Paper makes an attempt to understand the context and impact of Covid 19 on the urban settlements, people and communities in terms of operation, economy, mobility, healthcare etc. and tries to define the issue which needs to be addressed and options which need to be exercised in order to enable and empower cities to counter to the negative effect of all natural and manmade disasters to make them better places to live and work.
Decarbonising Human Settlements through Regional Planning, Peri-urban Devel...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Text tries to draw the attention of the professionals engaged in planning and designing of cities to the role of peri-urban areas in promoting the future planned growth of urban areas. Text also defines that cities need to be seen , planned , designed, developed and visuliased in the larger context not cofined to arbitrary physical boundaries defined by polotical and economic factors. Cities need to be seen in the larger context of the region and accordingly planned and devloped in the larger context of peri-urban araes/regional context, to stay safe, rational and sustainable. Neglecting rural areas at the cost of promoting urban development can be both irrational, illogical and fraught with danger of having lopsided developmnet of the urban areas. in the developing countries. Making cities carbon neutral will be possible only if the urban / rural areas and peri -urban areas are integrated within a unified planning, devlopment and management framework.
Re-inventing and Re-defining Urban Planning for Promoting Sustainable Mega Ci...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper make an attempt to understand the planning related issues and options for the mega cities with focus on capital City of Lahorein Pakistan, its growth and development post 1947 and the options which can be leveataged to make the city sustainable and livable. Paper looks at the good practices used in the planning of capital city of Chandigarh and also at the option of decentralising these cities. Look at the size, economic role and its criticality in the development of the state/region, --suggestion has been made to plan and devlop these mega cities in the regional/ national context.so as to enable them to play their designated role. However, these cities need to be made resilient to make them withstand any manmade/natural disasters. These cities despite their criticality and importance remain diffficult to manage and govern.
Options for making affordable housing for all a reality in urban India (1)JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Presentation tries to briefly dwelling on affordable housing in the context of India- Explaining the role and importance of housing in urban spaces , issues, challenges and roadblock faced and options available for making housing for all a distinct reality
Issues and options for raising Resources for Financing infrastructure in Ur...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Considering role and importance of infrastructure, Paper makes an attempt to bring out the options to raise resources to make available urban infrastructure to all in urban India
Affordable housing for all in india- Issues and OptionsJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Occupying largest space and having largest count in human settlements, housing, despite being critical for human living, quality of life and occupying higher rating in all government policies and programs, has remained elusive for majority of the people belonging to lower end of economic/social pyramid. Housing has emerged as the most complex human problem, ever evolving, ever devolving, never static, never finite and never nearing solution. Increasing human numbers, rapid mass migration/ movement of the people due to shifting of residence in search of better economic opportunities within/across nations have emerged as the major cause of the problem. getting more vexed. Having different connotations and meaning for different communities across the globe , Housing has defied all solutions to make housing for all a distinct reality. As major consumer of energy, resources, land, materials, money, labour and time , housing has assumed complex dimensions in different nations/states /communities. Housing also is known to have impact on environment, ecology and global sustainability. Housing does not remain confined to four walls ; it needs a large network of amenities and services to support it. It has high degree of linkages with the human habitat. Paper looks at the housing in the Indian context, tries to identify different issues and roadblocks which are hindering the growth and development of affordable housing and makes an attempt to define agenda for increasing housing numbers in the affordable housing for the EWS/LIG segment of population.
Presentatio tries to bring out context of the cities in the overall development of communities and nations, and the manner cities are being subjected to devlopmental and population pressure. As engines of economic growth cities are known to have environmental, ecological and infrastructure implications besides becoming the major propeller of global warming and climate change. Looking at the role and importance of cities in alleviating poverty, pollution and numerous other growing dualitues and contradictions, presentation focusses on how to make growth and development of cities more rational, sustaianble, inclusive, safe abd resilient.
Housing remains critical for providing safety, security, identity, space for social interaction for families to live, learn and grow together. Housing is also considered major determinant of quality of life.besides major propeller of industrial and economic development. Large number of crimes happening in society can also be attributed to the manner in which majority of people are made to live adverse conditions in urban areas. Considering the multiple implications of housing,- providing affordable housing for all has been mandated by united nations as the basic agenda of growth and development for all member nations. However, housing despite occupying critical role in human living and national development , remains in crisis, crisis of both quality and quantity. Dynamic nature of housing demand makes provision of housing for all the most challenging task because housing need and demand never remains static. It is always evolving, devolving, never finite and never finished. Considering multiple implications of housing in terms of land, resources, finances, technologies, manpower, providing housing remains the most challenging job for individuals, communities and nations. Paper tries to bring out these peculiarities while explaining the context of affordable housing..
Decarbonising Human Settlements through Regional Planning, Peri-urban Devel...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Text tries to draw the attention of the professionals engaged in planning and designing of cities to the role of peri-urban areas in promoting the future planned growth of urban areas. Text also defines that cities need to be seen , planned , designed, developed and visuliased in the larger context not cofined to arbitrary physical boundaries defined by polotical and economic factors. Cities need to be seen in the larger context of the region and accordingly planned and devloped in the larger context of peri-urban araes/regional context, to stay safe, rational and sustainable. Neglecting rural areas at the cost of promoting urban development can be both irrational, illogical and fraught with danger of having lopsided developmnet of the urban areas. in the developing countries. Making cities carbon neutral will be possible only if the urban / rural areas and peri -urban areas are integrated within a unified planning, devlopment and management framework.
Re-inventing and Re-defining Urban Planning for Promoting Sustainable Mega Ci...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper make an attempt to understand the planning related issues and options for the mega cities with focus on capital City of Lahorein Pakistan, its growth and development post 1947 and the options which can be leveataged to make the city sustainable and livable. Paper looks at the good practices used in the planning of capital city of Chandigarh and also at the option of decentralising these cities. Look at the size, economic role and its criticality in the development of the state/region, --suggestion has been made to plan and devlop these mega cities in the regional/ national context.so as to enable them to play their designated role. However, these cities need to be made resilient to make them withstand any manmade/natural disasters. These cities despite their criticality and importance remain diffficult to manage and govern.
Options for making affordable housing for all a reality in urban India (1)JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Presentation tries to briefly dwelling on affordable housing in the context of India- Explaining the role and importance of housing in urban spaces , issues, challenges and roadblock faced and options available for making housing for all a distinct reality
Issues and options for raising Resources for Financing infrastructure in Ur...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Considering role and importance of infrastructure, Paper makes an attempt to bring out the options to raise resources to make available urban infrastructure to all in urban India
Affordable housing for all in india- Issues and OptionsJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Occupying largest space and having largest count in human settlements, housing, despite being critical for human living, quality of life and occupying higher rating in all government policies and programs, has remained elusive for majority of the people belonging to lower end of economic/social pyramid. Housing has emerged as the most complex human problem, ever evolving, ever devolving, never static, never finite and never nearing solution. Increasing human numbers, rapid mass migration/ movement of the people due to shifting of residence in search of better economic opportunities within/across nations have emerged as the major cause of the problem. getting more vexed. Having different connotations and meaning for different communities across the globe , Housing has defied all solutions to make housing for all a distinct reality. As major consumer of energy, resources, land, materials, money, labour and time , housing has assumed complex dimensions in different nations/states /communities. Housing also is known to have impact on environment, ecology and global sustainability. Housing does not remain confined to four walls ; it needs a large network of amenities and services to support it. It has high degree of linkages with the human habitat. Paper looks at the housing in the Indian context, tries to identify different issues and roadblocks which are hindering the growth and development of affordable housing and makes an attempt to define agenda for increasing housing numbers in the affordable housing for the EWS/LIG segment of population.
Presentatio tries to bring out context of the cities in the overall development of communities and nations, and the manner cities are being subjected to devlopmental and population pressure. As engines of economic growth cities are known to have environmental, ecological and infrastructure implications besides becoming the major propeller of global warming and climate change. Looking at the role and importance of cities in alleviating poverty, pollution and numerous other growing dualitues and contradictions, presentation focusses on how to make growth and development of cities more rational, sustaianble, inclusive, safe abd resilient.
Housing remains critical for providing safety, security, identity, space for social interaction for families to live, learn and grow together. Housing is also considered major determinant of quality of life.besides major propeller of industrial and economic development. Large number of crimes happening in society can also be attributed to the manner in which majority of people are made to live adverse conditions in urban areas. Considering the multiple implications of housing,- providing affordable housing for all has been mandated by united nations as the basic agenda of growth and development for all member nations. However, housing despite occupying critical role in human living and national development , remains in crisis, crisis of both quality and quantity. Dynamic nature of housing demand makes provision of housing for all the most challenging task because housing need and demand never remains static. It is always evolving, devolving, never finite and never finished. Considering multiple implications of housing in terms of land, resources, finances, technologies, manpower, providing housing remains the most challenging job for individuals, communities and nations. Paper tries to bring out these peculiarities while explaining the context of affordable housing..
Comprehensive Development of Amritsar- Need for A Planning and Urban Develop...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper was written when Amritsar development Authority was not created and Amritsar Master Plan was in evolution. Paper was written primarily to focus on the need of creating a dedicated agency for promoting the planned development of Amritsar Metroplis. Paper is being published by adding the post srcipt in the already published text
Need for Convergence in Planning and Implementation Across all MISSIONSJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Presentation is a brief attempt to showcase the need and importance of convergence of planning and implementation of all the urban missions in order to achieve holistic development of the urban centres in India and to launch Urban India on fast trajectory of Urban revitalisation. It needs to be expanded further to make it more extensive and meaningful
Options for Sourcing Land for Sustainable Urban Development in the State of P...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper looks at the existing scenario of urban planning in the state of Punjab, growth of urban population, quantum of land required, prevailing schemes for sourcing land, emerging roadblocks in sourcing land and options for sourcing land at an affordable cost including making landowners as co-parceners in sourcing land
Strategies for Promoting Urban SustainabilityJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper is an attempt to define agenda for planning sustainable cities using different options of planning, transportation, green buildings, ruralisation etc
Town planning - A Tool to Promote Holistic Development of Human settlementsJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Updated paper tries to bring out the context, role and importance of town planning to make this world a better place to live and work and to make human life more sustainable and efficient. It also tries to brief about the approach which needs adoption to make town planning a better profession.
Designing for smart and Inclusive Cities in indiaJitKumarGupta1
Making cities Smart remains an illusion/ mirage and a fallacy in this world, which is illogically and irrationally being chased and promoted by politician, administrators and people in the power. How can cities be made Smart, both conceptually and physically, when cities are marked by dualities and contradictions, when it cannot take care of its stakeholders; Create ownership among them; provide them basic infrastructures, amenities and services; assure them appropriate employment and economic options; provide them with reasonable shelter; ensure healthy living. Cities cannot be made Smart till poverty continue to rule the cities; where planning remains marginalized/diluted; where multiplicity of agencies continue to operate and rule in contradiction to each other; where decision made remain mired with subjectivity; where there is total lack of ownership; where leadership has no understanding of the city growth and development and where manpower deployed remain inadequately qualified to understand and address the issues of urbanization. Cities would require more focus and will need care and caution, provided with the input of professionals who can lead the cities to make them more livable. I think need is to move from and focus on promoting livability rather than smartness. How can we achieve the objective of livability, should remain the agenda for all professionals and stake holders involved with making cities Smart.
Paper tries to look at the planning, growth and development of cities and the manner in which they can be made sustainable in the context of 17 SDG. It tries to define agenda for their planning and governance while considering the new urbanism.
