New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development are in vogue today. At the same time we need to focus on and address the problems of Class 2 and 3 cities. In a developing country like India there are cities and towns which are often neglected and are not on the priority. Planning and sustainability is the key to achieve success. Also it identifies innovative approaches for providing access to technology pilots and smart techniques in a holistic manner at city level.
Developing countries including India have addressed sustainable development embracing socio-cultural development, natural resources conservation, environment protection, as well as economic growth. Current urban planning system in India, however proves to be limited to coordinate its cross sectoral plans systematically with the Sustainable Development Goals. Sectoral plans such as in the field of land use, energy, transport, health, water and security, infrastructure, ecosystem plans, biodiversity and livelihoods, often conflict with each other and as a result of this urban management plan becomes fragmented and this in turn produces urban sprawls and unorganised development. Various threats a city often deals with are: high population density; waste management; ecology crisis; land use problems; climate change; sea level rise; negative natural events such as floods and storms; over exploitation of existing resources; lack of clean water; lack of digitised connections within sectors and between sectors;
Why is Eco City Planning important with Smart City Planning?
Technologies and knowledge combined with eco planning along with strategy management and adequate financing can help reverse the downward cycle created by the negative impacts of environmental degradation and climate change till now. Planning and Development that is low carbon and climate resilient will require widespread innovation, capacity building and knowledge sharing. As of now, development is only concentrated upon the urban spatial aspects of smart city and ecological side of the city is left unnoticed and untouched. Eco city has to be synchronised with the smart city so that there is enhancement in the quality of the environment and liveability of the citizens is improved significantly.
Above mentioned challenges need to be solved strategically. Following suggested strategies will aid the city in its planning at local level as well as in discussions with planning authorities.
• Cooperating and regulating land use and enforcing building and land use regulations.
• Achieving low emissions development goals.
• Ensuring that the new development contributes to the quality of environment and ecology management.
• Preventing restoration of damaged environment.
• Sustainable management of natural resources.
• Managing the sense of place of the city in citizens.
Eco Urban Networking System
The planning elements which need to be critically involved in the process are:
• Positive preservation of the natural topography.
• Preservation of green zones/corridors.
• Preservation of existing water reservoirs.
• Establishment or planning of ecological pathway.
• Establishment of green network: establishment of eco fence, establishment of green network.
• Induction of ecological painting.
• Induction of terrace gardens.
These cities are the ones which go that extra mile to become environment friendly, by combining energy saving systems with the latest technology. Today, in the current eco-crisis,
it’s important that the cities consolidate their policies and goals to protect the local environment whilst also considering how they can bring the latest innovations in technology to
their long term plans.