Rukmini Shrinivasan & Hemali Chhapia, TNN Oct 20, 2011, 05.52AM IST
DELHI/MUMBAI: The urban agglomeration of Delhi has for the first time overtaken that of Mumbai, whose UA's population in 2011 stood at 18.4 million according to the latest census data, but if Vasai-Virar municipal corporation is added to Mumbai UA, it still stands shy of 20 million.
If the same satellites are added to 2001 data, Delhi UA was still smaller than Mumbai a decade ago - 15.5 million to Mumbai's 16.6 million - showing that the relative change has taken place in the past 10 years. Overall, Delhi-NCR's population has shot up 40% to 21.7 million in the last decade.
Kolkata was listed by the census in 2001 to be the second biggest Indian UA with 13.2 million people; it remains the third biggest UA with 14.1 million people now. The big three - known as "megacities" since they have populations of more than 10 million - remain far ahead of the other big cities. About 15% of India's total urban population lives in these three cities. Along with the rest of the country, population growth is slowing down in these cities too, more so for Kolkata and Mumbai. Delhi is also slowing down, but it still added more than five million people - a third of its 2001 size - in 10 years. Chennai, which remains the fourth biggest, is less than half the size of Mumbai or Delhi.
Bangalore has knocked Hyderabad off the fifth position and is now almost as large as Chennai; 8.5 million to Chennai's 8.7 million, closing a gap of almost a million that existed in the last census. S Parasuraman, director of the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences, attributed this to the "economic activities in these centres. They have improved significantly." Comparing the cost of living in Mumbai and Bangalore, he said: "The cost of a house in the heart of Bangalore is the same as the cost of a similar-sized house in Dombivli, in the outskirts of Mumbai."
Overall, there are now 53 million-plus cities as compared to 35 in 2001 and 43% of India's urban population lives in them. Among the new cities on this list is Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir's first million-plus city. Rapidly urbanizing Kerala has added six new million-plus cities to Kochi, its only such city in 2001, and Jharkhand now has three where it had none. Orissa, on the other hand, does not have a single million-plus city; nor does the entire north-east. More than a quarter of a billion people live in just 468 Indian cities known as Class I cities, each having a population greater than one lakh.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sanjay Van a bird sanctuary in the making (Hindu 20 October 2011)
Lieutenant-Governor launches International Year of Forests celebration by planting a sapling
Amid a growing demand from nature lovers that Sanjay Van, a city forest spread over 783 acres near Neela Hauz, be made a bird sanctuary, the 2011 International Year of Forests celebration was launched by Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna on Wednesday by planting a sapling in the forest.
The Sanjay Van, which is presently undergoing restoration through a unique collaborative effort between the Delhi Development Authority and a citizen's group, could become a model that will be replicated to restore other ridges in the Capital.
The forest, which is part of the Mehrauli South Central Ridge, has undergone severe degradation in recent times with the proliferation of the Prosopsis Juliflora tree which is non-endemic to the Aravalli ranges and has caused depletion of the ground water level, killing native flora and changing the natural soil characteristics of the Aravallis. Sewage water and effluent discharge into Sanjay Van has also affected this green belt in the Capital.
Following the intervention and active petitioning of a group of citizens under the banner of Working With Nature Group (WWN) to the L-G, the DDA invited Air Vice-Marshal (retd.) Vinod Rawat of the group, to implement a scientific approach towards reviving the Sanjay Van. AVM Rawat organised a team which included two ecologists, Professors P. S. Ramakrishnan and K. S. Rao besides avid bird-watcher Dr. Surya Prakash, and in the last one year over 40,000 native Aravalli trees were planted – many of these by enthusiastic schoolchildren from neighbouring schools who volunteered to help.
Water management
Among the trees planted were those on the verge of disappearing from Sanjay Van like the dhak, khair, khejri, kumattha, desi keekar, hingot, ronjh, bistendu, and siris . The WWN also managed to revive, through better water management, 5,000 “ ber” bushes which had once flourished in Sanjay Van.