Planning Smart cities- Concepts and Practices.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Planning remains universal for making cities growth rational and logical. In the absence of planned development, cities cannot be made to grow in an orderly manner. Planners have been making cities different and distinct using different agenda for planning and development of cities. Currently planners are making cities safe, resilient, sustainable and livable. Many nations are vouching to make cities smart. Smart city is not a new concept .It has been followed globally to improve the quality of living and promote operational efficiency and productivity of the cities. It is an attempt to make cities more livable, sustainable and for creating a brand image to attract investment and make them a tourist destination. Globally , smart cities are characterized by high degree of environmental consciousness; using information technology to promote energy/ resources efficiency; creation of knowledge infrastructure; promoting sustainable economic development and high quality of life; ensuring wise management of natural resources through participatory action. According to Forbe, the structure of smart cities will have to be built on eight pillars involving: ‘smart governance, smart energy, smart buildings, smart mobility, smart infrastructure, smart technology, smart healthcare and smart citizens. Based on detailed studies and in depth analysis made of the most successful case studies globally, as how to transform cities into great places to live and make a city great, Mckinsey’s suggests three pronged strategies involving, achieving smart growth, do more with less and win support for change. Considering the entire gamut of urban settlements , a city can be made Smart only if it is planned smart, developed smart, operated smart, financed smart and governed smartly .
Strategies for Promoting Good Governanace at Local Level urban g overnance (1...JitKumarGupta1
McKinsey Report , ‘How to Make a City Great-,outlines three-pronged strategy, to make cities great places to live and work, involving Achieving Smart Growth by adopting a strategic approach, planning for a change, integrating environmental thinking and insisting on opportunities for all; Doing More with Less by assessing and managing expenses rigorously, exploring partnerships, introducing accountability and embracing technology ; Winning Support for a Change by crafting a personal vision, building a high performing team ,creating a culture of accountability and forging stakeholder consensus. 74th Constitution Amendment, mandates ULBs to emerge as government in its own right .Looking at their structure ,resources and culture, it appears that their capacity in urban governance is totally lacking, considering the growing size, population and complexities of the problems /challenges posed by the urban areas, If good urban governance through local bodies is to be ensured, their capacity to govern has to be improved by providing them necessary skills in terms of institutional, technical, administrative and political capacities. For creating appropriate capacity, State must create options for skilling manpower t ; making available Sufficient resources; improving Personnel management ; incentivising local bodies by recognizing good work done by the local bodies. Examples of good governance need dissemination for replication and to build on such examples and ensure that every urban centre to fulfill the vision of a planned, healthy, productive, sustainable, liveable and efficient settlementin.
Redefining Planning Strategies for Promoting Sustainable Urban SettJitKumarGupta1
Urbanisation in developing economies is fast emerging as a process of transfer of rural poverty to urban environment, leading to concentration of misery; creating distortions and emergence of numerous imbalances and problems. Accordingly, urban settlements are suffering from improper and haphazard development, absence of basic infrastructures and services, lack of housing, high degree of visual and environmental degradation and uncontrolled traffic etc. The cumulative effect of these factors is the degradation of quality of life in urban settlements and large number of subsidies required to keep them operational. Indian urbanization is characterized by urbanization of population, urbanization of poverty, urbanization of pollution and urbanization of environment.Looking at the existing scenario, all evidences suggest that despite best of the efforts of Planners to contain the population and limit and regulate the growth of large cities, they continue to grow and expand at an alarming pace; despite best of the efforts to promote planned growth, haphazard and unplanned development has emerged as the order of the day; despite best efforts made to contain slums, their number and size are growing much faster; despite pursuing the objective of ensuring quality of life to all, majority of urban dwellers are facing deprivation and lack of access to housing, basic amenities and facilities resulting in constant degradation of living environment. Thus, wide gaps have emerged over the years between what is planned and what actually comes on the ground.The dualities and contradictions emerging in the settlement scenario accordingly call for having a closer look at the very mechanism of city planning, development and management. It also calls for evaluating the concepts and systems, which have been followed in the past, for promoting planned growth of human settlements and have resulted in high level of distortions emerging in settlement planning and development mechanism. Since the existing systems and concepts have resulted in widening the gap between planning and development and have failed to achieve the goal of planned growth, surely it calls for their substitutions by some innovative concepts and systems, which would remove emerging distortions, dualities and contradictions in the settlement planning and make them rational and orderlu.
Strategy for Promoting Sustainable Cities in IndiaJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper is an attempt to look at the options to make cities more livable, sustainable, productive, effective, efficient and inclusive in the face of rapid, massive,unplanned and haphazard urbanisation.
Paper looks at the current status of cities and urbanization, issues faced by urban sector and suggest strategies to make cities more smart and sustainable.
Compact city as an Option for Making Indian Cities Smart and SustainableJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper, written jointly with Ar Anoop Sharma from SMVDU Jammu, tries to look holistically at the prevailing pattern of India urbanization and planning and designing of Indian cities. Paper tries to underline the problems faced by cities in terms of environment, pollution, land , slums, traffic& transportation, housing,services etc and tries to suggest solutions looking at the advantages offed by the compact cities in terms of optimizing land, minimising travel/pollution, making cities development cost-effective, efficient and promoting walking instead of using fossil fuel propelled mechanical transportation. to make cities more livable and sustainable, resilient, safe and inclusive
All cities remain unique and distinct. No two cities are similar. Each city has its strength , weakness , threats and opportunities. Each city has a different and distinct gene, fabric and social structure. Cities are manmade entities, always evolving and devolving, never defined never finite. They are anti-thesis to nature and natural environment. Rapid urbanizations remain the greatest threat to environment and ecology. From the narratives given, it can be visualized that making cities great places to live and work, remains both complex, difficult and daunting task, requiring out of box thinking, adopting multiple` approaches and innovating state of art options for planning , development and management of cities. Rapid pace and massive influx of population in the urban areas offers enormous opportunities and challenges to innovate, experiment, evolve and devolve to the planners, architects, engineers, professionals, developers, administrators, politicians, urban local bodies, parastatal agencies, private sector and other stakeholders to make cities great entities and best place for living and working; meeting all basic human needs; promoting ease of doing business; promoting sharing; creating enabling environment and spaces for all human operations. How effectively and efficiently we meet these challenges and make best use of opportunities offered in the urban domain, shall hold the key to the sustainability, growth and development of the communities and nations. All cities can be made great places to live and work, depending upon how residents, local communities and all stakeholders commit, involve, innovate and experiment to achieve the objective. Planners hold the key to make cities sustainable but they need to empower themselves , innovate and find out of box solutions and work with people/stakeholders based on the prevailing ground realities. Planning and designing cities and villages will require working on the same platform, synergizing their potential and marching in the same direction. Without involving and planning villages, cities will have little chance to become livable and productive for all.
Making Cities Zero Carbon -- issues and optionJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Cities are known for their dualities and contradictions, positivity and negativities, inclusion and exclusion, poverty and prosperity, luxury housing and slums, planned and unplanned development, innovations and depravity, good and bad, pleasant and ugliness. All these contradictions are the outcome of the way we are planning, designing and managing cities. If cities are bringing prosperity, they are also creating global crisis. Majority of global ills of global warming, rising temperature, natural crisis is the outcome of how we are treating the cities. Cities are being conceived as anti-thesis to nature and accordingly they are creating crisis including crisis of very human existence. Cities need to be treated in a better and rational manner by planning and designing them in logical manner. Cities need to be looked as integral part of nature and not looked as a commodity for sale and making profit. Cities not to be treated as a market place where one hopes to earn money and generate wealth. They have to be looked as places for human living – giving human beings an environment, where they can lead happy and healthy life. Cities need to be planned with nature using natural resources. They need to be made more effective and efficient. Cities need to be made producers rather than consumers of natural and non-renewable resources. They need to be made more livable and supportive to human living and nature. Cities need respect and care. We need to heal its wounds. If cites continue to be treated like they are being treated now, they are going to become major source of impending crisis , making human living most challenging on this planet. Accordingly, we need to relook, review, redefine and revise our options of planning, travel and creating built environment.
Comprehensive Development of Amritsar- Need for A Planning and Urban Develop...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper was written when Amritsar development Authority was not created and Amritsar Master Plan was in evolution. Paper was written primarily to focus on the need of creating a dedicated agency for promoting the planned development of Amritsar Metroplis. Paper is being published by adding the post srcipt in the already published text
Need for Convergence in Planning and Implementation Across all MISSIONSJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Presentation is a brief attempt to showcase the need and importance of convergence of planning and implementation of all the urban missions in order to achieve holistic development of the urban centres in India and to launch Urban India on fast trajectory of Urban revitalisation. It needs to be expanded further to make it more extensive and meaningful
Options for Sourcing Land for Sustainable Urban Development in the State of P...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper looks at the existing scenario of urban planning in the state of Punjab, growth of urban population, quantum of land required, prevailing schemes for sourcing land, emerging roadblocks in sourcing land and options for sourcing land at an affordable cost including making landowners as co-parceners in sourcing land
Strategies for Promoting Urban SustainabilityJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper is an attempt to define agenda for planning sustainable cities using different options of planning, transportation, green buildings, ruralisation etc
Town planning - A Tool to Promote Holistic Development of Human settlementsJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Updated paper tries to bring out the context, role and importance of town planning to make this world a better place to live and work and to make human life more sustainable and efficient. It also tries to brief about the approach which needs adoption to make town planning a better profession.
Designing for smart and Inclusive Cities in indiaJitKumarGupta1
Making cities Smart remains an illusion/ mirage and a fallacy in this world, which is illogically and irrationally being chased and promoted by politician, administrators and people in the power. How can cities be made Smart, both conceptually and physically, when cities are marked by dualities and contradictions, when it cannot take care of its stakeholders; Create ownership among them; provide them basic infrastructures, amenities and services; assure them appropriate employment and economic options; provide them with reasonable shelter; ensure healthy living. Cities cannot be made Smart till poverty continue to rule the cities; where planning remains marginalized/diluted; where multiplicity of agencies continue to operate and rule in contradiction to each other; where decision made remain mired with subjectivity; where there is total lack of ownership; where leadership has no understanding of the city growth and development and where manpower deployed remain inadequately qualified to understand and address the issues of urbanization. Cities would require more focus and will need care and caution, provided with the input of professionals who can lead the cities to make them more livable. I think need is to move from and focus on promoting livability rather than smartness. How can we achieve the objective of livability, should remain the agenda for all professionals and stake holders involved with making cities Smart.
Paper tries to look at the planning, growth and development of cities and the manner in which they can be made sustainable in the context of 17 SDG. It tries to define agenda for their planning and governance while considering the new urbanism.
Planning Smart cities- Concepts and Practices.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Planning remains universal for making cities growth rational and logical. In the absence of planned development, cities cannot be made to grow in an orderly manner. Planners have been making cities different and distinct using different agenda for planning and development of cities. Currently planners are making cities safe, resilient, sustainable and livable. Many nations are vouching to make cities smart. Smart city is not a new concept .It has been followed globally to improve the quality of living and promote operational efficiency and productivity of the cities. It is an attempt to make cities more livable, sustainable and for creating a brand image to attract investment and make them a tourist destination. Globally , smart cities are characterized by high degree of environmental consciousness; using information technology to promote energy/ resources efficiency; creation of knowledge infrastructure; promoting sustainable economic development and high quality of life; ensuring wise management of natural resources through participatory action. According to Forbe, the structure of smart cities will have to be built on eight pillars involving: ‘smart governance, smart energy, smart buildings, smart mobility, smart infrastructure, smart technology, smart healthcare and smart citizens. Based on detailed studies and in depth analysis made of the most successful case studies globally, as how to transform cities into great places to live and make a city great, Mckinsey’s suggests three pronged strategies involving, achieving smart growth, do more with less and win support for change. Considering the entire gamut of urban settlements , a city can be made Smart only if it is planned smart, developed smart, operated smart, financed smart and governed smartly .
