Infrastructure for the future?

Infrastructure for the future?
Suresh Heblikar


It is gratifying to learn that the new government is responding to the media’s reportage on people’s ire and frustration, arising out of the lackadaisical performance of the concerned civic agencies, especially with regard to the state of poor infrastructure. The government becoming sensitive to people’s aspirations and honouring their civil rights is indeed a sign of democratic maturity and such a perception would also simultaneously help steer towards political stability, very much needed at the present time. A stable government can focus on its avowed objectives, thereby enabling it to fulfil its obligations to the people.
The interactive meeting convened by the government to discuss and deliberate wide-ranging issues on the city’s infrastructure witnessed new hope, energy and enthusiasm among the participants, who had a lot to offer by way of suggestions on matters and issues of infrastructure. The eclectic information produced by the audience was indeed food for thought.
To match the new found hope and enthusiasm of the participants, the bureaucratic fraternity too was upbeat and thoroughly prepared with facts, figures and requisite data on their respective projects, which they presented to the audience convincingly. The first major public convention on infrastructure development has provided a euphoric edge to the strategic initiative that must not slacken, come what may, for the real test of the government depends on how much and how best it performs.
‘Becoming proactive’, ‘getting the government machinery cracking’, etc, are cliched phrases overused by party spokesmen and issued to the media for effective propaganda. The only way ahead is by reducing the chasm between promise and performance. Metropolitan cities all over the country face similar issues like population density, traffic congestion, air and water contamination, inadequate housing facilities coupled with expanding slums and ubiquitous mounting garbage. Besides, infrastructure development is a complex and enormous task involving large expenditure, expensive technologies and trained manpower. The stakes are high, as are expectations.
There is another agenda the new government has to address — development of Tier I and Tier II cities. This is an equally or even more important task. So long as the other parts of the state remain undeveloped, Bangalore will continue to have its share of problems. It is natural that the lure of the mega city will never fade for those who have nothing to live by and nothing to hope. Social scientists predict that by 2020, the cities in India will have 30% more population than at present. The lofty intention of promoting Bangalore to global standards will need an infrastructure designed and engineered in a way that will take into consideration, the future pressures of additional population, increased demands for transport, housing, commercial establishments, etc.
A critical fallout of this grandiose infrastructure development is going to be felt on the city’s fragile environment. Our ecosystems like lakes, parks, catchment areas and green cover are bound to get severely affected. In the race to build a global city, we might overlook our ecological assets which were primarily responsible for Bangalore to be known globally. The government has stupendous responsibility on its hands. To accomplish these tasks, it needs tenacity of purpose, commitment and unflagging political will. Nothing is impossible.
(The author is a noted environmentalist)