Though handicapped by the authorities not giving permission to remove the rapidly spreading Prosopsis Juliflora , the WWN team has worked around this problem by eradicating its seed pods, uprooting young saplings, and filling of open areas with native plants.
Another area where the team under AVM Rawat has made significant progress is water management. A detailed topographic map of Sanjay Van has been completed, and a DDA team is working with the WWN group to create water-harvesting structures, and cleaning of the discharged sewage water and effluents. AVM Rawat said the recharging of ground water would in a few years help create a large water body which will also help recharge the adjacent Neela Hauz lake.
Their results are already bearing fruit and Dr. Surya Prakash has testified to the presence of many rare birds like golden oriole, Asian paradise flycatcher, Eurasian sparrow hawk besides the pied-crested cuckoo which flies in from South Africa to breed in this forest. With Delhi being on the Central Asian Flyway, AVM Rawat said the development of rich greenery and water-bodies will help Sanjay Van attract a variety of migratory birds.
Besides the migratory ones, the forest is also a natural habitat for blue bulls, golden jackals, a large variety of butterflies, snakes, and birds like heron and peacock. The DDA has also promised to secure the forest through construction of a compound wall and appointing security staff.
Amid a growing demand from nature lovers that Sanjay Van, a city forest spread over 783 acres near Neela Hauz, be made a bird sanctuary, the 2011 International Year of Forests celebration was launched by Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna on Wednesday by planting a sapling in the forest.
The Sanjay Van, which is presently undergoing restoration through a unique collaborative effort between the Delhi Development Authority and a citizen's group, could become a model that will be replicated to restore other ridges in the Capital.
The forest, which is part of the Mehrauli South Central Ridge, has undergone severe degradation in recent times with the proliferation of the Prosopsis Juliflora tree which is non-endemic to the Aravalli ranges and has caused depletion of the ground water level, killing native flora and changing the natural soil characteristics of the Aravallis. Sewage water and effluent discharge into Sanjay Van has also affected this green belt in the Capital.
Following the intervention and active petitioning of a group of citizens under the banner of Working With Nature Group (WWN) to the L-G, the DDA invited Air Vice-Marshal (retd.) Vinod Rawat of the group, to implement a scientific approach towards reviving the Sanjay Van. AVM Rawat organised a team which included two ecologists, Professors P. S. Ramakrishnan and K. S. Rao besides avid bird-watcher Dr. Surya Prakash, and in the last one year over 40,000 native Aravalli trees were planted – many of these by enthusiastic schoolchildren from neighbouring schools who volunteered to help.
Water management
Among the trees planted were those on the verge of disappearing from Sanjay Van like the dhak, khair, khejri, kumattha, desi keekar, hingot, ronjh, bistendu, and siris . The WWN also managed to revive, through better water management, 5,000 “ ber” bushes which had once flourished in Sanjay Van.
Though handicapped by the authorities not giving permission to remove the rapidly spreading Prosopsis Juliflora , the WWN team has worked around this problem by eradicating its seed pods, uprooting young saplings, and filling of open areas with native plants.
Another area where the team under AVM Rawat has made significant progress is water management. A detailed topographic map of Sanjay Van has been completed, and a DDA team is working with the WWN group to create water-harvesting structures, and cleaning of the discharged sewage water and effluents. AVM Rawat said the recharging of ground water would in a few years help create a large water body which will also help recharge the adjacent Neela Hauz lake.
Their results are already bearing fruit and Dr. Surya Prakash has testified to the presence of many rare birds like golden oriole, Asian paradise flycatcher, Eurasian sparrow hawk besides the pied-crested cuckoo which flies in from South Africa to breed in this forest. With Delhi being on the Central Asian Flyway, AVM Rawat said the development of rich greenery and water-bodies will help Sanjay Van attract a variety of migratory birds.
Besides the migratory ones, the forest is also a natural habitat for blue bulls, golden jackals, a large variety of butterflies, snakes, and birds like heron and peacock. The DDA has also promised to secure the forest through construction of a compound wall and appointing security staff.
