Kashinath Vajpai Climate Himalaya Initiative, India

info@climatehimalaya.net

www.climatehimalaya.net

http://chimalaya.org

Environmental Indicators: Measuring

Urban Development in Mountains of India

Developing Urban Settlements

Cities in Mountains of India are in the process of expansion

Increase in population due to high migration from highland to lowland areas

Rapid infrastructure development

Two important characteristics: 1. Massive growth in absolute numbers 2. Increasing concentration

Rapid population growth, high densities, poverty and high differentials in access to housing, public services and infrastructure led to an increase in vulnerability over last few decades (Aromar R., 2008)

India is one of the more vulnerable and risk-prone countries in the world (IFRC 2005)

Urban Development Vs. Environmental

Issues High pollution, water scarcity, deteriorating soil, loss of biodiversity and poor

agriculture productivity

Various disasters, health hazards, deteriorating environmental quality, economic losses

Climate change variability increased the frequency and intensity of hazards and the probability of extreme events

Degrade the resilience of poor and vulnerable communities

Further degrading resilience of in one half of the poor, vulnerable communities (Nicholls, et al 2006).

Inadequate provisions of comprehensive and environmental sensitive planning.

The Extent of Problem-Example

One of the studies done in India states that ‘the amount of

waste generated per capita is estimated to increase at a rate

1-1.33 percent annually and estimated quantity of waste

generated by year 2047 would be approx 260 million tons

per year, which if not disposed off systematically would

require more than 1400 sq.km of land’

Study Objectives To discuss the major environmental concerns in the urban

areas of Indian mountains

To review and analyze relevant policies and guidelines in urban development and environmental context

To develop a set of indicators on various environmental parameters in urban context

To analyze city development plans in concurrence with environmental considerations.

Information Areas in the Study Present urban developmental scenario

Various environmental threats

Increasing climatic variability

Policies and programs on environment and urban development

Categorization of various pro-environmental measures in areas

like water, waste, sanitation, pollution, etc.

Plan: Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem

Mission

Management and safeguarding Himalayan glaciers and ecosystem

Exchange of information

Develop monitoring network

Community based management of ecosystem

Maintain 2/3rd area under forest

Policies and Plans in Place Reform led urban development program National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM)

About 60 cities across India and selected one in mountains

Missions; the Urban infrastructure and governance, and Basic services to the urban poor

The Environment (Protection) Act

National Urban Transport Policy

National Urban Housing & Habitat Policy

Accelerated Urban Water Supply Program

Coal Bed Methane Policy

Solar Energy Mission

Wind Energy

Electronic Waste (e-waste)

India’s Initiatives towards Energy Security

Scheme for BEE Star Rating for office Buildings

The National Environment Policy

National River Conservation Policy

National Lake Conservation Policy

What Policies and Plans Entail National River Conservation Plan (NRCP): Capacity building of ULBs

The National Lake Conservation Plan: Restore and conserve the urban and semi urban lakes

The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling Rules): Role of ULBs in decentralized waste collection and management

The Plastics (manufacture, usage and waste management) rules : Emphasizes in to specific thickness of plastics and procedural recycling.

The National Urban Sanitation Policy: Specific sanitation strategy for the cities

The National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC): Reduce climatic impacts and emphasizes on inter connected issues towards adaptation and mitigation- focus on poor and vulnerable.

Various Environmental Indicators

1. Water Resources

2. Waste Water

3. Solid Waste

4. Energy Measures

5. Sanitation

6. Air Pollution

Photo: Joydeep Mukherjee/Sanctuary Photolibrary

Water Resources

Water Use

Judicious use of water and discouraging excess water use for multiple purposes

Correcting / Repairing the leakage system in existing water supply system

Operation and Maintenance

Construction of new water lines

Regulatory mechanism and Pricing • Proper water pricing at

House hold and Commercial level

• Correct metering system in place

• Illegal connection and suction pumps.

• Regular monitoring Pumping of Water • Replace from central

place to the flood plain areas having proven capacity of water

• Controlled extraction

Recycle and Re-use

• At house hold level

• Community places (schools, hospitals, hotels, malls/ markets, etc.)