Strategies for Promoting Good Governanace at Local Level urban g overnance (1...JitKumarGupta1
McKinsey Report , ‘How to Make a City Great-,outlines three-pronged strategy, to make cities great places to live and work, involving Achieving Smart Growth by adopting a strategic approach, planning for a change, integrating environmental thinking and insisting on opportunities for all; Doing More with Less by assessing and managing expenses rigorously, exploring partnerships, introducing accountability and embracing technology ; Winning Support for a Change by crafting a personal vision, building a high performing team ,creating a culture of accountability and forging stakeholder consensus. 74th Constitution Amendment, mandates ULBs to emerge as government in its own right .Looking at their structure ,resources and culture, it appears that their capacity in urban governance is totally lacking, considering the growing size, population and complexities of the problems /challenges posed by the urban areas, If good urban governance through local bodies is to be ensured, their capacity to govern has to be improved by providing them necessary skills in terms of institutional, technical, administrative and political capacities. For creating appropriate capacity, State must create options for skilling manpower t ; making available Sufficient resources; improving Personnel management ; incentivising local bodies by recognizing good work done by the local bodies. Examples of good governance need dissemination for replication and to build on such examples and ensure that every urban centre to fulfill the vision of a planned, healthy, productive, sustainable, liveable and efficient settlementin.
Redefining Planning Strategies for Promoting Sustainable Urban SettJitKumarGupta1
Urbanisation in developing economies is fast emerging as a process of transfer of rural poverty to urban environment, leading to concentration of misery; creating distortions and emergence of numerous imbalances and problems. Accordingly, urban settlements are suffering from improper and haphazard development, absence of basic infrastructures and services, lack of housing, high degree of visual and environmental degradation and uncontrolled traffic etc. The cumulative effect of these factors is the degradation of quality of life in urban settlements and large number of subsidies required to keep them operational. Indian urbanization is characterized by urbanization of population, urbanization of poverty, urbanization of pollution and urbanization of environment.Looking at the existing scenario, all evidences suggest that despite best of the efforts of Planners to contain the population and limit and regulate the growth of large cities, they continue to grow and expand at an alarming pace; despite best of the efforts to promote planned growth, haphazard and unplanned development has emerged as the order of the day; despite best efforts made to contain slums, their number and size are growing much faster; despite pursuing the objective of ensuring quality of life to all, majority of urban dwellers are facing deprivation and lack of access to housing, basic amenities and facilities resulting in constant degradation of living environment. Thus, wide gaps have emerged over the years between what is planned and what actually comes on the ground.The dualities and contradictions emerging in the settlement scenario accordingly call for having a closer look at the very mechanism of city planning, development and management. It also calls for evaluating the concepts and systems, which have been followed in the past, for promoting planned growth of human settlements and have resulted in high level of distortions emerging in settlement planning and development mechanism. Since the existing systems and concepts have resulted in widening the gap between planning and development and have failed to achieve the goal of planned growth, surely it calls for their substitutions by some innovative concepts and systems, which would remove emerging distortions, dualities and contradictions in the settlement planning and make them rational and orderlu.
Strategy for Promoting Sustainable Cities in IndiaJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper is an attempt to look at the options to make cities more livable, sustainable, productive, effective, efficient and inclusive in the face of rapid, massive,unplanned and haphazard urbanisation.
Paper looks at the current status of cities and urbanization, issues faced by urban sector and suggest strategies to make cities more smart and sustainable.
Compact city as an Option for Making Indian Cities Smart and SustainableJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper, written jointly with Ar Anoop Sharma from SMVDU Jammu, tries to look holistically at the prevailing pattern of India urbanization and planning and designing of Indian cities. Paper tries to underline the problems faced by cities in terms of environment, pollution, land , slums, traffic& transportation, housing,services etc and tries to suggest solutions looking at the advantages offed by the compact cities in terms of optimizing land, minimising travel/pollution, making cities development cost-effective, efficient and promoting walking instead of using fossil fuel propelled mechanical transportation. to make cities more livable and sustainable, resilient, safe and inclusive
All cities remain unique and distinct. No two cities are similar. Each city has its strength , weakness , threats and opportunities. Each city has a different and distinct gene, fabric and social structure. Cities are manmade entities, always evolving and devolving, never defined never finite. They are anti-thesis to nature and natural environment. Rapid urbanizations remain the greatest threat to environment and ecology. From the narratives given, it can be visualized that making cities great places to live and work, remains both complex, difficult and daunting task, requiring out of box thinking, adopting multiple` approaches and innovating state of art options for planning , development and management of cities. Rapid pace and massive influx of population in the urban areas offers enormous opportunities and challenges to innovate, experiment, evolve and devolve to the planners, architects, engineers, professionals, developers, administrators, politicians, urban local bodies, parastatal agencies, private sector and other stakeholders to make cities great entities and best place for living and working; meeting all basic human needs; promoting ease of doing business; promoting sharing; creating enabling environment and spaces for all human operations. How effectively and efficiently we meet these challenges and make best use of opportunities offered in the urban domain, shall hold the key to the sustainability, growth and development of the communities and nations. All cities can be made great places to live and work, depending upon how residents, local communities and all stakeholders commit, involve, innovate and experiment to achieve the objective. Planners hold the key to make cities sustainable but they need to empower themselves , innovate and find out of box solutions and work with people/stakeholders based on the prevailing ground realities. Planning and designing cities and villages will require working on the same platform, synergizing their potential and marching in the same direction. Without involving and planning villages, cities will have little chance to become livable and productive for all.
Making Cities Zero Carbon -- issues and optionJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Cities are known for their dualities and contradictions, positivity and negativities, inclusion and exclusion, poverty and prosperity, luxury housing and slums, planned and unplanned development, innovations and depravity, good and bad, pleasant and ugliness. All these contradictions are the outcome of the way we are planning, designing and managing cities. If cities are bringing prosperity, they are also creating global crisis. Majority of global ills of global warming, rising temperature, natural crisis is the outcome of how we are treating the cities. Cities are being conceived as anti-thesis to nature and accordingly they are creating crisis including crisis of very human existence. Cities need to be treated in a better and rational manner by planning and designing them in logical manner. Cities need to be looked as integral part of nature and not looked as a commodity for sale and making profit. Cities not to be treated as a market place where one hopes to earn money and generate wealth. They have to be looked as places for human living – giving human beings an environment, where they can lead happy and healthy life. Cities need to be planned with nature using natural resources. They need to be made more effective and efficient. Cities need to be made producers rather than consumers of natural and non-renewable resources. They need to be made more livable and supportive to human living and nature. Cities need respect and care. We need to heal its wounds. If cites continue to be treated like they are being treated now, they are going to become major source of impending crisis , making human living most challenging on this planet. Accordingly, we need to relook, review, redefine and revise our options of planning, travel and creating built environment.
Occupying merely 3% of global land resource and housing more than half of global population, cities are known to generate global prosperity besides consuming 70% of energy and 75% of global carbon footprints. Cities are also known to be major consumers of both manmade and natural resources besides generating large waste. Majority of global problems of climate change, global warming, rising temperature , flooding, disasters etc. can be attributed to the way cities are being treated , valued, planned and managed. If cities are the centres of all problems on this planet earth, surely they also have the solutions to overcome these problems. In order to make this world more sustainable, it will be critical to understand, appreciate, study and analyse the sources of the existing urban problems and then find options to overcome those problems. Considering the problem of energy, cities need to produce their own energy from the natural sources, rather than consuming black energy generated by thermal plants. In addition, cities need to be evaluated in terms of the activities which consume large energy. Focus should be to make those activities resource efficient. Travel, traffic and built environment are the major consumers of energy, they need to be reinvented and redefined to make them least consumers of energy. Cities need to look for green options of travel and creating built environment. Cities need to evolve their agenda for minimizing climate change. Reducing urban waste calls for adopting circular economy approach. Technology would need to be leveraged to make cities more resource/energy efficient. Large options are available on this planet earth which needs to be leveraged in a rational and realistic manner to make cities zero-carbon, in order to overcome the global problems revolving around sustainability, livability, quality of life, poverty and non-availability of basic human needs.
Comact City as an Option for Making Urban India more Sustainable and LivableJitKumarGupta1
Cities and towns remain critical in chartering and scripting the development trajectory of any community/nation. Structural transformation of the economy, sustaining high rates of economic growth and realization of economic potential is largely contingent on the efficacy and efficiency of urban settlements and rationalization of the process of urbanization. Well-managed, urbanization is known to fosters social and economic advancement and improved quality of life. However, cities are globally facing greater threat and challenges in terms of growing number of urban residents living in informal settlements , inadequate urban services, climate change; global warming; exclusion and rising inequality and poverty; rising insecurity; growing migration, rising global carbon emission. The current models and framework/approach to urbanization and urban planning remains highly unsustainable. Majority of Indian cities lack planning, capacity and preparedness to manage and counter effectively the challenges associated with rapid and massive urbanization. Accordingly, new agenda will be essential and critical to defined /effectively address the emerging challenges and take advantage of the opportunities offered by urbanization. The new urban agenda should promote human settlements that are planned, designed and managed to be environmentally sustainable; socially inclusive and economically productive. Compact city, as a role model of urban planning and development, offer enormous opportunities and options, to make cities more effective and efficient intense dense, efficient. Compact city is also known for its distinct quality of offering enormous opportunities to make cities more sustainable, socially interactive, walkable , cost-effective, land -efficient, productive, socially and environmentally, easy to develop/maintain. Accordingly, appropriate urban planning, development and management framework needs to be put in place and made operational on priority to make compact city model a distinct reality.
GLOBAL VIEW OF A VIBRANT WORLD 360° THE ISSUE Urbanisation FACE TO FACEAdhitya Arjanggi
AN URBAN PLANET:The sustainable city challenge
CITY LIVING: Creating vibrant sustainable cities SECURING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SOME FOR ALL FOREVER:Water resource management on an urban planet
TRANSFORMING TRANSPORT: The 21st century urban challenge
URBAN ENERGIES RESOURCES DEMAND AND COMMUNITY IMPACTS A 360° face to face interview BUILDING A LEGACY Creating an agile global culture of inventiveness, safety and sustainability
NEW SKILLS MAKE THE SUSTAINABLE DIFFERENCE INSPIRATIONAL ENGINEERING CAPTURING THE VISION
Indian Options for Managing Global Warming Through Ruralisation and Rationali...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper looks at the option of adopting dual strategy , revolving round not only rationalising the development of cities but also promoting ruralisation through effective planning. New option will look at making villages more self-contained, self-sufficient, providing basic amenities and services besides generating employment for the rural inhabitants, creation of synergy between rural and urban settlements, rationalising planning, promoting accessibility, minimising mobility, planning for people not for vehicle and creating green built environment..
Promoting Urban Environment Through Eco- CitiesJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper tries to define the role and importance of environmentally sustainable cities to promote urban environment , minimises carbon footprints and reduce global warmng
We are delighted to share our insights to date on the Future of Cities. This is being released before our upcoming event in Singapore on 14 July 2016, to be led by Anupam Yog and Patrick Harris.
Future Agenda would like to thank Haworth for their kind hosting of the event on the 14th and The Partners who are kindly helping us with logistics in advance. Material here is from an initial perspective written by Harry Rich, CEO RIBA and which has been built upon subsequently with conversations in Dubai, Christchurch NZ, Singapore and Beiruit.
More Future of Cities workshops are planned throughout 2016 for Los Angeles, Shanghai, London and Dubai.