Nod for new water scheme (Hindu 20 October 2011)
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday approved the bid documents of a new canal-based water supply scheme for Panipat town on a turnkey basis.
He said approval had also been given for procurement of all material including ductile iron (DI) pipes by the contractor on through rate basis.
The State Irrigation Department has also been directed to issue sanction for raw water outlet connection of 49 cusecs from Parallel Delhi Branch or Carrier Lined Channel.
He said approval had also been given for procurement of all material including ductile iron (DI) pipes by the contractor on through rate basis.
The State Irrigation Department has also been directed to issue sanction for raw water outlet connection of 49 cusecs from Parallel Delhi Branch or Carrier Lined Channel.
Japanese financial assistance for Rajasthan canal project soon (Hindi 20 October 2011)
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will shortly provide financial assistance worth Rs.1,774 crore for the second phase of a lift canal project in Nagaur district of Rajasthan to provide drinking water to 978 villages and seven towns. The water will be brought from the Indira Gandhi Canal Project.
A six-member fact-finding team of JICA met Nagaur Collector S. S. Bissa on Wednesday to discuss the modalities of the project. Mr. Bissa told the Japanese delegation that land for the project would be allotted without delay and the procedure would be simplified to facilitate early initiation of work.
He said the paucity of drinking water in the desert district could be resolved only through the Indira Gandhi Canal Project. “The ground water [in Nagaur] has high fluoride contents causing fluorosis and other diseases of bones and teeth. The availability of fresh drinking water is going to provide much-needed succour to the people here,” he told the JICA team.
The JICA team, which studied environmental and geographical conditions at the grassroots, found that Nagaur district has a rich mineral wealth that has not been exploited because of paucity of water. Besides, the district has superior breeds of the livestock, but animal husbandry remains a neglected area for want of water.
Second phase
According to an official release here, the Japanese group was told that it was mostly government land which was available for the project's second phase. The members of the team included Koichi Kitamura, Toyoda Mariko, Mino Sato and Itaya.
The seven towns in Nagaur district which would get drinking water from the project are Kuchaman, Nawa, Makrana, Parbatsar, Deedwana, Ladnu and Degana. The project's Superintending Engineer, G. S. Bhati, and Superintending Engineer (Water Resources) G. R. Bhakar were also present during the JICA team's interaction with Mr. Bissa.
The JICA, established in 1974, is the primary Japanese Government agency implementing the country's programme for assisting Asian countries in their socio-economic development. Japan's official development assistance commitment has increased annually and expanded to more countries with Japan remaining the world's top donor since 1991.
A six-member fact-finding team of JICA met Nagaur Collector S. S. Bissa on Wednesday to discuss the modalities of the project. Mr. Bissa told the Japanese delegation that land for the project would be allotted without delay and the procedure would be simplified to facilitate early initiation of work.
He said the paucity of drinking water in the desert district could be resolved only through the Indira Gandhi Canal Project. “The ground water [in Nagaur] has high fluoride contents causing fluorosis and other diseases of bones and teeth. The availability of fresh drinking water is going to provide much-needed succour to the people here,” he told the JICA team.
The JICA team, which studied environmental and geographical conditions at the grassroots, found that Nagaur district has a rich mineral wealth that has not been exploited because of paucity of water. Besides, the district has superior breeds of the livestock, but animal husbandry remains a neglected area for want of water.
Second phase
According to an official release here, the Japanese group was told that it was mostly government land which was available for the project's second phase. The members of the team included Koichi Kitamura, Toyoda Mariko, Mino Sato and Itaya.
The seven towns in Nagaur district which would get drinking water from the project are Kuchaman, Nawa, Makrana, Parbatsar, Deedwana, Ladnu and Degana. The project's Superintending Engineer, G. S. Bhati, and Superintending Engineer (Water Resources) G. R. Bhakar were also present during the JICA team's interaction with Mr. Bissa.
