Ortiz, Senior Urban Consultant at World Bank, “If the 53 largest cities in India are a total of 200 million people and they are the ones which will have to house the 350 million newcomers in the next 20 years (50.000/day), you have to provide for land for 175 times the actual size of those cities: pavement and bricks for 75 million dwellings.Are the Metropolitan Plans looking 30 years ahead to address the challenge, or is the political class blinded and shortsighted?

If you are not, you should get ASAP to the task. Tomorrow is too late. That should be an electoral issue!”

However, pointing out that only urban centres can gain opportunities is

also incorrect as the rural ones also have the resources which needs nurturing.

Manasi Mangalgiri, Executive Planner at Studio Habitat, opines: “The problem here, I think lies in people moving to the urban centers of India, in search of say better employment opportunities or better standard of living.Why can’t we have a manifesto favoring the growth of small and medium centers so that the people do not have the urge to move to the urban centers and hence affecting the carrying capacity of these centers. We should not forget that land is a limited resource and the onus here lies in managing it effectively. Once the root cause is identified, the solution becomes clear and effective, as the entire scenario is based on a cause-effect relationship.”

Role of smart cities

India already has plans to build seven new Smart cities, each home to at least two million people, which will rise up between Delhi and Mumbai as part of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) (Dadri-Noida-Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, Manesar-Bawal in Haryana, Khushkhera-Bhiwadi-Neemrana in Rajasthan, Ahmedabad-Dholera in Gujarat, Pithampur-Dhar-Mhow in MP, and Dighi Port and Shendra in Maharashtra).

Smart cities are greenfield industrial cities providing IBM-developed Integrated Communication Technology (ICT). These cities are supposed to host the “elite”. But the question

Surat - resilient milestone Surat is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, experiencing rapid industrialisation and migration. According to World Bank Sustainable Development Network, it’s also one of the world’s most climate change affected cities.

In the past 100 years, Surat has experienced 23 floods, including a significant one in 2013, and an outbreak of the plague in 1994. They city’s most pressing urban resilience priorities are learning lessons from the past events; build community and social resilience for early response to floods; prevent vector-borne diseases; and improve nutrition, water management and the electric grid.

www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

39

CENTRE STAGE remains that how is it possible in the context of India?

In order to understand, we have to see the changes that have been taking place in the last 20 years. Structural adjustment programmes and neoliberal policy have been implemented in the country. The neoliberal policy has directed public-private partnership towards urban India. And as a consequence, there has been enormous investment in urban India and created parts of what the establishment calls “gated communities”.

With gated communities there has also appeared the SEZ (Special Economic Zone). Both of these have been a way in which we can see the city growing as a dual city. And we see that nowadays the investments for the poor, for helping the poor, for services for the poor, for even giving opportunities for the poor, have been reduced.

The investments are going to creating this market upscale for the new middle class that the neoliberal policy wants to expand now. So, ‘Smart Cities’ are part of the same.

India is still an agricultural country.

More than 31 percent of India is urban, the rest of it is agricultural. And any ecologically oriented settlement has to take agriculture into account.

In principle, ‘Smart Cities’ are part of ecologically sustainable environment.

To implement this, requires enormous political will.

The twin cities concept

With the city planning becoming a challenge due to impending migration, a solution resorted was the twin city concept. Twin towns or sister cities are a form of law agreements made between towns, cities, counties, oblasts, prefectures, provinces, regions, states and even countries in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.

The modern concept of town-twinning, was conceived after the Second World War in 1947, and intended to foster friendship and understanding between different cultures and between former foes as an act of peace 40 July 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

Indian twin towns or sister cities Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar, Gujarat The Gandhinagar - Ahmedabad are world-class twin city, located approximately 24 km from Ahmedabad. Gandhinagar is also known as one of the green city of India and Ahmedabad is one of the fastest developing city of India.

Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, Odisha The two well develop cities of Odisha are located about 28 km to each other and divided by Mahanadi river. Bhubaneswar is the capital city of Orissa and known as the temple city of India for number of ancient temples of Lord Shiva.