Comments very welcome.
This document concludes by looking at how a holistic approach is essential when driving sustainable developments, as well as how the future of a resilient city is to believe in an ecosystem where all stakeholders and the environment have a symbiotic relationship. Furthermore, as the world transitions to adopt the learnings from recent responses to emerging challenges at scale, we come to see more resilient and sustainable strategies to drive the growth of cities around the globe.
Reviewing, Revising and Redefining Master Plans and Development Plans to Ma...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Looking at its efficacy and efficiency, it can be seen and observed that Master Plans/ Development Plans have done more damage than good for the planned growth and development of the cities to which they have been made applicable. These plans have been violated with impunity both by the people, communities, cities and parastatal agencies; for the betterment/welfare of which these plans were prepared. These plans have been visualized as controller of development rather than promoters of development. Instead of planned development , these plans have been usherers of the unplanned development. These plans are known to be responsible for promoting large number of slums besides making quality of life poor for majority of the urban inhabitants. Cities under Master Plans are also known to promote exclusion rather than inclusion. Master Plans/Development Plans are known to promote prosperity for few and marginalize the large proportions of the local community by making them poor. Instead of catering to urban dynamism, Master Plans/Development Plans try to freeze the city, for next two decades, to which it is made to serve. Accordingly, these plans need to be reviewed , rationalised, revised and redefined to make them better Master Plans/Development Plans
If cities have to be made more livable, sustainable, inclusive, effective, efficient , productive, consumers of least resources, generators of zero waste and promoters of environment and ecologies; then architects , planners and policy makers have to redefine their strategies of planning cities and designing buildings, failing which cities will become more of a liability rather than a valuable asset.
Q1For this question, we will focus on a comparison and contrast.docxleonorepour284
Q1:
For this question, we will focus on a comparison and contrast of early American civilization creation stories, specifically the Aztec creation stories, with the European creation story from Christianity. What we want to compare are the ideas about the relationship between God and humanity as depicted through art. It's not necessary to retell the stories in this discussion. We will all have read the material. Focus on similarities and differences in the meaning of the stories. How does each civilization view the creator and creation? the roles of women? the relationship between humanity and the divine?
King James Bible, Genesis 1, 2
Q2:
Who was Guaman Poma and what relationship did he have with the Spanish Conquistadors who came to colonize the New World and rule over its peoples? What contribution has he made to modern discussions of freedom, liberty, and modern political and social organization? Do you think Guaman Poma's work supports or contradicts the idea that Europeans brought civilization and political organization to the Incas? What did Europeans bring?
Q3:
Discuss the three major West African Kingdoms of the Early Modern Period. Focus on the major forms of artistic expression of these kingdoms. What is the Griot tradition? How are literature, creative expression and history linked in the storytelling tradition of the Griot?
2 full pages
J u n e 2 0 1 3 U n i t e d N a t i o n s D e p a r t m e n t o f E c o n o m i c a n d S o c i a l A f f a i r s 1
The multiple challenges that cities face also represent a strategic opportunity to build sustainable cities
and reap the benefits of rapid urbanization. Urban de
velopment should be understood as a balanced and inclusive
development of four pillars: economic de ve lopment, social
development, environmental management and urban
governance. The enabling mechanisms include an integrated
investment on green industrial transformation, improved
public infrastructure, access to and efficient use of social
services, effective urban governance, and the protection and
management of natural resources.
About 6.25 billion people would be living in urban cen
tres by 2050, eighty per cent of which would reside in develop
ing regions, concentrated in cities of Africa and Asia. For ex
ample, African cities would house over 1 billion people, which
would be three times the figure of urban North America, twice
the figure of Latin America and the Caribbean or Europe, and
comparable to China’s urban population at that time. In many
cities of developing countries the main challenge would then
be how to provide adequate public services and job opportuni
ties to residents, including marginalized populations in mega
cities. In addition, the adverse impact of social inequalities on
human health and the environment can multiply when we
factor the adverse effects of ‘natural’ disasters. The incidence of
natural hazards linked to climate change events has increased
i.
Similar to Preparing and Empowering Cities in the face of Pandemics- Covid 19. (20)
Role and Relevance of Architects and architecture in SustainabilityJIT KUMAR GUPTA
This brief text on Role, Relevance and importance of Architects and profession of Architecture in making this world and human settlements more livable, climate responsive and sustainable has been prepared as commitment of the professionals and profession of Architects on this World Environment Day ; June 5th , 2024 , with the hope that profession would be understood, valued ,appreciated and empowered in the right context for enabling it play its designated role in making built environment qualitative, cost-effective, energy-efficient, eco-friendly, safe and sustainable.
Bridging gap between resources and responsibilities at Local level.JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Text refers to need, role, relevance and importance of empowering urban local bodies by bridging gap between resources available and responsibilities bestowed, for enabling ULBs to operate and function as institutions of local governance more effectively and efficiently.
Construction Industry Through Artificial Intelligence -.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Considering the role, relevance and importance of construction sector in promoting economy, generating employment and creating wealth besides providing infrastructures and amenities, there is need to make the sector more effective, efficient, productive and sustainable. Driven manually, construction sector remains in the slow lane of creating quality built environment which are cost-effective, energy efficient, least consumers of resources and generators of waste. Artificial intelligence can help and empower the construction to make it more valuable, productive and qualitative besides supportive of environment and ecology. However, construction sector must be ready to co-operate and collaborate with IT industry to look for options and opportunities to make construction sector more qualitative and productive. Majority of urban ills and climate related issues can be resolved if Artificial intelligence can be embedded as integral part of the construction industry right prom planning, designing, construction, operation and management of the built environment and infrastructures. Communities and nations will save lot of valuable non-renewable resources if the construction sector is transformed from human led to technology led by the induction of Artificial intelligence. However, Construction industry has to search the areas where Artificial intelligence can be used effectively and intelligently.
Making Urban India a Role Model of Planned Urban Growth a.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Known for productivity, promoting economy, employment and innovations cities, when properly planned, rationally developed and professionally managed, have been labelled and recognized as engines of economic growth. Prosperity and urbanisation are known to have positive co-relation with rational urbanisation, leveraging growth and development of any community, city, state and region. In majority of developing countries, where urbanisation remains unregulated, forced largely by rural push and less by urban pull, cities invariably remain in crisis, crisis of population, crisis of poverty, crisis of development and management. Cities need to be cared ,incentivized, empowered and made more productive, effective, efficient and humane.
Redefining Globalization, urbanisation and LocalisationJIT KUMAR GUPTA
If cities are to made more livable, humane and productive, it is time that intent, contents and scope of globalization must be revisited and reviewed, both critically and objectively. Globalisation would need redefinition for promoting universality and inclusiveness among people and nations to have basic amenities and quality of life for all its residents , including poorest of the poor to lead a dignified life. Failure to redefine globalization, rationalise urbanisation, restore localization empowering poor and promoting universalisation and inclusivity; will invariably lead to making SDGs merely a paper exercise. In addition, making the world, cities and communities sustainable, livable, safe and inclusive, would remain merely a dream and a mirage, for future generations and communities, making planet earth as their preferred place of residence.
Knowing, Understanding and Planning Cities- Role and Relevance Physical Plan...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Cities are known for its complexities and operational inefficiencies. cities remain dynamic ,ever evolving, ever devolving, never static and never finite.
All cities remain different, distinct, unique and universal. No two cities are similar. Each city has its own strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Accordingly, problem faced by any city cannot be viewed, dissected, analyzed and enumerated, while sitting within the four walls of the air-conditioned rooms and by the so called intellectual sitting in the so called offices determining the future of cities and towns. Neither the cities can be made more rational by limited knowledge agencies providing consultancy to cities , states and nations.
For realistically and rationally understanding, analyzing the cities and having simple, cost-effective and quality solutions to the problems and challenges faced , Cities have to be walked through and concerns of the various communities have to be properly understood and appreciated.
Prime reason for inability and lack of capacity on the part of majority of physical planners, engaged in the art and science of planning, designing and developing the cities, to address the issues and challenges faced by cities , realistically and rationally, has genesis in the lack of understanding of the origin, growth and development of cities.
Lack of capacity in majority of town planners, has roots in the quality of education imparted and seriousness and commitment on the part of both teachers and taught involved. As it stands today, majority of institutions involved in imparting education in planning are being run on an ad-hoc manner and by proxy. Only few institutions have regular teachers and regular students. Majority of planning institutions are being run on proxy with proxy students and proxy teachers. Education system including curricula used for teaching, needs, review, revision and redefinition to make it more relevant to rational for addressing the issues and challenges faced by the cities and towns.
Land as a Resource for urban finanace- 24-1-23.pptJIT KUMAR GUPTA
PPt tries to brief Land, as a gift of nature, is being grossly misused, abused , manipulated Land is globally used for providing platform for all human driven activities, based on living, working, culture of body/ mind and travel.
Limited availability, coupled with large number of human beings trying to source land, has invariably created large demand for land resource for human consumption. Land, in urban context, is required for meeting the specific needs of urban dwellers for residential, commercial, institutional, recreational, travel& traffic purposes besides providing space for infrastructures , amenities, services, trade and commerce etc. Land in urban context remains under large demand and command high price due to concentration of large population in small physical area, with stakeholders making competing claims.Rapid and uncontrolled growth in population experienced by urban areas has adversely impacted and generated considerable pressure on land resource in cities and towns , leading to large scale conversion, sub-division and illegal occupation of urban land. Unregulated and regulated pressure on land has largely been met by means of both formal/informal sub-division and development of land. Growth of the urban settlements and entire mechanism of urban planning and development remains land based/ land focused. In order to make optimum use of land resource on 24x7x365; making city planning, growth, development and management ,both rational. realistic, orderly and promoter of quality living, it will be critical and essential, that all ULBs are made to focus on eliminating culture and practices promoting un-authorized/ illegal sub-division of land for ushering an environment and era of planned urban development in the cities. Land needs to be effectively leveraged to generate resources for ULBs to make cities vibrant.
COST-EFFETIVE and Energy Efficient BUILDINGS ptxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Built environment is known for its capacity, capability, role, relevance and importance to change the quality of life of the occupants and communities. Presentation focuses on options which need to be leveraged to make buildings sustainable, cost-effective, energy efficient, resource efficient, qualitative over its entire life-cycle through designing, construction, operation. It calls for making buildings green and sustainable.
Making Buildings cost-effective , Energy Efficient ptxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Presentation focuses on options which need to be leveraged to make buildings sustainable, cost-effective, energy efficient, resource efficient, qualitative over its entire life-cycle
Ppt briefs about role, relevance, importance of the rating systems applicable in India, criteria used in assessing
greeness, weightage allocated, , brief of how these rating systems are applied, parameters involved; weightage granted, levels of rating granted , incentives given by states for green rated buildings and brief of suggestions, how to make rating system more effective, efficient, objective and transparent.