The JICA, established in 1974, is the primary Japanese Government agency implementing the country's programme for assisting Asian countries in their socio-economic development. Japan's official development assistance commitment has increased annually and expanded to more countries with Japan remaining the world's top donor since 1991.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Manmohan urged to save the Taj (Hindu 12 October 2011)
Smriti Kak Ramachandran
Alarmed over the threat to the historic Taj Mahal because of the drying of the Yamuna, a group of concerned citizens have asked for a White Paper on the river and its current state.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, they have said that a White Paper on the Yamuna will not only prove helpful in saving the river and the eco-system and heritage that it sustains but also help in framing policies in the future for river conservation.
“It is alarming that the Taj Mahal might just collapse or tilt because the river is drying up. If we don't take immediate steps, we might lose the heritage as well as the eco-systems along the river. There is a dire need to prepare a document on what has gone wrong with the river and what urgent steps should be taken to make amends,” said Manoj Misra, convenor of the non-government organisation Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, which is also a signatory to the letter.
Mr. Misra said the river has begun to run dry in the summer months over the past ten years, and attributed it to the construction of the Hathnikund barrage. “When Tajewala barrage was in use there was still enough water in the river to maintain the necessary flow. However, ever since the Hathnikund barrage has become functional, it has given Haryana a means to divert most of the water and left the river with no minimum flow.”
In the letter to the PM, the group said: “It is no secret that the rivers in the country are today in a highly-threatened state, with the Yamuna -- passing through the historic and holy cities of Delhi, Vrindavan, Mathura, Agra and hundreds of villages -- being the worst of them all.” So, they said, it did not come as a surprise when a question mark was raised recently on the future of the Taj Mahal which stands on the banks of the Yamuna in Agra.
Among the letter's signatories are Prakash Singh, former DGP (UP); Himanshu Thakkar of the NGO South Asian Network on Dams, Rivers and People; Madhu Bhaduri, former diplomat and ambassador; Anand Arya, environmentalist; Sureswar Sinha; and Yamuna Sewa Samiti, Haryana.
Alarmed over the threat to the historic Taj Mahal because of the drying of the Yamuna, a group of concerned citizens have asked for a White Paper on the river and its current state.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, they have said that a White Paper on the Yamuna will not only prove helpful in saving the river and the eco-system and heritage that it sustains but also help in framing policies in the future for river conservation.
“It is alarming that the Taj Mahal might just collapse or tilt because the river is drying up. If we don't take immediate steps, we might lose the heritage as well as the eco-systems along the river. There is a dire need to prepare a document on what has gone wrong with the river and what urgent steps should be taken to make amends,” said Manoj Misra, convenor of the non-government organisation Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, which is also a signatory to the letter.
Mr. Misra said the river has begun to run dry in the summer months over the past ten years, and attributed it to the construction of the Hathnikund barrage. “When Tajewala barrage was in use there was still enough water in the river to maintain the necessary flow. However, ever since the Hathnikund barrage has become functional, it has given Haryana a means to divert most of the water and left the river with no minimum flow.”
In the letter to the PM, the group said: “It is no secret that the rivers in the country are today in a highly-threatened state, with the Yamuna -- passing through the historic and holy cities of Delhi, Vrindavan, Mathura, Agra and hundreds of villages -- being the worst of them all.” So, they said, it did not come as a surprise when a question mark was raised recently on the future of the Taj Mahal which stands on the banks of the Yamuna in Agra.
Among the letter's signatories are Prakash Singh, former DGP (UP); Himanshu Thakkar of the NGO South Asian Network on Dams, Rivers and People; Madhu Bhaduri, former diplomat and ambassador; Anand Arya, environmentalist; Sureswar Sinha; and Yamuna Sewa Samiti, Haryana.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
MCD to govt: Help stop encroachment on Yamuna riverbed (Hindustan Times 11 October 2011)
New Delhi, The chairman of the Works Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Jagdish Mamgain on Monday said that illegal constructions are mushrooming on the Yamuna riverbed and that the Delhi government should direct its departments to stop them instead of blaming MCD.
