Jun 21, 2024
SDG 11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES IN INDIA
Basics of Sustainable Cities and Communities
Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. This goal encompasses various targets, including ensuring access to adequate housing and basic services, improving urban living conditions, and enhancing urban sustainability.
Key Targets for SDG 11
Access to Adequate, Safe, and Affordable Housing and Basic Services
1. Affordable Housing Development:
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY): This scheme aims to provide affordable housing to the urban poor by 2022, offering subsidies for home construction and improvement.
• State Initiatives: States like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have launched housing schemes to provide affordable housing to low-income groups.
2. Upgrade Poorly Resourced Neighborhoods:
• Infrastructure Improvements: Programs like the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) focus on upgrading urban infrastructure, including water supply, sewage systems, and urban transport.
• Community Development Programs: The Swachh Bharat Mission aims to improve sanitation facilities, particularly in urban slums, ensuring cleanliness and health.
3. Access to Basic Services:
• Universal Service Provision: Schemes like the Jal Jeevan Mission aim to provide piped water supply to every household.
• Affordable Utilities: Initiatives like Saubhagya scheme aim to ensure electricity access for all households.
Path to Achieving Sustainable Cities and Communities
1. Energy-Efficient Cooling Solutions:
• Eco-Niwas Samhita: This building code promotes energy-efficient residential buildings to reduce energy consumption and enhance cooling efficiency.
• Cool Roofs Initiative: Cities like Hyderabad are implementing cool roof programs to reduce indoor temperatures and energy costs.
2. Urban Planning and Design:
• Green Spaces: Cities like Chandigarh are increasing green spaces to mitigate the urban heat island effect and improve air quality.
• Building Design: Promoting the use of traditional architecture that maximizes natural ventilation, as seen in Jaipur, can help reduce reliance on artificial cooling.
3. Green Infrastructure:
• Renewable Energy: The Solar City initiative aims to promote the use of renewable energy in urban areas, reducing reliance on non-renewable sources.
• Sustainable Transport: Projects like the Delhi Metro have significantly reduced traffic congestion and pollution by providing a reliable public transport system.
4. Digital Integration:
• Smart City Mission: This mission aims to develop 100 smart cities across India, leveraging digital technologies to improve urban services, including traffic management, waste management, and energy use.
• Digital Access: Efforts are being made to ensure digital literacy and high-speed internet access through initiatives like Digital India.
5. Electric Mobility:
• FAME India Scheme: This scheme promotes the adoption of electric vehicles by providing subsidies and developing charging infrastructure.
• Public Transport Electrification: Cities like Bengaluru are transitioning to electric buses to reduce emissions and improve air quality.
6. Sustainable Urban Planning:
• Compact Cities: Urban development plans are increasingly focusing on mixed-use development, as seen in the redevelopment of BKC (Bandra-Kurla Complex) in Mumbai, reducing the need for long commutes.
• Resilient Infrastructure: The development of flood-resistant infrastructure in cities like Chennai aims to make urban areas more resilient to climate-related hazards.
By implementing these strategies and leveraging India’s unique initiatives and examples, cities can progress towards becoming inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, ensuring a better quality of life for all residents.
SRIRAM’s