The phenomenon of global warming remains more pronounced in the urban areas, for the reason cities house large concentration of people and activities in a small/compact urban space.Densely-built downtown areas tend to be warmer than suburban residential areas or rural areas.. UHI not only raises urban temperatures but also increases ozone concentrations because ozone is a greenhouse gas whose formation will accelerate with the temperature. Tokyo, an example of an urban heat island. Normal temperatures of Tokyo go up higher than those of the surrounding area. However, it needs to be understood and appreciated that climate change is not the cause of urban heat islands but it is causing more frequent and more intense heat waves which in turn amplify the urban heat island effect in cities. Major reasons for ever growing global warming and climate change can be attributed to the; Nature and natural; Human-Driven; population; Rapid Urbanisation; Irrational Urban planning; High Density; Inefficient Transportation ;Large generation/consumption of fossil fuel based Energy; Unsustainable Buildings; Polluting Industry & Manufacturing; Unsustainable Agriculture; Irrational Development; Large scale Deforestation; Lack of open spaces and individual life-choices;
Making and Unmaking of Chandigarh - A City of Two Plans2-4-24.pptJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Presentation is a narrative of a
capital city- known for its innovative planning, designing, construction and management of a new capital . It briefs about the principles used in the planning and designing of city -by the first team of planners led by Albert Mayer and Mathew Nowicki-- followed by the second team led by Le- Corbusier, P Jenerette, Jane B Drew , Maxwell Fry. It also details about the various aspects of the city planning, planning of the sector as a neighbourhood, typologies of
various developmental controls used for regulating the construction of buildings. Innovations used for regulating the growth and development of periphery; redensification of city in case city exceeds its planned population of half a million, creating a narrative of city and periphery, innovative landscaping, defining an edict for the city to educate the future citizens of the capital city to safeguard the future growth and development besides lessons learnt from planning and designing the new cities.
Planning and Designing Green buildings-.issues, options and strategiesJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Affordability and sustainable development are considered anti-thesis across the world. Generally there exists conflict between the approach to sustainable built environment and affordable buildings. Sustainable development is considered more expensive. According to Middleton, ‘Sustainability and affordability aren’t mutually exclusive goals. It’s not about adding extra, but thinking more carefully about the design of buildings and incorporating technologies that can offset the rising costs of energy, water and other services. Affordability and sustainability are known to fit together perfectly’.
Through excellent design, buildings can be made more sustainable and affordable. Smaller the footprint of buildings, lower will be the upfront costs and embodied energy and lower shall be the running costs of buildings. Looking at the entire context of health, rising cost of amenities/services; Sustainable/Green designs are now being increasingly adopted, to make built environment more cost-effective and affordable. Considering the enormous amount of built environment to be created, India will have no option but to tread the path of sustainability and sustainable development in the built environment. Sustainable built environment would also help in and go a long way in achieving the majority of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for the reason, built environment is known to be the largest consumer of energy, avoid wasteful use of resources and minimise generation of waste. Global sustainability will be largely contingent upon how effectively and efficiently we can make our buildings sustainable and qualitative through innovative/green design solutions based on local climate and culture, valuing site planning, embedding orientation, cross ventilation, using renewable/waste materials and involving state of the art building technologies.
_Neighborhood Planning in Capital City of Chandigarh- An Appraisal (2) - Copy...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Neighborhood as an idea, concept, option and strategy has been extensively used locally and globally by the Urban Planners to plan and decentralize cities, create cities within cities, promote self-contained communities and to make cities more humane, safe and socially vibrant. Neighborhood has also been used recently to define the city in terms of travel time - making 10/15 minutes city
Accordingly, large typologies of NH ,in terms of planning and designing , with varying shapes, sizes and contents have emerged in the urban context. Americans have used superblock and French using Sector for defining the neighborhood. Despite distinct advantages, holding high degree of relevance in urban and local area planning , NH planning has not been able to deliver the envisioned objectives of safety and social vibrancy. Cities in the process have been socially, economically and physically fragmented, leading to clear division of cities into different communities with little economical and social connectivity. Variance of planning and designing norms followed at NH and sub-neighborhood levels have promoted more dichotomy and contradictions with varying quality of life inducted at local level. Differential population and infrastructures have divided the city into the categories of high/low end NH units. Fabric and morphology of cities, in large cases, has been distorted with urban settlement emerging as a distinct social map of communities graded economically and socially,on the basis of area/location . In the process, the way NH planning concept has been used, neighborhood planning has emerged as an instrument of social and economic segregation/division. In fact in number of cases, concept has been used, misused, abused in intent and content to divide the cities into distinct social and economic layers. Instead of unifying , concept has led to division of cities.
Genesis of modern application of NH can be found in the planning and designing of Chandigarh where entire city fabric of capital city was woven around Sector as the basic unit of planning, concptulasied as self-contained and self-sustaining unit at the local level. However, the way sectors have been planned, it has led to dividing the cities into different and distinct communities. Individual status in Chandigarh can be judged from his/her residence. Concept of Sector has done more damage than good to the fabric of the city. Chandigarh is likely to face considerable problem in making city socially and economically cohesive/vibrant,. Sectors in Chandigarh remain anti-thesis to the basic concept of NH planning of safety, involving walkability, vehicular movement, putting commercial space in the centre. Considering role, relevance, importance and usability , NH needs to be planned, designed with care and caution, in order to make cities socially and economically vibrant, inclusive. NH planning deserves a new definition and approach to make it relevant and rational.
Rationalizing the Planned Growth of Urban India- paper.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Rapid and uncontrolled growth in population experienced by urban areas has adversely impacted and generated considerable pressure on land resource in cities and towns , leading to large scale conversion, sub-division and illegal occupation of urban land. Unregulated and regulated pressure on land has largely been met by means of both formal/informal sub-division and development of land. Growth of the urban settlements and entire mechanism of urban planning and development remains land based/ land focused, based on a strategy of sub-division of the land, dictated by the economic forces prevailing in the market. Irrational and ineffective public policies of urban planning and land sub-division, devoid of prevailing ground realities, have turned out to be incompatible with the demands of urban expansion, leading to large scale un-authorized and illegal sub-division of land. In the process, valuable land resources, gift of nature, has been misused, abused and mutilated in this race of uncontrolled and irrational urbanisation. In order to make optimum use of land resource; making city planning, growth, development and management ,both rational. realistic, orderly and promoter of quality living, it will be critical and essential, that all urban centres are made to focus on eliminating the culture and practices promoting un-authorized/illegal sub-division of land for ushering an environment and era of planned urban development in the country.
Suggestion and Options for integrating villages. within the framework of the...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Preparing Master Plans/Development Plans for any urban settlements, basically and essentially, involves declaring a planning area for which the said long term plans are prepared. Planning area invariably includes and involves, number of rural settlements, which comprise of the planning area besides the urban settlement. It has been observed that in majority of cases, while detailed studies and analysis are carried out of the urban settlements but villages in the study and analysis remain marginalized, diluted and muted. Despite the fact, villages have critical role in the rational development of the urban settlement, but in preparing Master Plans their role and relevance is not made part of the said plan. Accordingly, this text tries to bring out the typologies of villages falling in the planning area and the suggested framework to develop these villages in making Master Plans, better Master Plan. In order to improve Master Plan qualitatively, quantitively, both in intent, contents and scope, It will be appropriate that all the villages falling in the planning area must be studied , analyzed and made integral part of the final outcome of the proposals of Master Plan. In-fact one Chapter must be exclusively dedicated to detail out the issues faced by the Villages and options which can be leveraged to promote the rational growth of villages ,as an integral part of the long term development of the urban settlement , for which the Master Plan is being prepared. This will help not only in integrating the urban- rural settlements falling in the planning area, but would also go a long way in promoting and ensuring rational growth and development of the urban settlement, for which the Master Plan is being prepared.
Making cities Climate Responsive and SustainableJIT KUMAR GUPTA
“Decarbonization” of cities ,as an issue ,as an option and as a strategy , has been gaining currency in the parlance of; making planet earth livable and sustainable. “Decarbonization has been globally valued for keeping the global temperature below 1.5C, and achieving the agenda and goals defined in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, defined by UN for achieving universal sustainability. Despite distinct role and relevance, criticality and importance of decarbonization of cities has neither been properly understood and appreciated nor made integral part of the architectural practice and art and science of designing and construction of buildings. Consuming one -third of global energy (33%) and generating 39% of greenhouse gas emissions buildings have been considered as the major player in the domain of climate change and global warming. Since Architects and Architecture are
actively involved in the making and unmaking of buildings, accordingly it becomes important that planners and architects must play a significant role in making
cities and buildings least consumers of energy and generators of the minimum greenhouse gas emissions. This objective can be achieved if decarbonizing cities/buildings is made a distinct reality . Issue of decarbonizing the cities/buildings assumes importance for the reason, that world’s building floorspace is likely to be become double by the year 2060, with the addition of large number of newcities/ buildings due to rapid urbanization, population growth and economic development ; required for catering to
to the needs of additional population opting for urban living.
Managing Planning and Development of Citie- 26-2-24.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Cities in India are known to be in perpetual crisis; facing numerous crises in terms of; crisis of rational growth, crisis of orderly and planned development; crisis of effective and efficient urban management; crisis of making provision of basic infrastructure and services; crisis of climate change; crisis of global warming; crisis of poverty, pollution and population and crisis of making human living and prevailing environment qualitative. These urban crises have genesis in the fact that cities in India, lack ownership, command, authority and lack of willingness to run and manage cities professionally and objectively. In majority of cases, cities in India are run by proxy. In terms of physical growth and development; large cities are marked by multiplicity of agencies claiming right/ownership of development over the urban areas, whereas smaller cities face absence of such ownership and are made to run, operate and function like orphans
Agenda, Approach and Options for Rationalising and Redefining Future Indian ...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Government of India/state policies, programs, mission and agenda must move providing basic essentials to all its citizens through an efficient, objective and transparent system of governance. For making cities livable and empowering people; right to basics/essential of human living including; Right to shelter, food, clothing universal access to healthcare, education, employment , infrastructures, amenities and mobility; should be made integral part of Indian Constitution by embedding it as Fundamental Rights/Directive Principles of state policy besides making them integral part of planning, development and management/governance process of all human settlements.
-Redefining and Rationalising Development Controls - Copy.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Globally recognised as engines of physical, social , economic growth and development, cities have been valued to be the future of humanity and communities. Housing major proportion of population, generating large employment; making major contribution to the economy; and providing quality infrastructure besides supporting and innovating state of art technologies, cities remain relevant and important for defining the agenda for growth and development of any state and communities. However, despite having large number of positivities; cities are also known for its dualities, contradictions, positivities and negativities. If cities have been promoting prosperity, they have also been at the forefront of promoting poverty, pollution, unplanned, haphazard, sub-standard development, climate change and global warming. Looking holistically, problems related to climate change , global warming and rising carbon footprints, environment and bio-diversity, can be largely attributed to the manner in which cities are being planned , manage and governed and buildings are being designed, constructed and operated. In the process, cities, as manmade entities, are fast emerging as embodiment of unplanned , haphazard and sub-standard development.
Globally ,it has been recognised that majority of urban ills have genesis in the typologies of Development Controls , made applicable at the local level for regulating the sub-division of land, determining land uses ; planning of the cities and designing, construction and operation of the built environment. In order to promote planned development, cities have been trying to experiment, invent, revise, review and rationalise the Development Controls periodically.
Capital cities like Chandigarh have clearly demonstrated the role and relevance of Development Controls in ushering an era of state of art urban development and creating quality-built environment. Chandigarh has also showcased that if Development Controls are not reviewed and revised periodically, they can prove to counter- productive and become a perpetual liability for the city and its development.
Considering the role , relevance and importance of Development Controls in making urban development rational and sustainable, there is an urgent tp look critically, objectively and holistically, at the context, genesis, intent and contents of different Development Controls made applicable in the urban settings in general and Capital city of Chandigarh in particular.
Providing a rational, realistic, effective and efficient framework for making Development Controls, more transparent, objective, community focussed, effective , efficient, rational and productive will remain critical to promote planned development and make cities more sustainable and better place to live and work.
About this webinar: This talk will introduce what cancer rehabilitation is, where it fits into the cancer trajectory, and who can benefit from it. In addition, the current landscape of cancer rehabilitation in Canada will be discussed and the need for advocacy to increase access to this essential component of cancer care.