Hyderabad-Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh Hyderabad and Secunderabad are together referred to as the twin cities of Andhra Pradesh, located at the distance of 9 km. The city of Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh and offers many tourist attractions such as Char Minar, Golconda fort and mecca masjid.

Pune-Pimpri Chinchwad, Maharashtra Pimpri-Chinchwad is a well developed city consists of the twin towns of Pimpri and Chinchwad in Pune. Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad are famous as Industrial Township located 15 km from the Pune city centre.

Kolkata-Howrah, West Bengal Howrah located on the west bank of the Hoogli River is known as a twin city to Kolkata. These two twin cities are connected by four river bridges and Howrah Bridge is the most famous and oldest among them.

Kochi-Ernakulam, Kerala Kochi or Cochin is a major port city of India, situated in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. Ernakulam is the mainland portion of the twin cities of Kochi-Ernakulam Kochi has been ranked the sixth best tourist destination in India.

Hubli-Dharwad, Karnataka Hubli and Dharwad are twin cities of Karnataka,situated at 20 km of each other.

The city of Hubli is the fastest growing city of Karnataka and famous for its list of tourist attraction which includes Chandramouleshwara Temple,Unkal Lake and Nrupatunga Hill.

Durg-Bhilai, Chhattisgarh Bhilai is the city in the Durg district of Chhattisgarh, famous for the Bhilai Steel Plant situated 10 km from Durg. The twin cities of Durg and Bhilai are industrial and education hub in Chhattisgarh.

Ranchi-Hatia, Jharkhand Ranchi is the capital city of Jharkhand and Hatia is a small town and railway station in the district. These town and city can be referred as cousin sister cities or town.

Tirunelveli-Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu The beautiful twin cities of Palayamkottai and Tirunelveli are situated in Tamil Nadu. Palayamkottai is a town in the Tirunelveli district and known for Government Museum, Science Centre and Geomagnetic Research Centre.

CENTRE STAGE and reconciliation, and to encourage trade and tourism.

In recent times, town twinning has increasingly been used to form strategic international business links between member cities.

Most of us know about the Seven Sister States of India in the northeast but are unaware about the other twin towns and cousin sister cities of Indian states- other cities of India which can be considered as twin are Daman-Diu, Delhi-Noida,KankroliRajsamand, Naini-Allahabad and twin holy cities of Ajmer and Pushkar from Rajasthan.

The challenges and resolution

Prof TM Vinod Kumar feels that the planning of cities still needs focus, depth and gravity of numbers in terms of population requirement and land acquistion.

“The major issue is no planning school teaches how to plan for smart cities both in the west and east. You cannot build smart cities anywhere. If you do then you are building a smart city with no foundation. You have to identify cities with smart people and smart community who is eager in practicing e-democracy and e-govern-

ance, and great advocate of continuous learning and active participation and above all who aspire for smart living.”

“The ultimate aim is to generate smart economy. The forward and backward linkage of such smart economy transcends international boundaries and the administrative constraints imposed on it by the national and federal states is fine-tuned. to smart city standards but works seamlessly internationally. Smart mobility fixes the urban structure and urban design that generate smart environment.”

Here are some challenges faced while building a feasible city that can be resolved :

erations are organized and their data is collected separately. Changes in technology, data analytics and other tools can help cities bridge those gaps and enhance collaboration across departments.

Do more with less

Many of today’s cities are suffering from years of disinvestment in basic infrastructure, and especially technology infrastructure. These gaps, due in part to budgetary pressure but also to the regular turnover of leadership, have kept cities, their leaders and citizens from realizing their full potential, slowing economic development and constraining their ability to make informed, data-driven decisions.

In today’s difficult global economy, municipal governments are struggling with demands to increase basic services and to do so with fewer available resources.

Bridge silos in information and operations

Even as cities tackle issues that cut across segments of society - for example, transportation policies that affect economic development - their op-

Twin cities around the world Twin cities are a special case of two cities or urban centres which are founded in close geographic proximity and then grow into each other over time. The term Twin Cities in the United States refers specifically to the cities Minneapolis and Saint Paul, both of which are in the midwestern state of Minnesota.

