citizens must be made part of the “environmental urban planning”. This will lead to
creation of smart cities in India. This is the key to prevent flooding and water
logging of drains and roads, inundation of low-lying areas and overflow of sewage
onto to the streets. Bengaluru/Mumbai must put a price on the “free” drainage
services its rivers/water bodies provide to keep the city afloat against all odds. Only
then will it learn to protect these natural water channels and make them an integral
part of city planning exercise.
Urban water harvesting is another important aspect that would improve water
demands and reduce urban flooding. Unless the natural outflows are cleared
completely for smooth flow of rain and waste water away from Bengaluru, floods
will continue to occur. Environmental protection is an integral part of any developmental process supported by constitutional provisions.
A rational urban planning must ensure holistic development and effective land
use and land management practices which ensure citizens right to safe environment
and protection of natural resources. Watershed areas need to be protected not only
from water resource point of view, but also for other vital environment and
hydrological norms that directly affect lives of people. Bengaluru metropolitan
area’s most potential and live ground water reservoirs lie in southeastern part of
South Bengaluru. Frequent land use changes, and haphazard occupation of tank
beds as a consequence of new layouts especially by blocking natural drainage
would inevitably destroy most prolific and promising aquifers and naturally formed
water harvesting areas in urban centres. This would inevitably constitute denial of
citizens of their basic right to enjoy vital natural resources like water. Citizens are
entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature as enshrined in
Article 21 of the constitution of India. Ineffective urban planning infringe upon
collective rights of citizens.
The main focus of city development plan must aim towards achieving rational
land use and land management, which ensures that people enjoy a clean and safe
environment and are not subjected to improper planning that denies them or inhibits
use of natural resources. As land rights in India are not well-defined, there have
been implications in terms of conflicts, misuse and inequitable distribution of
resources. Need and emphasis on well-defined land rights system has been stressed
time and again by researchers and policy makers. Land security can be attained with
a well-defined land rights system in place. There are various institutions
(Department of Survey Settlement and Land Resources, Bengaluru Development
Authority, Private Land Developers, Cooperative Societies, etc.) involved in processing of records related to property in terms of issuing and approving which have
been largely misunderstood in relation to property rights besides poor maintenance
of land records. It is crucial that there is a comprehensive understanding of roles,
responsibilities and coordination amongst these institutions in land management
and service delivery. It is also important that appropriate legal framework should be
structured to correspond and support the varied institutions. ST bed is one of the
Lack of Environmental Planning Exacerbating Climate Change Risks …
473
creation of smart cities in India. This is the key to prevent flooding and water
logging of drains and roads, inundation of low-lying areas and overflow of sewage
onto to the streets. Bengaluru/Mumbai must put a price on the “free” drainage
services its rivers/water bodies provide to keep the city afloat against all odds. Only
then will it learn to protect these natural water channels and make them an integral
part of city planning exercise.
Urban water harvesting is another important aspect that would improve water
demands and reduce urban flooding. Unless the natural outflows are cleared
completely for smooth flow of rain and waste water away from Bengaluru, floods
will continue to occur. Environmental protection is an integral part of any developmental process supported by constitutional provisions.
A rational urban planning must ensure holistic development and effective land
use and land management practices which ensure citizens right to safe environment
and protection of natural resources. Watershed areas need to be protected not only
from water resource point of view, but also for other vital environment and
hydrological norms that directly affect lives of people. Bengaluru metropolitan
area’s most potential and live ground water reservoirs lie in southeastern part of
South Bengaluru. Frequent land use changes, and haphazard occupation of tank
beds as a consequence of new layouts especially by blocking natural drainage
would inevitably destroy most prolific and promising aquifers and naturally formed
water harvesting areas in urban centres. This would inevitably constitute denial of
citizens of their basic right to enjoy vital natural resources like water. Citizens are
entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature as enshrined in
Article 21 of the constitution of India. Ineffective urban planning infringe upon
collective rights of citizens.
The main focus of city development plan must aim towards achieving rational
land use and land management, which ensures that people enjoy a clean and safe
environment and are not subjected to improper planning that denies them or inhibits
use of natural resources. As land rights in India are not well-defined, there have
been implications in terms of conflicts, misuse and inequitable distribution of
resources. Need and emphasis on well-defined land rights system has been stressed
time and again by researchers and policy makers. Land security can be attained with
a well-defined land rights system in place. There are various institutions
(Department of Survey Settlement and Land Resources, Bengaluru Development
Authority, Private Land Developers, Cooperative Societies, etc.) involved in processing of records related to property in terms of issuing and approving which have
been largely misunderstood in relation to property rights besides poor maintenance
of land records. It is crucial that there is a comprehensive understanding of roles,
responsibilities and coordination amongst these institutions in land management
and service delivery. It is also important that appropriate legal framework should be
structured to correspond and support the varied institutions. ST bed is one of the
Lack of Environmental Planning Exacerbating Climate Change Risks …
473