Feeding plate for a newborn with Cleft Palate.pptxSatvikaPrasad
A feeding plate is a prosthetic device used for newborns with a cleft palate to assist in feeding and improve nutrition intake. From a prosthodontic perspective, this plate acts as a barrier between the oral and nasal cavities, facilitating effective sucking and swallowing by providing a more normal anatomical structure. It helps to prevent milk from entering the nasal passage, thereby reducing the risk of aspiration and enhancing the infant's ability to feed efficiently. The feeding plate also aids in the development of the oral muscles and can contribute to better growth and weight gain. Its custom fabrication and proper fitting by a prosthodontist are crucial for ensuring comfort and functionality, as well as for minimizing potential complications. Early intervention with a feeding plate can significantly improve the quality of life for both the infant and the parents.
Navigating Challenges: Mental Health, Legislation, and the Prison System in B...Guillermo Rivera
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Preparing and Empowering Cities in the face of Pandemics- Covid 19.
1. Preparing and Empowering Cities in the face of
Pandemics- Covid 19.
*Jit Kumar Gupta
Introduction
Cities remain most valuable among human settlements, for the contribution
they make to the economic development, generation of employment, promoting
innovations and providing state of art infrastructure and facilities. As place for
concentration of activities and human beings, cities not only create supportive
environment for businesses to thrive but also enable residents to have gainful
employment. Even during period of crisis, cities are known for their capacity to
support communities, local trade & commerce and national economy. Cities
drive economic wealth, promote competitiveness, invest in local economies
ensure health, safety, and welfare of the people in their communities, and
maintain infrastructure, which are known to be the prime mover of economic
development.
Studies made by UNO, indicate that cities globally housed 4.2 billion people, or
55 percent of the world's population in 2018. By 2050, the urban population is
expected to reach 6.5 billion. Cities remain critical because they merely occupy
3 per cent of the planer earth's land, but account for 60–80 per cent of energy
consumption and responsible for 75 per cent of carbon emissions. Accordingly,
cities have emerged as the major cause for and solution to climate change.
Looking at the way cities are growing and operating, sustainable
development cannot be achieved without significantly transforming the way
cities are being built and urban spaces are being managed.
Considering the critical role and importance of cities; out of 17 goals mandated
by UNO to make this planet livable, SDG 11 is exclusively dedicated to
improving cities and making them more sustainable. This goal looks at the
options and opportunities to make cities as entities; creating optimum level of
career and business opportunities, promoting safe and affordable housing;
building resilient societies and economies; making investment to create safe,
cost-effective, eco-friendly, affordable public transport; creating appropriate
levels of green public spaces, and improving urban planning.
Years 2020& 2021, will be known in the urban history, as the most challenging
and difficult years, which transformed cities dramatically in their structure,
operations and communication, impacting adversely human health, economy,
productivity, mobility, trade & commerce, quality of life etc. Holding enormous
capacity to face disasters, both manmade and natural even in troubled times,
cities of today are facing twin challenges of healthcare, precipitated by the
COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis that coronavirus has cast on
people and communities. Synergizing and working in collaboration, cities need
to create productive partnership with all levels of governance, local
communities and institutions to overcome the ongoing crisis caused by Covid
2. 19, to recover/ rebuild and make cities stronger. For responding effectively to
COVID-19, cities need to evolve, devolve and implement strategies to support
housing homeless individuals, eliminating all possibilities of utility shutoffs and
transforming daily government operations.
Considering the current challenges faced due to ongoing pandemic, cities
must evolve innovative strategies and use state of art technologies to increase
their effectiveness/governance, improve operational efficiency, ensure
uninterrupted delivery of services; making urban planning, development and
management people centric; formulate supportive policies and evolve rational
development programs; bringing transparency; reaching people and involving
communities to effectively counter the ill effects of Covid 19.
Issues and Options
Cities have been and are going to be the future of all nations, because of
the high proportion of national population they will be holding; large
employment they will be generating; major contribution they will be making
to the economy; quality infrastructure they will be providing/ supporting and
innovations/ state of art technologies they will be introducing. However,
despite distinct advantages cities hold, they have also emerged as major
areas of natural and manmade disasters. History has shown that cities
remain an ideal breeding ground for disasters to come and go, the way city
develop and operate. With dichotomy and contradictions characterizing
their operations, cities remain challenged by periodic occurring of disasters.
However, despite suffering huge losses in terms of human life & liberty,
economy, employment, trade and commerce social fabric etc., each time
cities have emerged stronger and stronger after facing the challenges. In
order to empower cities and build capacity to face these natural and
manmade disasters, cities need to be planned and designed innovatively;
create affordable shelter for housing all the urban residents; ensure
uninterrupted provision of basic and essential infrastructure/ services/
amenities; create opportunities of gainful employment ; taking care of the
mental health of both workers/residents; making optimum use of
technology; generating adequate resources for funding different people
centric programs; supporting urban poor; providing appropriate healthcare
facilities; supporting great leadership etc.
Looking at the entire urban context, attempt has been made to define
various issues and options, which cities must focus on and exercise to make
them safe, resilient and inclusive to counter the adverse conditions created
by the repeated pandemics. Few of the options which cities need to exercise
have been detailed below;
Urban Planning
For empowering the cities to face natural and manmade disasters, cities
must be planned, designed, constructed and managed for flexibility. The
flexibility should be built, in terms of creating spaces, opportunities and
3. accommodations to house all essentials for residents and communities to
counter the disasters. Cities need to be empowered so that during the
period of crisis, they must be able to create space for housing homeless or
who are rendered homeless; create healthcare facilities; provide food on
continued basis; generate alternate opportunities of livelihood and sharing
all basic amenities and facilities essential for human living. This would
require all healthcare facilities, educational buildings, public /community
buildings etc. to be planned and designed differently, in order to enable
them to reinvent/ reshape so as to cater to all exigencies created by
disasters
For enabling cites to effectively combat the pandemics, cities must be de-
centralized and divided into self-contained neighborhoods, duly planned
and supported with basic facilities and infrastructures related to healthcare,
education, shopping, community facilities etc. These neighborhoods should
be planned and developed on pedestrian/human scale, based on
walkability. Norms for these amenities/facilities must be reviewed, revised
and redefined from time to time, keeping in view the changing needs of the
community. Healthcare should invariably remain the area of focus in order
to effectively counter the adverse impact of pandemics
Cities, as areas of large concentration of population/ activities, remain
hotbeds of natural disasters The pandemic has shown the challenge
existing in our urban spaces, as 90% cases are reported in urban
areas. COVID-19 pandemic can be drastically slowed down by reducing
exposure to those living in crowded areas. In order to save existing cities
from current and impending natural and health related disasters, it will be
vital to address the issues facing the core/congested areas. Efforts must be
made to decongest the core areas of the city for empowering them to
remain healthy. However, considering the concentration of population and
whole sale/business activities located in these areas, it becomes difficult to
decongest them for the reason, these areas, developed historically, attract
lot of business and also generate lot of traffic engaged in ferrying goods
to/from the areas. Further due to large concentration of buildings in these
areas, it becomes difficult to undertake their demolitions on large scale.
Accordingly, for decongestion, it will be vital to explore options like,
minimizing the entry of mechanical and fossil fuel-based vehicles with
efforts made to promote pedestrianization in the area. Efforts should also to
be made to shift the wholesale trade from the core to the areas identified in
the master plan and use the area vacated by the wholesale trade for
creating open spaces, which remains at premium in all the core areas. In
addition, with the restricted entry of goods/ vehicles, it will be appropriate to
convert area under roads/parking into pavements, to be exclusively used
for pedestrians. With large scale landscaping of the areas under pavement,
core areas will have reduced congestion, reduced vehicles, reduced
noise/pollution and more openness. This will help in making cities healthier
and open. Similar strategy needs to be adopted for decongesting all the
walled cities existing in the country, which will help in making them not only
4. healthy but also would ensure the safety of the residents from the adverse
impact of the pandemics.
Urban agriculture must be made integral part of the neighborhood planning
so that community does not suffer from the unforeseen lock-outs.
Neighborhoods must evolve an institutional mechanism, based on co-
operative approach, so as to promote sharing and equitable distribution of
day- to -day needs among local communities in the hour of crisis.
Adequate opportunities must be created and planned at the neighborhood
level for the small enterprises and women- led business, to avoid undue
hardship caused to them in the hour of crisis. Adequate employment
opportunities and work centers must be created at the local level to
minimize concentration of people and minimize travel to different
destinations besides permitting people to work from home.
Considering the ongoing and impending pandemics, norms and standards
for providing healthcare facilities must be reviewed, revised and redefined
with focus on preventive healthcare rather than promoting curative
approach. Technology must be leveraged to create a city level network of
healthcare facilities, for making accessible such facilities easy and safer, to
all including; consultation, prescribing medicine, sourcing medicine,
monitoring healthcare, creating online medical history of the residents etc.
This will not only help in minimizing the need of visiting healthcare
institutions, reducing the number of healthcare institutions, reducing
mobility, improving environment and promoting efficiency but also making
available best of the medical consultation at the most affordable cost within
the minimum timeframe. This will also reduce/eliminate the cost of creating
large infrastructures for the out-patient sections of hospitals.
Sustainability
Sustainability and wellness have high degree of positive connectivity. Cities
are increasingly prioritizing environmental protections, climate
preparedness, and greenhouse gas emission reductions to make them
healthy and livable. Cities have also recognized the significant linkages
between environmental health and the physical, mental, and economic
health of communities. Research has shown that people with long-term
exposure to air pollution are more likely to die from COVID-19. To help
mitigate these negative outcomes, cities must implement renewable energy
production, promote sustainable development, preserve natural resources,
promote bio-diversity, encourage green buildings and prepare for extreme
and climate-related events. In making cities more eco-friendly,they must
minimize the production of waste. Cities must plan and try to cut half the
amount of waste that is being shipping to landfills by 2040 through the,
conversion of waste and bio-solids to compost on a massive scale.
Creating a Waste Task force, duly supported by plans to eliminate plastic
bags will be vital to prevent harmful pollutants from entering the soil. Cities
have to innovate to convert waste to wealth and making optimum use of
waste generated. Cities need to be planned and operated on the analogy
5. of circular economy so as to eliminate all waste. Plastic, which is being
considered the largest pollutant globally, is being looked at as the greatest
resource considering its use in making roads, creating bricks for making
buildings etc.
Sustainability will have to be considered in the various contexts. It will be
impossible to achieve sustainability without active support and involvement
of communities and stakeholders. Achieving sustainability will require a
realistic roadmap in the shape of Sustainability Plan to be prepared along
with defining the approach to achieve the goals and objectives.
Implementing Sustainability Plan with specific, measurable goals through
a dedicated fund for reducing carbon emissions will help in making
communities better, fairer, safer to live. Public safety initiatives focusing on
strengthening relations with the community, through education and
outreach, will be most important factors to determine the overall quality of
life for a community.
Emergency, preparedness, sustainability, health, and economy are often
seen as separate, stand-alone issues. However, they remain inter-
connected and inter-dependent. Their mutual exclusion is considered as
counter-productive for both cities and governments. Cities taking a holistic
approach to addressing these issues, will be better placed to engage with
any unforeseen calamity, and will also ensure higher and better returns on
investment made to counter adverse conditions. Empowering cities to
design creative, equitable programs, that address multiple challenges and
drive local economies/ communities for preparing them for future
calamities, will remain crucial and valuable for any city to effectively combat
any future pandemics.