While
providing pictorial evidence, Mamgain said it was a matter of concern that illegal encroachments and constructions were continuing on the Yamuna riverbed and that the government seems least bothered. "Whenever any incident happens due to illegal construction, the Delhi CM and her colleagues pass the buck on to MCD. Preventive measures and strong action against the law violators is better than trading changes later. Flood department should conduct a survey about the status of river Yamuna and its bed," said Mamgain.
He added that no construction should be allowed at least up to the danger area. The DND road may be taken on priority as maximum illegal activities are undergoing on it.
Alleging that it shows the insensitivity towards protection of natural resources, which may cause environmental hazard, Mamgain said, "Starting from Noida to Delhi and onwards, a number of buildings including pucca buildings are being raised and all these structures are going to be completed soon. I am surprised how builders managed to build without attracting any one's attention," he said.
While
providing pictorial evidence, Mamgain said it was a matter of concern that illegal encroachments and constructions were continuing on the Yamuna riverbed and that the government seems least bothered. "Whenever any incident happens due to illegal construction, the Delhi CM and her colleagues pass the buck on to MCD. Preventive measures and strong action against the law violators is better than trading changes later. Flood department should conduct a survey about the status of river Yamuna and its bed," said Mamgain.
He added that no construction should be allowed at least up to the danger area. The DND road may be taken on priority as maximum illegal activities are undergoing on it.
Alleging that it shows the insensitivity towards protection of natural resources, which may cause environmental hazard, Mamgain said, "Starting from Noida to Delhi and onwards, a number of buildings including pucca buildings are being raised and all these structures are going to be completed soon. I am surprised how builders managed to build without attracting any one's attention," he said.
Monday, October 10, 2011
A unique initiative for community empowerment (Time of India 10 October 2011)
The youth of Nagla Banjara village in Bharatpur, Rajasthan have taken up street vending with help from the Lupin Foundation. –Photo: Rohit Jain Paras
Jaipur: Through utilisation of existing resources, a large number of street vendors at Nagla Banjara village in Nadbai teshil of Bharatpur district have been helped out to expand their business, construct houses and send their children to school.
The residents of the small Nagla Banjara village, situated near Antara on the Agra-Bikaner National Highway, are traditionally known in eastern Rajasthan as “Pheri Wallas” (street vendors). They travel to far-off villages and sell items of daily use mostly on bicycles and handcarts.
The village has about 100 households mostly of the people belonging to the Banjara (nomad) clan. They were earlier engaged in buying and selling of the cattle used in agricultural farms, but their utility ended after the advent of mechanisation in the agriculture sector. For several years now, they have taken up street vending as their principal vocation.
The Banjaras travel to the rural areas not just in Rajasthan but also in the States such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab and Haryana, where they have been earning good profits by selling different kinds of commodities.
For street vending, they bring the goods such as utensils, wooden and metal items and cosmetic products from the cities and sell them in the villages. In the absence of adequate capital, they had to travel earlier to the cities over and over again for buying the merchandise.
Sixty per cent of the villagers are engaged in street vending, while the rest work as farm labourers to earn their livelihood, as they do not own any agricultural land. Women rear the cattle to supplement the family income. On any given day, one can only find old people, women and children in the village during the day, while the youths venture out for vending.
On the development front, 80 per cent of the families in Nagla Banjara did not have a brick house till about a year ago and most of them were staying in the huts with thatched roof and sheds erected on pasture land. Barely 20 to 30 persons were literate, even though there is a primary school in the village.
The Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation – the corporate social responsibility wing of pharmaceutical major Lupin – adopted Nagla Banjara about a year ago with the intention of launching all-round development works for benefiting the local population.
The first task it took up was getting loans of Rs.25,000 each to 53 persons from the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for construction of brick houses to replace the huts and sheds. Ten other households were helped out in getting financial assistance from the Chief Minister's Below Poverty Line Housing Scheme.
According to Lupin Foundation Executive Director Sita Ram Gupta here, brick houses are being constructed at a fast pace in the village and many of the dusty pathways have been converted into regular roads by utilising the MP's Local Area Development Fund.
