Smarter Cities: Striving for Sustainable and Smarter Urban Environments

1. 5th SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT FORUM, ASSOCHAM Sustainability Solutions for Smarter Cities in the Indian Context March 16, 2016 Rajiv Shahani, President, Voyants Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

2. Environmental Awareness in India Environmental Awareness • Concept of ‘Panchvati’ • Manusmriti • Kautilya Environmental Laws Promulgated River Valley Townships fail (Apparently also due to sustainability factors) ‘Smart City’ Concept (A Big Leap forward) ‘Sustainability’ discovered Pre-Industrialisation Post-Independence 1800 1950 2000 1987 2010 2020 Ancient Times Increasing Awareness about Environment Sustainability But we are certainly not doing enough! Population pressures are also damping efforts?

3. Moving towards Urban Sustainability Environmental clearances for Infra and Real Estate Projects Euro IV / BS-IV emission standards Water harvesting already been made compulsory Waste water recycling also mandatory for Industry Regular monitoring of Air Pollution City Buses on CNG / Ethanol TSR already on CNG in most cities Bans contemplated on Diesel vehicles Impetus for electric vehicles Metro / MRT / Monorail lines across major cities Steps in the right direction – (Read: Sustainability):

4. Do we only need Sustainability in our Cities? Any Smart City must possess: • Quality of Economic Life: • Means of Livelihood – Smart Buildings (Office space & Commercial Centers) • Quality of Social Welfare: • Smart Healthcare • Smart Education • Quality of Safety & Security • Smart Disaster Management • Smart Policing • Quality of Environmental features • Smart Water Management • Smart Transportation • Smart Energy Management • Smart Waste Management What about ‘Sustenance’? Creating means of livelihood, appropriate basic infrastructure along with a safe and secure environment for all the Citizens of the City So do we need ‘Smart Cities’ or ‘Smarter Region?’

5. Imperatives for ‘Sustainable’ ‘Sustaining’ & ‘Smarter’ Cities • Planning so as to provide ‘Quality of Life’ to ALL Citizens. Should be comprehensive: economic, social, environmental, design • Basic infrastructure to be provided to ALL • Insulate the Planning process from Political influence • Paramount importance is the ‘Safety & Security’ for the residents Sustenance • Laws with high penalty levels for violations • Search for cheaper ‘Low Carbon’ solutions • Pre-emptive rather than Reactive to Sustainability issues • Water conservation strictly adhered by Citizens • Enhance network efficiencies Sustainability • Current baseline (All indicators) + Accurate Projections decisive • Prior to planning, vital to assess the existing influx of floating population, their motives and proclivities • Development of the Region, and not just the City Smarter

6. Can we look at the Region Now? • The City is not an Island – it is part of a whole TOWN TOWN SMART CITY TOWN TOWN • Each Smart City will act as a Magnet • Livelihood opportunities and development must happen in nearby Towns and Villages • We need a ‘Smarter’ Region >>> Else Sustainability will only remain a dream

7. What about the people My city, My privilege Why exclude me? The city is for its inhabitants • ‘A city is only a reflection of its citizens and their collective will’. Are all Citizens represented here!?!?!? • In emerging economies like India, this model will exacerbate rising crime rates, social exclusion, limited access to public amenities and heightened class divisions • Will give rise to a sudden influx of people • Learnings from ‘Smart City’ mistakes rather than copying from Successful ‘Smart Cities’

8. Unsmart Cities - Repurcussions Mumbai • Inadequate & Clogged drains • Absence of flood gates • Destruction of Mangrove eco-system) Chennai • Illegal construction • Solid Waste in lake / drain beds • Lack of Political will Consequently, there is a dire need to Plan for Emergencies / Natural calamities; Disaster negation and response infrastructure; Basic Infrastructure creation; etc.

9. Unsmart Cities - Repurcussions Gurgaon • Commercial Hub of International standards • Total absence of Planning • Inadequate road network • Absence of storm water drains • Extremely expensive real estate • Large Work force travelling from NOIDA & Delhi due to low affordability of even EWS & NPNL housing in the City In our exuberance to develop ‘model’ areas / cities, comprehensive and efficient planning is neglected

10. Therefore……… • We need ‘Smart Cities’ • We also need ‘Smarter Cities’ • Sustainability awareness exists • We just need: • Projections of most likely City requirements • Thorough understanding of Environmental degradation that may happen • Appraisal of disaster preparedness • Planning, not just for the Smart City, but it’s hinterland

11. Thank You