Housing
Providing affordable housing to all residents, irrespective of caste, creed,
religion, age, sex, economic strata etc., remains vital and crucial to counter
effectively the negative forces generated by the pandemics. In all cases it
has been observed, homeless and people living in slums and crowded
areas, are the one who are major sufferers during the outbreak of
pandemics. Thousands of people, living in metropolitan centers, having no
assured accommodation, were the one who were first to migrate from these
urban centers, suffer enormously and emerged as the major causality
/cause of spread of the covid 19, in India. Access to quality housing remains
key to residents’ ability to live as fully empowered members of the local
community. The pandemic has exacerbated the housing crisis affecting the
most vulnerable populations, especially for homeless and low-income
residents. To rebuild strong settlements, cities will have to work and involve
residents, businesses and state as partners
Cities remain the hot beds of pandemics with majority of cases occurring
in slums. People who live in slums are known to have limited/no access
to improved water supply , access to improved sanitation, sufficient living
area, and durable housing Looking globally, number of slum dwellers
6. reached more than 1 billion in 2018, or 24 per cent of the urban
population. In India, every sixth urbanite lived in slums (Census 2011). For
making urban settlements safe against Carona19, cities must be rationally
planned and developed not only to create adequate housing stock but also
make it available to all its residents including poorest of the poor to have a
safe living environment, duly supported by basic infrastructure /amenities/
services etc. Accordingly, cities must ensure access to adequate, safe and
affordable housing and basic services by upgrading slums. This should
involve not only reduction of proportion of urban population living
in slums /informal settlements but also reduction in their absolute
numbers.
To fight pandemic and to minimize its impact on people and communities,
it will be vital to prioritize affordable housing, expanding resources and
services for homeless individuals; banning evictions of tenants in need of
assistance; ensuring every resident has access to safe, stable and
affordable housing, especially for the most vulnerable and at-risk
populations. Creating large stock of rental housing on continued basis;
creating numerous options for sourcing housing and partnering with
developers to construct affordable housing complex, duly supported with
various amenities, should remain the focus of all development/parastatal
agencies, operating at local/state level. With housing instability as the major
contributor to coronavirus rates, large number of renters unable to afford a
home, would require city support on continued basis. Cities must urgently
consider putting a ban on evicting tenants in need of assistance and should
offer rent deferment payment plans to tenants, who are facing financial
hardships
For checking spread of Covid 19, it will be critical to create/provide a safe
place and potential work opportunities for homeless/vulnerable people and
to ensure they have access to the resources they need. Cities need to
partner with developer for constructing affordable senior housing complex
with various amenities. Installing toilets around encampment centers,
converting/ transforming existing public buildings into homeless shelters
for those experiencing homelessness and to maintain social distancing and
eliminate overcrowding, will be vital to check the spread of Covid
19.Involving NGOs, CBOs, Charitable, Cultural, Professional and Religious
organizations existing at local level in making provision for housing the
homelessness during the current crisis will be vital to minimizing the spread
and effectively counter the virus.
Green Built Environment
For overcoming Covid 19 and effectively countering pandemics in future,
cities must promote planned development and green/sustainable built
environment. According to World Energy Council Report, 2016, ‘Buildings
consume over 45% global energy, 30% of total raw materials extracted on
this planet, 25% timber harvested, 16% fresh water withdrawal, 35% of
world’s CO2 emission, 40% municipal solid waste and 50% ozone depleting
7. CFC besides promoting ‘sick building syndrome’. Considering lifecycle cost
and energy, only !0% cost of a building & 17% energy goes into making of
a building, whereas remaining 90% cost/ 83% energy is used in their
operation and maintenance, involving heating, cooling, lighting, ventilating,
repairing and making limited additions and alterations.
Buildings are known to be large consumer of energy and resources besides
generators of large waste. Designing energy efficient and resource efficient
buildings becomes all the more important, for the obvious and simple
reason that major quantum of buildings are yet to be constructed. As per
estimates made globally for the year 2030 with regard to the requirement of
built environment, only 40% of buildings have been estimated to be
constructed so far, whereas 60% of the buildings are yet to be constructed.
Further as per studies carried out by McKenzie Global Research Institute,
India needs addition of 700- 900 million sqm of built space on annual basis
in urban settlements, to meet the demand of housing, working, trade and
commerce, Industries, leisure, healthcare, education etc., of people
migrating to the cities and the natural growth of population. Buildings have
been acknowledged for their role, importance and potential for saving this
planet by offering greatest opportunity to minimize energy consumption and
resources, simply by changing the manner in which buildings are visualized,
planned, constructed , managed and operated.
Looking at the entire gamut of built environment, Green Buildings emerge
as the best option to make buildings sustainable and least consumers of
energy and resources. Green Buildings have been recognized globally by
nations for minimizing use of water, optimizing energy efficiency,
conserving natural resources, generating minimum waste and providing
healthier space/indoor quality for occupants as compared to conventional
buildings. Green Buildings also save energy up to 50%; water consumption
by 40% and reduce carbon emission by 35%. Green buildings are also
known to scale down Co2 generation by 8000-12000 tons and 3 MW of
connected electric load per million Sqft of built space created besides
reducing waste by 70% . Green buildings not only reduce consumption of
non-renewable resources but also fetch better returns from buildings. Such
buildings provide financial, environmental and social benefits besides
creating a win-win situation for both owners, occupants and users through
healthier indoor air quality, lesser sickness and improved productivity.
Green built environment is known and recognized for its capacity and value
to fight the pandemics more effectively and efficiently. In order to make
cities/living spaces healthy, cities must allocate adequate financial
resources and provide appropriate technical assistance to all the
stakeholders to guide and assist them to construct and retrofit the existing
buildings to make them sustainable, resilient and resource/ energy efficient,
using local materials. Planning, designing, constructing and maintaining
green buildings should be made mandatory in all category of buildings.
Singapore has already prepared a master plan for the island, for making all
the existing buildings to be green within next 10-15 years, in addition to
8. making all new buildings to be green. Such an agenda should also be put
in operation by all the urban centers in the country. Cities must also rope in
and engage reputed agencies like Indian Green Building Council, for aiding,
advising, assisting, managing and guiding them as how to usher a culture
of green buildings in the urban areas. Awareness programs must be
launched for the children by involving educational institutions to promote
green concepts, green living and green buildings. Green and healthy
building should also be made integral part of architectural/engineering
teaching and learning by making them part of study curricula/ syllabi.
Infrastructures
Infrastructure remains the bedrock on which superstructure of all urban
settlements is made to stand. Infrastructure is also considered most crucial
component of any city to operate effectively and efficiently and provide basic
and day-to-day needs besides ensuring quality of life for all its inhabitants.
Cities are primarily responsible for providing qualitative/quantitative
infrastructure, maintaining them effectively & efficiently and improving
available infrastructure on continued basis, which are critical to resident’s
safety and public health. Accordingly, making investments in infrastructure
and public works in partnership with stakeholders, remain vital for all cities
to mitigate spread of the virus, increase resiliency, and ensure long-term
recovery.
Considering the critical role and importance of quality water in the human
habitation, there is an urgent need to upgrade water related infrastructure
to increase its operational efficiency to make cities more resilient to meet
effectively the challenges of natural disasters in future. Cities accordingly,
must formulate and put in place emergency plans to provide high-quality
drinking water to residents. Cities should never stop water service even in
the face of non-payment and should formulate policies to waive off late fees
for residents for delayed payment of water charges. Investing in wastewater
treatment facilities which not only preserve treated wastewater, effectively
and efficiently, but also remain environment friendly to the community, will
be vital for improving resilience to flood management infrastructure and
stormwater management. Constructing Water Pollution Control Plant, will
allow more effective and efficient water management and treatment for
many years.
Small businesses remain most valuable and productive asset of any city
and accordingly form cornerstone of inclusive growth of cities. Considering
large workforce deployed in the infrastructure sector for providing water,
managing sewer/garbage services, maintaining/repairing roads, managing
infrastructure and public works services; protecting, supporting and
enabling the small enterprises and people deployed in these
businesses/services, should be given priority to make them operationally
efficient and productive during the period of crisis. Cities must continue to
address existing critical gaps in services by upgrading aging infrastructure
and ensuring equitable access to public services. Increasing urban mobility
9. for the bottom section of social/economic pyramid, will help in improving the
accessibility of town for economically challenged section.
Protecting the safety and health of the public, to respond effectively to the
pandemic, and expanding hygiene services by providing portable toilets
and hand washing stations for the homeless population, will be vital to check
uncontrolled march of Carona virus. Decentralization of infrastructures at
the local level and making neighborhoods self-sustaining and self-sufficient
in day-to-day infrastructure, shall be critical for any city to remain healthy
and more productive.
Creating quality education infrastructure at local level will be vital because
strong schools are known for producing thriving communities, creating jobs,
strengthening tax base, making safer neighborhoods, and enhanced
property values.
Financing
All development activities are known to be large consumers of resources,
both financial and technical. Having a strong fiscal foundation, remains vital
for cities to provide needed and expected services. On-set of pandemics,
has drastically cut down adequate flow of resources to the local/state level
agencies. All these agencies are heading towards and facing fiscal crisis.
Fiscal challenges facing cities, are adversely impacting their capacity, ability
and capability to finance the capital improvement, infrastructure
maintenance and other critical public works services. Many cities are known
to scale down the services at a time when the community needs them most,
layoff and furlough employees, who comprise a large share of middle class,
and pull back on capital projects, further impacting local employment,
business contracts and overall investment in the economy Responding to
COVID-19, despite limitation of available resources, cities are trying to
support/help residents and businesses from additional financial burden by
deferment of property tax, business license fee suspensions etc.
Cities need to be fiscally responsible by engaging with the public on
budgetary practices, managing their relationships with state/local
governments for rebuilding their reserves. Considering the fact that cities
are re-defining their focus and allocating all available resources to fight the
pandemic, they need to expand additional resources to support people
involved in the healthcare sector, fire services and infrastructures besides
protecting and supporting the community. Adopting resilience lens will help
and enables cities, to analyze all budgetary decisions across departments
and determine how connections can be made to enhance local
preparedness, improve resident health, and get communities back to work.
Safety
Safety remains most critical in urban context because safe cities are known
to usher prosperity, make businesses flourish and make communities and
people happy, healthy and more productive. Considering the present
context, managing climate change and global warming should remain top
10. priorities for the communities to remain safe against natural and manmade
disasters. Reducing neighborhood crime and strengthening relationships
between residents, communities and police will be critical to promote safety.
Safety in neighborhoods/cities can be brought in by lifting and empowering
people and communities. Any attempt to lock people in the name of safety
shall always remain counterproductive and will lead to making areas highly
unsafe. Making any community and neighborhood safe should invariably
involve communities as partners. Cities must invest in developing an
effective and efficient community response program, involving trained and
trusted community members, for immediate use in the hour of crime/crisis,
for restoring peace, ensuring calm, support families/ survivors, and stop
situations from escalating into further acts of violence. Faced with growing
crime cities also need to adopt tough-on-crime approach. Before evolving
any response system, study needs to be made of the factors which remain
largely responsible for making areas unsafe and also identify communities
and groups which are at greater risk.
Studies made globally have revealed that Census operations are highly
critical for identifying/counting the households, which are prone to higher
order of risk like children below the age of 5 years; identifying racial and
ethnic minorities and low-income households. An accurate census count
has been considered pre-requisite and most valuable for promoting safety
of all urban residents. Census are considered of enormous value for
municipalities to ensure that funding various projects reflect accurately the
needs and composition of the targeted groups. Complete Census count also
helps in achieving a full and accurate count of residents needing assistance;
ensures accurate allocation of resources for emergency
preparedness/disaster relief; linking to health programs/ food banks.;
providing groceries to vulnerable communities in response to COVID-19,
and evolving resilient planning etc.
