The
concept of sustainable cities is closely interconnected with environment and
economy and safeguard protection of natural resources, which in turn leads to a
minimum acceptable quality of life. There is a constant struggle with issues of
air pollution, congestion of human population and availability of open, green
spaces. Strong, healthy, liveable cities depend on a healthy environment, a
robust economy and ample employment opportunities for its citizens.
Before going further into the details of a
sustainable city, it is important to
understand the meaning of sustainability in the human context which leads to
sustainable development. Human endeavour focuses on certain basic assumptions
like good income; livelihoods which give meaning to life; production of goods
and services for basic needs; creation of purchasing power; regeneration of the
natural resource base; conservation of the environment; control on demographic
transitions from the rural to the urban sector, empowerment and employment for
women. Thus, a sustainable city can be defined as one which is able to provide
for the basic needs of the people along with the necessary infrastructure of
civic amenities, health and medical care, housing, education, transportation,
employment, good governance, etc. It should take care of the needs of all
sections of the society without any discrimination. As it pertains to Indian
conditions, due emphasis should be given to control population and provide
housing to the weaker sections of society who live in sub-human conditions in
slums, subsisting below the poverty line and causing environmental degradation.
Burgeoning population also leads to exploitation, crime and lawlessness due to
the ever shrinking job opportunities. For example, Delhi adds on 400,000 people
every year due to migration from all over India, thus putting a question mark on
the sustainability of this capital metropolis. This alarming increase in
population puts an enormous strain on housing, employment, healthcare, water and
electricity. Large "green" areas are converted to housing colonies,
leading to environmental degradation.
Characteristics of a Sustainable City
A sustainable city is a city which has :
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A controlled population for whom adequate, meaningful employment is available.
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Adequate governance set-up which can meet the needs of the populace and ensures
civic responsibilities, community participation, a sense of identity,
transparency and equity in local institutions.
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Efficient basic civic amenities for a reasonably comfortable existence. For
example, due to the shortage of power, more than 50% of power is illegally
consumed without payment to the municipal corporation, leading to corruption,
astronomical financial losses and inadequate supply to those who pay for its
consumption. Same goes for water, which is inadequate to meet the demands of the
population.
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Planned housing colonies with adequate infrastructure like schools, parks,
drainage system, local medicare establishments.
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An appropriate transport system, as transportation affects the environment.
Transportation planning has to take into consideration a wide range of options
and choices like adequate roads, parking lots, alternate system of
transportation, mass transit facilities. The aim should be to reduce the total
vehicle kilometres driven in congested areas, thus reducing the pollution and
emission of green house gases. This can only be effected if the number of
vehicles on roads are reduced. At present, there are about 34 lakh registered
vehicles on Delhi’s roads, of which over 22 lakh are two-wheelers which are
the main polluting vehicles.
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Effective environmental infrastructure to address the issues of untreated sewage
and waste polluting rivers, lakes and coastal zones, (thus threatening water
ecosystems).
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Empowerment of women and encouraging their participation in the political,
social and economic life of a city and adoption of urban policies that take into
account women’s needs and initiatives.
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Development of an efficient urban private sector, both formal and non-formal
which reduces poverty by generating jobs and helping in economic growth.
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An efficient health-care system which would also address issues of nutrition,
family planning and sanitation.
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A mechanism in the form of a policy initiative for industrial dispersal to
satellite townships where better employment opportunities are created.
Advantages of a Sustainable City
The importance of sustainability in the urban setting cannot be over
emphasised. As it concerns the very survival of a city, 
healthy cities
contribute to a healthy nation. Clean environment and economic growth are
complimentary to each other and result in a vibrant community who see themselves
as "stakeholders" in all aspects of daily life. In addition, the
advantages are :
n A city which provides its inhabitants with
every basic amenity for a reasonable standard of living.
n Resources used are
regenerated and sustained without getting depleted.
n A society which takes
part in good governance and allocation of its economic resources for the well
being of its people.
n Where citizens are
law-abiding, conscious of their role and contribute to the all round development
of the city.
A Few Barriers
In the Indian context, the greatest barrier to creation of a
sustainable city is the phenomenal growth of population. The urban population,
according to 1991 census was 218 million (26% of the total). It is estimated
that by year 2011 it will increase to about 430 million (37% of the total)
making it the largest urban population in the world. The main burden of this
urban overcrowding is in the metropolitan cities. This rapid growth, if
unchecked, will lead to :
n Inadequate economic growth and lack of
funds for improving the infrastructure. For example, increased population needs
more electric power which, in turn, needs higher output power stations. If they
are not provided, there is load shedding leading to inconvenience during extreme
weather conditions, power thefts and misuse of power. Similarly, due to the
over-population, water and sanitation facilities get affected.
n
Increased population increases unemployment, which in turn creates a burden on
the economy due to restless, unemployed people creating law and order problems
for which a huge police force has to be maintained.