In most cases, cities that grow into each other’s space in this way lose their individual identities, and whatever border or barrier still separates them becomes irrelevant as they fuse into one new city. One famous example of this is Budapest in Hungary, which began as two settlements (Buda and Pest) facing each other across the Danube at a strategic fording place along a trade route Twin cities often share an airport, into whose airport code are integrated the initials of both cities; DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) and MSP (Minneapolis-St. Paul) are examples.

In some cases, such as Albury/Wodonga in Australia, the two cities are permanently divided by a state border, often one that strictly adheres to a geographical landmark, such as the Murray River that divides New South Wales from Victoria, and thus Albury from Wodonga.

Use civic engagement to drive better results

When cities contemplate new ways to deliver basic services, support from their citizens is essential to their success. Citizens who are uninformed or disengaged cannot support, and may actively oppose, even the best policies.

Invest in infrastructure for better management

The scope

Even as we ponder on many strategies needed to incoporate for the cities, we must not forget that the scope a city guarantees to its citizens.

As Ajay Nair, MBA (S.Illinois) MURP (CEPT), says: “The issues of infrastructure, city planing, good practices, designs all have been sideline discussion points or local issues in the past. We need the national leaders to talk and strive for planned growth, marketing, smart growth, sustainability.” Lets pin hopes for a suited, accomodating, sustainable city be procured in every part of the country before the pace of urbanisation overflows to peaking demand that can never overcome the supply gap.

Direct your queries to

jessy@urbanupdate.in

www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

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CENTRE STAGE

BRT, a smart panacea or a façade?

City expansion and ever-growing population is only adding woes for crumbling spaces.

Can finding suitable traffic solutions like the industrial corridors and the BRT to this crisis be beneficial for the metros, or is it just a myth...

Prathiba Raju, Assistant Editor

A

s the cities are expanding the urban mobility is getting more complicated with congestion, endless jams, long commuting times, noise and air pollution. The urban planners cite that city transport cannot be seen in isolation from the overall city-planning process. Each and every metropolis needs an integrated public transport and traffic discipline.

As per experts, in 2011, nearly 350 million people lived in cities. About 300 million new residents will be moving in next few decades to cities.

The impact on urban infrastructure, particularly in transportation will be more.

According to transport experts by 2020, there will be 450 million vehicles plying on Indian roads. As of now the total number of vehicles in India stands at about a 100 million. Most of the vehicles are owned in the urban areas with a maximum density in the metropolitan cities.

Estimates by NGOs indicate that 4, 86,476 accidents took place on Indian roads, out of which 1, 37,576 people died. Air pollution has contributed to more than 6, 20,000 premature deaths.

Urban transport’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions are set to increase almost seven-fold in the next 20 years.

The 88 page report, Climate-Smart Development: Adding Up the Benefits of Actions that Help Build Prosperity, End Poverty and Combat Climate Change prepared by World Bank in partnership with Climate-Works Foundation focuses on five large countries – Brazil, China, India, Mexico, United States and European Union (EU). The 42 June 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

report was released in advance of the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit in September last year.

It examines the benefits of all five countries and EU implementing three sets of policies on clean transportation, energy efficiency in industry, and energy efficiency in buildings.

For India, the report spoke about sustainable transport and suggested that building Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes could be a quick, convenient and affordable solution for urban mobility.

More BRT need of hour: World Bank

In the report, World Bank, President Jim Young Kim, said that India needs to build 1,000 kilometers of new BRT lanes in about twenty large cities.

“If India built 1,000 kilometers of new, bus rapid transit lanes, over 20 years, that could save more than

“

Jim Young Kim President, World Bank

If India built 1,000 kilometers of new, bus rapid transit lanes, over 20 years, that could save more than 27,000 lives by reducing air pollution and accidents and create more than 128,000 jobs. It would also have large, positive effects on India’s GDP, its agriculture, and the global climate

“

27,000 lives by reducing air pollution and accidents and create more than 128,000 jobs. It would also have large, positive effects on India’s GDP, its agriculture, and the global climate,” Kim said.