Technology LEAGUE OF .AL LEAGUE OF CI
Technology has emerged as the greatest supporter/saviour in this period of
crisis caused by pandemic, for both governments, parastatal agencies and
communities. Technology is being increasingly used to replace human led
activities, minimizing the need of human contacts, increasing accessibility
and ensuring the efficient delivery of services. Technology is also being
used on large scale, to communicate and sharing information and resources
with communities both at local and global level. Technology is being
increasingly leveraged to promote work from home and making businesses
contactless. Healthcare sector has been major beneficiary of technological
innovations. Accordingly, it is important that role and importance of
technology is fully understood, appreciated and made use of in this period
of pandemic. Technology holds great potential in minimizing and countering
the adverse effects of natural and manmade disasters.
Cities are increasingly understanding, appreciating, adopting and using
technology to make governance processes more transparent; identifying
11. events, programs and services that largely impact residents, and identify
potential opportunities to improve their performance and connectivity with
communities and stakeholders at large. Cities are using technology, as a
platform, to communicate with people and communities, about policies and
issues, which remain important to them. Number of cities are trying to
graduate to 5-G fiber network to increase internet speed and Wi-Fi services
at local level, for attracting new businesses and utilizing social media
platforms, to improve the quality of life for residents.
Technology can be effectively leveraged for organizing events/competitions
for encouraging residents to visit various attractions in cities and share their
visits on social media for getting recognition. This will not only help in
engaging with the public/ local communities, but will also go a long way in
marketing the city, both locally and globally. In addition, it will educate
residents and others, about the city’s historical and aesthetical sites/value.
Cities need to make optimum use of social media to identify events,
programs and services that would connect them with majority of residents,
to better understand what people like and value about the city and to attract
community members by offering improved and popular opportunities for the
future. Smart cities are known for their capacity to combat effectively the
pandemic by using sensors; collecting data by deploying drones to
determine whether physical-distancing rules are being followed ; enforcing
physical-distancing rules by alerting people to move away from each other,
if they are congregating. Technology is also being leveraged by cities/states
to provide details about the number of cases of covid 19 on day-to-day basis
and also communicating/sharing the availability of healthcare facilities at
various places and at various destinations.
Cities need to increasingly partner with tech companies to use smart city
technologies to trace the contacts of people infected with the virus to inform
the community. Citiesneed to increasingly use social media to minimize the
at-risk population in the wake of COVID-19; uplifting the plight of the
homeless individuals; making residents stay-at-home and practice social
distancing through virtual interactions, to flatten the curve and to improve
the quality of life for residents.
Technology is also facilitating cities in the healthcare sector, to provide
online healthcare services/treatment to patients. Imparting online
education, by using information technology, has been the mechanism used
by practically all the educational institutions to communicate with the
students. Large number of knowledge sharing platforms have been made
operational with the help of technology to conduct webinars/conferences
etc., for sharing and disseminating information/knowledge about issues of
public interest. Work from home for majority of employees has been made
possible by the extensive use of technology.
Leadership
Local leadership remains critical for cities, in current health and economic
crisis, not only to recover from the economic recession but also to provide
12. residents and businesses, with the tools for strengthening economy and to
identify ways and means, that are more equitable, sustainable and forward-
thinking.
Accelerating delivery of essential services, like public safety &health; directing
investments toward resilient infrastructure; building up reserves; instituting
better budgeting practices; acknowledging the disproportionate challenges
faced by minority and implementing targeted programs to support them, remain
the major issues to be addressed by the local leadership. Serving the needs of
the most vulnerable by local leadership, through various initiatives, will be vital
to overcome the ill effects of Covid 19.
To be ready to respond to the growing needs of communities and for the long
road of recovery ahead, cities need a strong leadership /partnership with all
levels of government. For early recovering from the pandemic, it will be
imperative that cities get the support they need to build an even stronger cities,
to overcome the unforeseen future challenges.
Strengthening local leadership will remain vital and critical for evolving rational
policies and innovative solutions; establishing and implementing a
realistic/achievable vision and lead during the most challenging moments.
Local leaders must have the capacity, capability, understanding, expertise and
vision to take cities forward.
Cities need to rebuild and bring systems change, to start the journey towards
fast recovery, and to promote search for rational options to improve local
leaders’ ability to service and empower the residents. With economy getting
into deep trouble and unemployment rate growing fast, it is imperative that all
stakeholders must work in tandem/ come together for ushering an era of fast
recovery. Cities going alone and bearing the brunt of negative fiscal
consequences of the pandemic, are likely to put cities/communities in a critical
situation/ slow path of recovery.
Cities enforcing stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of the virus should
increasingly work with communities to create virtual resource and recovery
centers to provide food and other support to residents. Sprucing up essential
services, like public safety and health, directing investments toward resilient
infrastructure and building up reserves, will be critical for cities to effectively
counter such pandemics in future.
Local leaders need to demonstrate their commitment to fiscal balance and
operational excellence by adopting preventive maintenance policies to reduce
outsourcing and keeping jobs inhouse; to minimize future financial
commitments for making significant difference to the future liabilities for the
taxpayers,
Options for Business- Economic Development
Entrepreneurs and small businesses struggle and face significant economic
downturns but, if supported, can also be at the heart of the fast recovery of
city economy. Options for recovery can range, from helping business
owners build a web presence and encouraging them to bid for local
contracts, connecting them to mentors and micro-lenders.
13. Demonstrating continued commitment to small businesses and
entrepreneurs will help small businesses, to explore their inherent potential
of creating large number of new jobs. Developing small business
enterprise program for the city’s socially and economically disadvantaged
businesses, will remain most critical and vital for empowering these
ventures, in any period of economic or natural crisis.
Launching initiatives to assist minority- and women-owned businesses,
including creating partnership to provide technical support, establishing a
debt and equity fund that will offer working capital, will be a pre-requisite to
bring such enterprises back to business. Making commitment to help secure
the future of these businesses and restoring the economic health of the
communities will be urgently needed. Launching of a rent payment
reimbursement program for the city’s Small Business/ COVID-19 Relief
Grants Program, for the small businesses adversely affected by the
pandemic, will be critical to generate employment and revive these
businesses. Supporting businesses applying for business loans will be
critical and vital to bring these businesses back on the rail.
Mental Health CITIES
Considering growing concern of mental health for cities in the face of
Covid 19, expanding mental health resources and addressing emotional
and mental duress by developing mental health programs and putting in
place 24/7 mental health care at the community/city levels, will be critical
to fight pandemic and Covid 19. OF CITIES
Considering youths as cities’ future, leaders must ensure support for
young children and families in need, for making them school ready and
providing youth with access to a high-quality education. Universities
need to increase enrollment for new students, taking both online/ in-
person classes.
Conclusions
With majority of all cases recorded in cities, urban areas have been at
the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis. Accordingly, adopting sustainable
development goals mandated by UNO, to make cities safe, resilient,
inclusive and sustainable, should remain the guiding principle and
agenda for the growth, development and management of cities and
towns to make them better places to live and work. UN-Habitat’s new
report - Cities and Pandemics: Towards a more just, green and healthy
future – demonstrates how cities can reduce the impact of future
pandemics and become more equitable, healthy and environme nt-
friendly.
Studies made globally have revealed that, existing patterns of
dichotomy, contradictions and inequality existing in cities,
characterized by the lack of access to basic services, poverty and
overcrowded living conditions, have been largely responsible and
destabilizing factors in increasing the scale and impact of COVID-19.
14. Accordingly, cities need to, critically and objectively, look at these
issues and evolve realistic and rational strategies, based on existing
ground realities and after due consultation with and involving local
communities, institutions, stakeholders, local/city leadership, NGOs,
CBOs etc. to make city growth more supportive for the have-not’s
sections of the urban society and to check the on set/spread of these
pandemics in future.
As per UN Secretary-General *António Guterres, ‘Cities being engines
of dynamism and innovation, can help overcome development deficits.
They can spearhead reforms towards a New Social Contract to tackle
poverty, strengthen social protection, restore public trust and reach
people, who are on the margins or who face discrimination’. UNO has
also stated that, for making cities safe against disasters, new normal
for urban planners and managers would be to make cities places
where health, housing and security are prioritized for the most
vulnerable, not only out of social necessity, but also from a profound
commitment to human rights for all. This would essentially involve
planners/ government to focus on policies to protect land rights,
improve access to water, sanitation, public transport, electricity, health
and education facilities and ensure inclusive digital connectivi ty.
Giving greater focus to housing, basic services, sustainable mobility,
connectivity, protecting jobs and providing financial support to cities
will remain critical, to allow them to create financial resilience; build a
new urban economy that reduces disaster risk as well as addressing
climate change by developing nature-based solutions and investing in
sustainable infrastructure to enable low carbon transport.
Cities also need to prepare detailed disaster mitigation plans at local
level involving local communities and stakeholders, in order to
effectively deal with such calamities at the local level with minimum
response time. Appropriate disaster mitigation strategies and structures
need to be created and made operational in all human settlements.
Cities must also create disaster preparedness centers at different levels
for their effective management.
Improving cities and making them more sustainable would involve;
creating career and business opportunities; safe and affordable
housing, building resilient societies; making investment in public
transport to provide greater and unhindered access to safe, affordable,
accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road
safety providing universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible,
green and public spaces, including for women and children, older
persons and persons with disabilities; and making urban planning
Inclusive and sustainable. Sustainable development cannot be
achieved without significantly transforming the way we build and
manage our urban spaces.
Each city and urban settlement remain unique and distinct, socially,
structurally, physically and economically, and accordingly needs to
15. develop, adapt and implement its own operational plans to effectively
counter the COVID-19 and other natural disasters, which appropriately
meet the needs of local population. Plans must have inbuilt flexibility to
address/react/cope/respond to any rapidly changing situation. Each city
has to evolve its own mechanism and agenda for effectively countering
the natural disasters.
Involving local community leadership will remain vital for disseminating
any information, communicating with citizens and preparing them for
fighting the adverse impact of Covid 19 at local level. City authorities
must involve communities, in suggesting innovative, cost-effective,
operationally-efficient mechanism needed, for promoting safety and
reducing the spread of the pandemics at the local level.
Actively involving religious and cultural institutions, having large
following and infrastructure in the area, will be helpful in creating
adequate response system and setting up centres for treating patients,
creating healthcare facilities, sourcing manpower, accessing
communities, raising resources, providing food and meeting daily needs
of the vulnerable/needy population living in Informal settlements,
homeless people, refugees, migrants, older persons, socially
marginalized groups etc.
Note; Author would like to thankfully and gratefully acknowledge and
appreciate, with gratitude, the vital and valuable input received from the
report, ‘State of Cities, 2020, from National League of Cities’; ‘Wikipedia and
WHO Guidelines’, without which this paper would have not been possible
in the present shape, intent and content.
References;
Anthony Clarence ; State of the Cities, 2020; National League of Cities
Wikipedia; Sustainable Development Goal 11,
Gupta JK; Strategies for Making Buildings Green and Energy Efficient;
published paper.
UN-Habitat’s new report - Cities and Pandemics: Towards a more just,
green and healthy future
McKinsey Global Institute: India’s Urban Awakening: Building Inclusive
Cities, Sustaining Economic Growth, Report April, 2010
World Energy Council Report, 2016,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_Development_Goal_11
World Health Organization; Strengthening Preparedness for COVID-19 in
Cities and Urban Settings- Interim Guidance for Local Authorities, 2019;
WHO-2019-nCoV-Urban_preparedness-2020.1-eng.pdf
Author:
* Ar. Jit Kumar Gupta
Founder Director; College of Architecture, I.E.T, Bhaddal
#344, Sector 40-A ; Chandigarh- 160036
Email; jit.kumar944@gmail.com