At present, the concept of sustainability is a misnomer when the entire globe is progressing fast in all respects. Hence, only economic sustainability is not enough.
Sustainability should be progressive and match with the general well being of population of a city or nation. If the whole globe is unwell, a single State cannot remain well. Similarly, when a State is unwell, how can a city or smart city can remain healthy and wellIJ Hence, progressive sustainability is the real meaning of sustainability.
Sustainability has no range, sphere and time. It is a very wider term. The devastation or over exploitation of natural resources invite desertification and climate change to which we have fallen victims now. The climate change means change in long term prevalent weather conditions of an area.
The ecological sustainability of a particular area conforms to the micro- climate of that area, which generally influences the general climatic weather. The following points need to be taken into account to make an individual city smart.
1. All the buildings should be eco-friendly. As far as possible, standard building norms which are environment friendly need to be followed.
2. Availability of emergency medical centre. Emergency health centres should be available within reasonable distance and cost.
3. As far as possible, the hospital building should provide healthy accommodations to the patients for treatment and make the minds of the patients free from any cumbersome situation.
4. To avoid thermal pollutions, the solar energy harvesting centres as well as energy restoration centres should be established. It is quite possible. In each municipal ward, such solar energy harvesting centres and energy conservation units should be established. Even the individual residents should be encouraged to establish their own solar energy harvesting units to reduce the energy load of Governmental agencies.
5. Installation of bio-energy extraction plants. Every day tons of garbage is produced in a city irrespective of its size and population. It is happening everywhere. Both bio-energy and bio-fertilizer will be harvested from harmful rubbish products if properly disposed.
6. Electric car parking yard. There will be separate locations for parking of electric cars. The popularity of pollution-free electricity driven light vehicles will prevent grime in a city.
7. Provision of high standard small and medium size residential building to the city dwellers. Here social harmony can be restored. Different statuses and living styles lead to egoism and social crime.
8. Multi energy conservation centres. Different types of energy like solar energy, wind energy, bio-energy, thermal energy and energy harvested from ocean current and tides are to be stored separately.
9. Wind mill should be installed at different locations conveniently for extraction of wind energy to meet the requirement of the city.
10. Intelligence collected centre can save the nation from hazardous situation and corrupt practices and also specially from terrorist attack. The collection of intelligence by our professionals of Government organisations is very poor. Many corrupt people are noticed in the crime controlling departments which pose a threat to the civil administration and democracy.
11. Provision of light vehicle parking yard can check the theft of vehicles and crimes committed by vehicles.
12. Electricity conservation centre is the need of the hour to avoid dislocation and irregularities of power supply.
13. Need but not greed is to be entertained.
14. Rural development is a must for urban development.
15. To reduce power consumption drastically the use of economically advanced lED bulbs should be encouraged not only within the urban areas but also in rural areas. But the price of such bulbs should be within the rich of common man.
16. Rain water harvesting systems and devices should be used for conservation of water during rain and the same to meet the water scarcity in many parts of a city.
17. For conservation of sub- soil water table within an approachable distance, there is a need to conserve and restore wetlands. The wetland means all river systems, streams, water bodies, swamps, lagoons and lakes etc.
18. The heritage sites which attract tourists from different parts of the country and abroad having cultural values should be preserved. Total 98 cities of India have been selected to be Smart Cities with development programmes to be undertaken from self generated funds, Central Government funds and foreign aids. A few cities in Odisha are in the race.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no: 9937460649)