The findings of the report indicate that sustainable transport development in India can deliver significant climate benefits. Modern BRT model can reduce emission, accidents, fuel use. It further adds that urban India needs affordable, low-emissions transport and people will need effective transit options for access to jobs, education, and health services; economic activity requires the transport of goods.

As per World Bank report, well-designed and -enforced BRT is a relatively inexpensive way to get people out of high-emitting vehicles and to reduce traffic congestion and pollution.

The report indicated that India could also reduce “greenhouse gas emissions by about 42 million tons” by building these BRT lanes.

The report cites an example of a BRT corridor in Pimpri-Chinchwad, a twin city located in Pune, which can be a model for replication across India. The project was approved by World Bank in 2009.

As per the Transportation Emissions Evaluation Models for Projects (TEEMP) model shows that large reductions in time, emissions, fuel use, and traffic fatalities can be achieved by shifting passenger traffic away from current transportation patterns to a modern BRT system.

“The emissions reduction benefits were further analyzed using the TM5FASST tool, which shows that reduc-

CENTRE STAGE tions in black carbon and co-pollutant emissions from the expanded BRT would reduce crop losses and deaths from respiratory illnesses.”

“Capital investments, operation and maintenance costs, fuel savings, and productivity benefits were fed into the Oxford Economics Global Energy and Industry Model of Oxford Economics (GEIM), which shows further benefits: Investment in India’s infrastructure will boost its economy and create jobs, and the switch to mass transit will reduce the overall cost of transport, raising firms’ profit margins and households’ real incomes.”

Taking the results of the PimpriChinchwad BRT analysis and a Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) study of more than 87 cities across India was used to estimate the length of viable BRT routes that could realistically be developed across India.

The analysis estimates that investment of $3 to 4 billion would be needed to develop 1,000 km of BRT corridors in about 20 cities across India within six to twelve years.

BRT, a viable solution for India?

BRT system can be a successful model in many countries, but for India it will not be a viable option, informs a road expert. He says effective traffic management, proper engineering, education on road and traffic principles should be focused than developing BRT corridors.

“BRT corridors can add up only to the chaos on the road. We still don’t have world best road engineering

“

Prince Singhal, Founder, CADD

BRT corridors can add up only to the chaos on the road. We still don’t have world best road engineering technology, so it is not a viable option. It is pointless to talk about BRT, instead, basic traffic measures and discipline need to be implemented in every city

“

technology, so it is not a viable option.

While the BRT ensures a dedicated lane for fast movement of buses, the remaining traffic jostles for space in the remaining two lanes. There is just no discipline on the road. It is pointless to talk about BRT, instead, basic traffic measures and discipline need to be implemented in every city,” Prince Singhal, initiator, Campaign Against Drunken Driving (CADD) told Urban Update.

In many cities the BRT was failure, for example Delhi. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on urban transport had informed that “potential benefits of BRTS”, has been a failure in the national capital.

The committee also said that in view of the city’s experience, the Delhi government should “abandon the other five BRT corridors as approved earlier” According to Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) report there Delhi’s BRT from Ambedkar Nagar to Moolchand, in the national capital’s southern district, was a failure and asked to convert the corridor into a regular road.

In Pune, first city to implement BRT project a 17 km corridor connecting Katraj to Hadapsar through Swargate, has become contentious as the basic features of BRT are absent. The road safety experts the project was implemented in haste without proper planning or a detailed project report.

Meanwhile, Ashok Datar, traffic expert told Urban Update that BRT model could definitely be more efficient, convenient, safe and better solution for urban mobility.

Dedicated bus lanes on any stretch would have buses ferrying more passengers an hour, which would have reduced congestion and other problems.