Rainwater Harvesting

• Roof top rainwater harvesting

• Mandatory provisions for RWH in buildings

• Construction of soak pits

• Incentives and disincentives for RWH

Water Resource

Dual Water System

Drinking

Other purposes

Drinking water

availability

Household level safe water supply

Provisions of water in schools and hospitals

Discouraging bottled water in common meetings and at personal level

Water saving closets

• Taps

• Flush system

• Urinals

• EcoSan toilets

Protection/Preservation of water bodies

• Lake conservations

• Lake protection

• Beautification of ponds, lakes

• River bank protection

• Developing the data bases

• Monitoring of river

• Coordination with agencies on water bodies monitoring

Waste Water

Agriculture and Industrial

effluents

Organic pollutants

Waste water disposal system

Following the norms for discharge of waste water

Water quality surveillance

and mitigation

Surveillance system in place

Cost effective solution for Arsenic, Fluoride, Iron, and Biological contamination

Dilution of pollutant concentration through ground water recharge

Determine type and migration of pollution

Possible measures for control

Municipal waste water

• Proper sewerage disposal and decentralized treatment

• Planned drainage system

• Integrated sewerage system

• Use of re-modeling and re-construction technologies

Provision of STP and CETP

• The provision in major sewerage production areas.

Drainage system • Developing improved

drainage system with storm water drains

• Kuccha to pucca drains

• Maintenance of drains

• Managing the outlet of surface drains away from water bodies

Capacity Building and Awareness generation

• Water use

• Wise water management

• Decentralized treatment

• Re-charge and re-use

• Different types of filtration systems

Solid Waste Management Comprehensive solid waste

management (SWM) plan

Municipal Solid waste

Industrial solid waste

E-waste

Toxic waste

Waste segregation system

Sanitary land fill

Organized solid waste management system

Bio-medical waste

Composting

Bio composting

Sorting of waste

Landfills and methane production

Policies and Legislations • Enforcement of policies

• Basel Convention on minimized use

Awareness generation and

Capacity building

• Household level

• Institutional level

• Commercial sector

• Industrial sector

Energy Measures

Alternate Energy

measures

Bio Mass based

Waste based or Bio-methanation

Use of coal bed methane

Bio gas cooking

Bio based power generation

Traffic light and solar power

Solar roof top- photovoltaic applications

Renewable energy measures • Solar panel • Solar Lantern • Solar cooker • Photo voltaic • Wind energy • CDM and Carbon

Credits as incentives Improved Supply • Conversion • Transmission • Distribution • End use efficiency • Research &

Development

Energy Efficient

Appliances s • Light Emitting Diode • Replacing incandescent

bulbs • LED outdoor lightning Standard & labeling program

• Certification of industries

• Certification of Buildings

• Energy efficient building code

Urban Sanitation

Toilet /Latrine

construction

Improved /adequate

household sanitation

system for all

Community toilets /

sanitation system

Public toilets

Awareness generation,

Training and Capacity

building

• Awareness generation on Sanitation and hygiene practices, low cost technical designs

Encourage ILCS and

• Discourage

• Open Defecation

• ILCS

• Open defecation (OD)

and Dry latrine

conversion

Air Pollution

Clean Fuel

CNG, LPG,

battery/electricity

operated vehicles, Bio

diesel

Inventorying key

Polluting industries

In and around the city

All those included in RED

category

Pollution Control

Measures and

Encouraging Public

Transport System

• Private vehicles

• Public transport system

• Polluting Industries

• Non motorized

Transport – cycles

• Facilities for pedestrians

Data base on Indoor

Air pollution • In Slum/EWS area

• Major pollution sources

• Burning of solid waste

• Emissions of CO2, SO2, NOx

• Consumption of Ozone depleting substances

Awareness generation

and Capacity building

• Household level

• Commercial establishments

• Industries

Selected Examples Bio-mass based gasifires are being used in states like Bihar, Karnataka, etc.

The Kolkata and Mumbai Municipality are under trial for LED and the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has implemented SSP (Slum Sanitation Project)

The Delhi Government has made it mandatory to construct Rain Water Harvesting system

Solar based common lights, traffic lights, water heaters, energy audits, energy efficient building, CNG buses/Autos, etc. in Delhi

In Mizoram –Aizawl, there are more than 10,000 rainwater harvesting (RWH) tanks in individual houses, those were constructed by the residents at their own expense and with the technical support of state government.

Way Forward Need to consider different environmental factors through an

inclusive city development planning process

Develop the capacities and know how among the authorities,

planners and elected representatives on various environmental

measures

A thorough analysis of environmental concerns in the urban areas

Developing a set of practical localized environmental indicators

those could be included during city development planning.

Way Forward

Comprehensive process of planning by the Urban Local

Bodies and Parastatal agencies

Smooth delivery of civic amenities, universal access to

services, and adequate provisions of basic services to the

vulnerable and poor

Thank You