Development and eco-friendliness can co-exist

CITY SCAPE BANGALORE FORWARD
Landscape architects believe we can still keep the ‘green city, dream city’ tags intact
Times of India

IT’S the latest on Bangalore. Research has shown that several features of Garden City were built with forethought or borrowed from better examples. Structured development rather than haphazard growth is what has shaped the way we are. Its various sobriquets, therefore, were well earned, say researchers. So does this mean this city with overladen infrastructure, bursting at the seams, bustling towards apparent collapse can become a dream home once again?

“Most definitely,” says town planning expert Swati Ramanathan. “Unlike Mumbai, Bangalore is a city that’s still in the growing stage and the way we grow is within our grasp. With proper planning we can ensure that Bangalore regains its lost charms. For instance, the bio park around the city, the peripheral development work and the international airport. But other amenities like connectivity must keep pace.”

Is there anything the citizen can do? “One per cent of every Bangalorean’s waking hours need to be utilised to ensure the city gets its due. There is a ward sabha system and people can offer suggestions. Corporates may chip in, because of their experience and training, with tangible solutions,” she adds.

Easy riding: mass transport

No amount of traffic management will decongest our roads, unless an alternative system of transportation is firmed up. The Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Ltd (BMRTL) has already received an ‘in principle’ approval from the Planning Commission on its plans for a metro rail for the city. But you will have to wait till at least 2009 for it. Says executive director MS Nagendra, “We are going on schedule and don’t anticipate any delays. Land for the route and stations has already been identified and frozen so that no further development takes place there.” NGEF to MG Road will be ready for operation first.

It will be a combination of elevated and underground tracks and will be fully electric. Initially some 8.20 lakh passengers are expected to take the metro every day. Travelling time will come down to half of what it is today and ambient air quality will improve with fewer vehicles on the road.

Breathe easy: clean air initiatives

Studies say 50 per cent of the emergency child cases in hospitals were related to the respiratory system. These are increasing. Vehicular emission which includes sulphur dioxide 10.2 microgram/meter cube, nitrousoxide 63.2 microgram/m cube (compared to an acceptable level of 30) and suspended particulate matter 122 (100) and respiratory suspended particulate matter 66 (75), has been found to be the main cause.

Still, if Delhi can clean up its air, so can Bangalore. According to traffic expert MN Sreehari, “Vehicles must adhere at least to the Bharat - II norms, if not Euro - II norms. Vehicles must switch to LPG, CNG or bio-gas. We have about 10 LPG bunks in the city but vehicle owners need to get converters fixed. The government must take the initiative to set up CNG and bio gas units and promote them as tangible fuels. Pollution can drop from 50 per cent to five per cent,” he says.

Says member secretary, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, V Rashmi, “Adulteration of fuel is a concern. Use of adulterated loose 2-T oils causes serious damage to the atmosphere. As for CNG, there are no immediate plans. But if we can lay the pipelines and bring in the gas, it will clean up the air.”

Garden city: green plans

The lakes in and around Bangalore can be rejuvenated and restored. CEO, Lake D eve l o p m e n t Authority, AK Varma, says, “We have proposed a plan for restoring 50 lakes over the next five years, at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore.” Land use policy to prevent encroachment around lakes will be another shot in the arm towards saving the lakes. Lakes are necessary for Bangalore because the city is located far away from the Cauvery. And Bangalore is ideal for lakes because of its undulating topography.

Some work has already begun. Says Vanashri Vipin Singh, deputy conservator of forests, “LDA has restored two lakes in the last year and a half, Vengaiyanakere and Jaraganhalli. Ninety per cent of the work on the Jaraganahalli Lake is completed.” There are also projects involving corporates, partnership with local residents and resident associations through the Adopt a Lake Policy and joint ventures to save these water bodies.

The BDA also has plans for Bangalore’s biosphere. Says commissioner MN Vidyashankar, “We are bent on saving and enhancing the green belt around the city. A lot of inputs have been given for the revised Comprehensive Development Plan, which will be out by the end of this month.”