“When we think of a road or a lane, we always think in terms of how many vehicles can ply; instead we should always consider how many people could travel say in an hour. For example, only 200 to 400 vehicles can ply per hour in a lane, out of which 300 cars ply only few hundreds would travel. On a dedicated BRT lane, at a timeframe about 60 buses can ferry about 5,000. So this magic can happen if we have BRT corridors,” Datar said.

He also added that it is more economical than Metro system, as they have lower construction costs, reduced expenditure on buses and savings on fuel with fewer private vehicles on the road. It can become operational quickly and rerouted as needed to cater to rising demand in new areas, which Metro system can’t.

Direct your queries to

prathijourno@gmail.com

www.urbanupdate.in | June 2014

43

PRODUCTS

Water Treatment System Businesses today require end-to-end water treatment systems that are faster, cheaper and better. Culligan Matrix Solutions delivers all three with its single-source, comprehensive water treatment technology platform for virtually any vertical industry and almost every application – from process water and ingredient (product) water to capture, re-use, waste water minimization and more.

Features

♦♦ Pre-treatment: Filtration, chemical treatment, anti-scalants, pH adjustment ♦♦ Softening — with brine-reclaim and Aqua Sensor Technology ♦♦ Membrane Solutions: micro, ultra, nano filtration, reverse osmosis ♦♦ A flexible, cost-effective design ♦♦ Reduced labor and maintenance costs

Traffic Barrier Delineators To ensure smooth flow of traffic, Pexco, Davidson’s PCBM or portable concrete barrier markers was created to increase the visibility of both temporary and permanent concrete traffic barriers.

Injection molded reflectors shatter when struck losing all of their reflectivity and brightness. PCBMs are shatter-proof, bend upon impact and rebound to their original shape. They resist both direct and indirect vehicle impacts even in the coldest weather conditions.

Features

♦♦ Built tough to endure years use in construction zones and permanent installations ♦♦ Has concrete bridge parapets and wooden guardrail posts ♦♦ PCBM bases are pre-drilled for bolt and stud mounting ♦♦ Formulated adhesive for highly durable, quick, and less labor intensive installation

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi marketing

With the global emergence of Wi-fi-enabled smart phones was developed the Ad-Pod Plus which is a dual Bluetooth and Wi-fi product. Using both Bluetooth and Wi-fi enables you to deliver advertising and marketing content to 95% of mobile phones. Most notably the iPhone blocks Bluetooth transfer but with the incorporated Wi-fi solution there is now a system capable of delivering the content.

Features

♦♦ Wifi works in a similar way to a hotel’s Wifi hotspot ♦♦ Combined with the Bluetooth push this is an incredibly powerful marketing system ♦♦ The Ad-Pod Plus has the capability promoting business for free ♦♦ Can be updated by both Mac and PC ♦♦ Is able to communicate with the weak Bluetooth signal up to 60m 44 July 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

EVENTS

Events Calender 4th Annual Executive Congress on LED Lighting July 8, The Imperial, New Delhi India International Build Expo July 11-13, SIRE Mansion Thousand Lights, Chennai ESC -Embedded Systems Conference Expo July 16-18, NIMHANS Convention Centre, Bengaluru 13th edition of Green Power Conference July 17-18, ITC Grand Chola, Chennai OSH India July 17-18, Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai Solar South July 18-20, Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai Solar Tech India 2014 July 22-23, Leela Ambience, Gurgaon, Haryana Law & Technology - Issues & Challenges July 24, Hotel Le-Meridian, New Delhi Interop July 24-25, Leela Ambience, Gurgaon, Haryana Elasia July 25-28, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi Govt Achievements & Schemes Expo July 25-28, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi Automationn Asia July 25-28, Vasanthnagar, Bengaluru

‘Uplifting weavers and artisans vital’ Stating the contributory role of weavers and artisans as crucial for the economical dynamics of the country, President Pranab Mukherjee has said that the textiles sector should not be ignored but nurtured to retain the cultural heritage of the country.

