Evaluating Urban Renewal in IndiaJNNURM Projects

Anupam Saraph

Urban Renewal?

urban renewalnoun: a construction program to replace or restore substandard buildings in an urban area

Examplesan area undergoing urban renewalan urban renewal plan/projectFirst use: 1954

Urban Regeneration?Initiating comprehensive political, financial and technological strategies for an environmentally enhancing, restorative relationship between cities and the ecosystems from which they draw resources for their sustenance.

Urban Renewal is conventional city development and one that has resulted in the massive urban mess we are confronted with.

Before formulating the JNNURM, did the Ministry of Urban Development compare city development models that are relevant to address the challenges before urbanization?

City Development ModelsConventional• Little or no

consideration to environmental impact of the design

• Designs aim to meet minimum compliances for lowest price

• Often dubbed "green" if EIA is documented

Sustainable• Does not challenge current methods and activities that have negative environmental impact

• Attempt to minimize energy use, pollution or waste

Regenerative• Sees human habitat

and culture as part of ecosystems

• Seeks to create or restore capacity of ecosystems and bio-geo chemical cycles without human management

• Designs appreciate and build on diversity of each city

• Sees the design process as ongoing, indefinite and participatory

Regenerative City Principles• Small ecological footprint• Compact urban development• Energy sufficiency• Renewable energy supply• Zero emission transport• Waste water recycling• Circular metabolism• Biodiversity in landscape design• City embeded in farmland• City contributing to carbon sequestration and eco-restoration

JNNURMJawaharlal NehruNationalUrban RenewalMission

Project of the Ministry of Urban Development to • encourage reforms and • fast track planned development of identified cities.

Focus is to be on • efficiency in urban infrastructure and service delivery mechanisms, • community participation, and • accountability of ULBs/ Parastatal agencies towards citizens.

Evaluating the JNNURM• What reform has happened? • What proportion of the Development Plan has

been fast tracked? • What efficiency in urban infrastructure and

service delivery mechanisms has been achieved?

• What community participation has happened?

• What accountability of ULBs/ Parastatal agencies towards citizens has been established?

Evaluating the Focus of JNNURMFocus •urban renewal?•efficiency or sustainability?

•urban infrastructure: what infrastructure to renew the city?

•what service delivery to renew the city?

•what mechanisms were created for community participation?

•what accountability was exercised by ULBs/ Parastatal agencies towards citizens?

Before JNNURM After JNNURM

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Example of evaluating JNNURM projects:• Otta market in Baner• Storm-water drain project in Pune

Overlay JNNURM projects on the DP, highlight the violations and the fast track implementations of DP projects

Otta Market in Amenity space when other locations were marked on DP for Otta Market

Entire natural stream made into gutter and sewage canal through storm water drain project

Entire natural stream made into gutter and sewage canal through storm water drain project

Highlight on DP projects where community participation did not happen or local body failed to be accountable to the citizens

Otta Market in Amenity space built without community participation and without ULB showing any accountability to the citizens

Highlight on DP projects where community participation did not happen or local body failed to be accountable to the citizens

Entire natural streams across Pune made into gutter and sewage canal through storm water drain project without any accountability to the citizens; ULB Acts counter to every request.