Framework for basic services in Indian cities

27 Oct 2007 31 Mar 2009
TERI together with partners SUI (Sustainable Urbanism International) and Arghyam with support from Dr Nandan Nilekani and Mrs Rohini Nilekani, initiated this study in March 2008, to address sustainability issues in Indian cities. The concept of sustainable cities represents an overarching challenge and includes addressing social, environmental and economic sustainability concerns along with the interlinkages between them. While it may not be possible to address all sustainability related concerns in one go, a review of literature and case studies reveals that a key step and good starting point for making cities sustainable is making the provision of urban services in a city more sustainable. The study looked at 6 sectors- water, solid waste management, transportation, buildings, power and governance.
Highlights of the report:
? A list of sustainability parameters to make each sector sustainable along with indicators to measure sustainability in the water, solid waste management, transport, buildings and power sectors
? Technical, policy, institutional, legal, organizational, data and capacity related interventions necessary to improve provision of services in Indian cities
? Recognition of power and buildings sectors as basic urban services and the role of Urban Local Bodies in their planning and management
? Separate recommendations for small and medium towns and cities in transition
? Planning for services for peri-urban areas falling outside municipal limits
? Alternative service delivery models for slums and the role of informal market operators in urban service provision
TERI hopes that this report will help key stakeholders particularly state governments and urban local authorities, to plan, manage, and monitor the provision of these services in a sustainable manner. It is also hoped that the recommendations emerging from this study will influence public policy and become part of urban development policies and programmes in India.