While addressing the recent National Awards, Shilp Guru Awards and Sant Kabir Awards to weavers and artisans for the year 2011 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, Mukherjee highlighted how the weavers and artisans have been disadvantaged by inadequate access to credit, dependence on middlemen, nonavailability of raw materials, out-dated technology and limited access to markets. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the indigenous handicrafts and handlooms reflected the nation’s diversity and creativity.

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, he stressed. However, the products in this sector remain vulnerable to competition from cheaper imports and machine made substitutes.

These factors need to be addressed and must be given more attention to development of capacity, skills, designs and infrastructure, Mukherjee said. Minister of State Independent charge for Textiles, Santosh Gangwar conveyed nation’s gratitude for preserving, promoting and enriching the traditional cultural heritage of the country and also informed about the various scheme being run by the ministry in the 12th Five Year Plan for handloom and handicrafts.

Speaking after presenting the National Awards, Shilp Guru Awards and Sant Kabir Awards to weavers

Minister of State Independent charge for Textiles, Santosh Gangwar addressing the award ceremony

The textile sector provides largest employment opportunities. Between 2010 and 2014, despite the slowdown in the economy, there was a growth of 34% in exports from the handlooms sector and 126% in the exports from the handicrafts

and artisans for the year 2011 he said: “These (measures) could include, for example, facilitation of easier access of these sectors to credit from banks and other financial institutions and the promotion of the products of these sectors in domestic and foreign markets.” Highlighting the importance of the sector, he said that the handlooms sector in India, with 24 lakh handlooms, provides employment to about 44 lakh persons and the handicrafts sector provides employment to about 70 lakh persons.

Textiles secretary, Zohra Chatterjee said that ‘Setu Yozna’ of associating designers with handloom and handicraft cluster is reaping positive result.

The event saw the president giving away 46 national awards in handloom and handicrafts and 10 Shilp Guru Awards and two Sant Kabir awards to artisans and craftsmen from all across the country for the year 2011. www.urbanupdate.in | July 2014

45

URBAN AGENDA

Smart City means smarter communities Apresh Chandra Mishra Managing Editor apresh@urbanupdate.in

Citizens, along with optimal utilisation of resources, must also be roped in as an active part for contributing and nurturing the cities into smart communities in the future 46 July 2014 | www.urbanupdate.in

“S

mart City” has become a buzz in today’s world, largely driven by big technology suppliers who have been leading much of the narrative around smart cities through conference presentations, research papers and pilot projects. Not surprisingly, there has been a strong bias towards smart technology being seen as the saviour for urban challenges.

But while there have been projects where technology is making a significant difference, the practical reality is that some of these projects are failing to add long- term value because they have not been aligned to an overarching strategy and have been implemented in silos with no coordination between city functions. Cities will not be able to address the myriad of complex issues they face through the procurement of a ‘one-stop- shop’ solution.

The transformation to smart goes beyond leveraging technology for greater efficiency and it is about building a platform for collaboration that empowers government, citizens and businesses to solve urban challenges more dynamically.

Building a smarter city

To compete in today’s world requires city leaders to balance social, economic and environmental expectations, where competitive advantage is directly linked to their ability

to deliver basic city services, support economic growth, and increase quality of life for all. For leaders to deliver on these goals and achieve more with less, requires re-thinking urban leadership and governance. In addition, city leaders must engage citizens in the city’s use of information and communication technologies (ICT).

The city of Barcelona has articulated a vision “The City of People”, and sees ICT as an enabler to improve citizens’ welfare and quality of life, and to support economic progress. The city’s vision merges urban planning, ecology, and information technology to improve the lives of citizens, and has already had a large impact in terms of improving both efficiency and quality of life for city residents. Smart urban planning is first and foremost about improving citizens’ welfare and for supporting economic progress and technology is simply a means to that end.

An intelligent and integrated management of IT infrastructure is one of the key elements to help achieve the objectives of the Smart City. With the help of people participating in the development of the city, smart services and operating practices can be created. Citizens must be considered as an active part of the community not only as consumers of services, but also as contributors of information, ideas, solutions and innovation.

This will be the future: the city as a smart community.

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