The Lupin Foundation laid emphasis on revamping of street vending as an existing resource for livelihood. It gave loans of Rs.20,000 each on easy terms to 78 youths for purchasing items for selling and gave training for fabrication of metal chains to 10 women in the village. Three others were provided with the buffaloes of the improved ‘Murra' breed.
Mr. Gupta points out that the people in the village have now understood the significance of education, as it helps and provides expertise even in a work like street vending. Attempts are underway to bring the out-of-school children to new education centres.
The State Government has since joined the efforts of Lupin Foundation to ensure the village's development and installed separate drinking water tanks for human and cattle consumption. Besides, the youths belonging to BPL families are being trained under the Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana for working as security guards.
Having got information about the Government's welfare schemes, the villagers now approach the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions for getting their benefits. The sustained year-long efforts have seemingly ensured the nondescript village's march on the road to progress and prosperity.
The villagers' empowerment along with the creation of new livelihood opportunities has generated a model for others for taking similar initiatives, he says.
Jaipur: Through utilisation of existing resources, a large number of street vendors at Nagla Banjara village in Nadbai teshil of Bharatpur district have been helped out to expand their business, construct houses and send their children to school.
The residents of the small Nagla Banjara village, situated near Antara on the Agra-Bikaner National Highway, are traditionally known in eastern Rajasthan as “Pheri Wallas” (street vendors). They travel to far-off villages and sell items of daily use mostly on bicycles and handcarts.
The village has about 100 households mostly of the people belonging to the Banjara (nomad) clan. They were earlier engaged in buying and selling of the cattle used in agricultural farms, but their utility ended after the advent of mechanisation in the agriculture sector. For several years now, they have taken up street vending as their principal vocation.
The Banjaras travel to the rural areas not just in Rajasthan but also in the States such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab and Haryana, where they have been earning good profits by selling different kinds of commodities.
For street vending, they bring the goods such as utensils, wooden and metal items and cosmetic products from the cities and sell them in the villages. In the absence of adequate capital, they had to travel earlier to the cities over and over again for buying the merchandise.
Sixty per cent of the villagers are engaged in street vending, while the rest work as farm labourers to earn their livelihood, as they do not own any agricultural land. Women rear the cattle to supplement the family income. On any given day, one can only find old people, women and children in the village during the day, while the youths venture out for vending.
On the development front, 80 per cent of the families in Nagla Banjara did not have a brick house till about a year ago and most of them were staying in the huts with thatched roof and sheds erected on pasture land. Barely 20 to 30 persons were literate, even though there is a primary school in the village.
The Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation – the corporate social responsibility wing of pharmaceutical major Lupin – adopted Nagla Banjara about a year ago with the intention of launching all-round development works for benefiting the local population.
The first task it took up was getting loans of Rs.25,000 each to 53 persons from the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for construction of brick houses to replace the huts and sheds. Ten other households were helped out in getting financial assistance from the Chief Minister's Below Poverty Line Housing Scheme.
According to Lupin Foundation Executive Director Sita Ram Gupta here, brick houses are being constructed at a fast pace in the village and many of the dusty pathways have been converted into regular roads by utilising the MP's Local Area Development Fund.
The Lupin Foundation laid emphasis on revamping of street vending as an existing resource for livelihood. It gave loans of Rs.20,000 each on easy terms to 78 youths for purchasing items for selling and gave training for fabrication of metal chains to 10 women in the village. Three others were provided with the buffaloes of the improved ‘Murra' breed.
Mr. Gupta points out that the people in the village have now understood the significance of education, as it helps and provides expertise even in a work like street vending. Attempts are underway to bring the out-of-school children to new education centres.
The State Government has since joined the efforts of Lupin Foundation to ensure the village's development and installed separate drinking water tanks for human and cattle consumption. Besides, the youths belonging to BPL families are being trained under the Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana for working as security guards.
Having got information about the Government's welfare schemes, the villagers now approach the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions for getting their benefits. The sustained year-long efforts have seemingly ensured the nondescript village's march on the road to progress and prosperity.
The villagers' empowerment along with the creation of new livelihood opportunities has generated a model for others for taking similar initiatives, he says.
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