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Increased shortage of housing. It is estimated that there is a shortage of 2
million dwellings in the 23 largest cities. This has an effect of mushrooming of
slums where about 20% of the population lives (Central Statistical Organisation,
1997, Table 7.2.4 and 7.2.6).
n
Unusual strain on education and health infrastructure.
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Increased vehicles in shrinking transportation network, leading to pollution and
wastage of man-hours for commuting.
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Non-implementation of legislation. The Water (Prevention and Control of)
Pollution Act 1974 prohibits the discharge of pollutants into water bodies
beyond a certain level and lays down penalties for infringement.
Similarly, the Air (Prevention and Control of) Pollution Act 1981 lays down
motor vehicle emission standards for maximum volumetric concentration of exhaust
gases. However, compliance of such legislation is rarely followed.
Role of NGOs
It is an acceptable fact that no government can enforce environmental laws
to keep cities clean. They rely heavily on NGOs to provide the infrastructure
for monitoring, creating awareness and taking action. NGOs are playing a very
effective role in presenting the various environmental issues before the people
and those in positions of authority. It is also an accepted fact that the civic
agencies are more amenable to suggestions and advice by people who work in the
field of environment.
Deeply concerned with the deteriorating environmental situation in the country,
Development Alternatives initiated the CLEAN-India (Community Led Environment
Action Network) programme with five schools in the national capital in 1996.
Today, CLEAN-Delhi has about forty schools regularly involved in monitoring
water and air quality in over 150 locations spread across Delhi. Over 2000
children have been directly trained on environmental assessment and improvement
activities. They keep vigil, assess environmental quality, plead, cajole and
lead the community in monitoring environment. Action programmes like solid waste
management, plantation drives, energy conservation, paper recycling, etc. to
improve local environmental conditions have also been initiated by schools,
resident welfare associations, business and industrial associations as well as
individual households. Campaigns against the use of polybags, firecrackers
during Diwali and toxic (chemical-based) colours during Holi and for saving the
city’s ‘Green Treasure’ are also carried out. The experience in
Delhi indicates that when environment assessment is community based, it
mobilises the community to review the local environmental conditions and take
requisite measures, without waiting for undue external support.
Encouraged by the Delhi experience, NGOs from different towns have
operationalised the CLEAN-India programme. The present CLEAN-India Centers are :
Delhi, Shillong, Faizabad, Ladakh, Bangalore, Berinag (Kumaon Hills), Jhansi,
Sagar, Bilaspur, Lalitpur, Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram. Almost 100 NGOs from
across the country have expressed their interest to initiate the programme in
their respective towns.
Issues to be addressed
For a sustainable city, the following aspects have to be addressed:
Empowerment: Addressing the economic, social, political and institutional
inequalities which prevent the poor and disadvantaged groups from having access
to and influence over policies and interventions, which in turn influence their
lives.
Security: Addressing the risk and vulnerability which poor communities in
the big cities will increasingly face in the global environment and which may
trap them into poverty.
Opportunity: Putting in place the conditions for investment and sustainable
development of the environment or increase risk and vulnerability.
Financing: For improving public
services and utilities, employment opportunities, housing, health and education
for all communities in the cities.
Conclusion
In the Asian context, we should emulate the example of Singapore and
Kuala Lumpur, (Malaysia). Both these metropolis have achieved a high standard of
living in a relatively short period of time. Such an achievement is not only the
responsibility of the government but the people alike. Responsible citizenship
demands an effort from each and every individual in the society. If that is not
forthcoming, the government has to come down hard to ensure a clean, healthy
environment. It is at all levels - individual, household, community and city –
that striving will produce tangible results. An attitude of care for the
environment, controlling pollution, following housing norms, honest effort and
meaningful utilisation of economic resources will have a positive impact for the
sustainable growth of a city.
by Col. V Katju
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CLEAN Partner Profile
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We invite NGO’s/Organizations/Institutions
to become our partners in CLEAN India. Those interested
in starting CLEAN programme in their respective city /
town may send their particulars in the below mentioned
format to Col.V. Katju (Retd.), Manager - CLEAN,
Development Alternatives, B-32 Tara Crescent, Qutab
Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110 016. Fax: 011-686
6031.
1. Name of the Organisation /
Institution:
2. Address and Telephone :
3. Name and Designation of the
Contact Person:
4. Number of members and their
qualifications who will be associated with CLEAN from
the Organisation / Institution :
5. To be completed if you represent
an NGO :
I. Is the NGO registered ? : Yes
/ No
II. Is the NGO working with
schools ? If Yes how many ?
What are the types of school programmes that you
organize :
Environment related / Nature related / Others
(specify )
III. How many schools will you
involve in CLEAN ? :
6. To be completed if you represent
an Institution :
IV. Which department is interested in initiating
the CLEAN programme? :
Botany / Zoology / Chemistry / Others (specify)V. Will you also involve schools
in the programme ? If Yes, how many schools?
Signature of the concerned
Date :
person with designation
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