2019 - SUID Dialogue - Blues in The Blueprints - Concept Note - Agenda - and Presentation

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Mr. Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, IAS
Director-General, National Mission for Clean Ganga
Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India
Mr. Mishra is the current Director-General of the National Mission for
Clean Ganga under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. He had earlier served as
an Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary (Housing) in the Ministry of
Housing and Urban Affairs.
A Mechanical Engineer from IIT Kanpur, he has in the past looked after
various departments as Secretary/Principal Secretary at state level,
such as Irrigation, Municipal Administration and Urban Development,
Infrastructure and Investments.
Mr. Mohan S. Rao

Principal, Integrated Design
Bengaluru
Mr. Mohan S Rao, an Environmental Design & Landscape Architecture
professional, is the principal designer of the leading multi-disciplinary
consultancy practice, Integrated Design (INDÉ), based in Bangalore. His core
expertise is in the field of environmental design, regional planning and landscape
architecture with a strong focus on sustainable practices in city & regional
planning, disaster management, heritage conservation and master planning. He
is involved in research and design programs in the sub-continent, China, France,
Italy, Morocco and Libya.
Ms. Shalini Sinha

Delhi Focal City Coordinator
Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing & Organising (WIEGO)
New Delhi
Ms. Shalini’s work focuses on developing and documenting decent
work and livelihood opportunities for women workers in the informal
economy, especially women home-based workers in urban locations.
Prior to joining WIEGO, she worked as an independent consultant
specialising in labour, gender, and social development issues for
national and international NGOs and funding agencies. She holds an
M. Phil in Political Science from Delhi University.
Mr. Leo F. Saldanha
Coordinator
Environment Support Group – Trust, Bengaluru
Leo F. Saldanha is full-time Coordinator of ESG. He has gained wide-ranging
experience in the areas of Environmental Law and Policy, Decentralisation,
Urban Planning and a variety of Human Rights and Development related issues,
working across many sectors for over a decade. He is a keen campaigner on
critical environmental and social justice issues and has guided several
campaigns demanding evolution of progressive laws and effective action. He has
creatively supported various distressed communities to secure justice through
public interest litigations and advocacy efforts, arguing as party in person several
public interest litigations, many of which have resulted in remarkable judgments.
Dr. Ratoola Kundu

Assistant Professor
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
Ratoola holds a PhD in Urban Planning and Policy from the University
of Illinois, Chicago. She teaches urban transport policy, planning and
practice; urban planning theory and practice, planning and the Indian
city, urban studio and research design at the School of Habitat Studies,
TISS. Previously, she has worked with organisations such as TERI and
Human Rights Law Network, focusing on resettlement and
rehabilitation projects associated with large urban infrastructure
developments.
Dr. Partha Mukhopadhyay

Senior Fellow
Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi
Partha Mukhopadhyay joined CPR in 2006. He was previously part of the
founding team at the Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC),
focusing on private participation in infrastructure. In previous positions, he has
been with the Export Import Bank of India, and with the World Bank in
Washington. He has been on the faculty at Indian Institute of Management,
Ahmedabad, Xavier Labour Relations Institute, Jamshedpur and the School of
Planning and Architecture in Delhi.
He received his PhD in economics from New York University and an MA and
M.Phil from the Delhi School of Economics.
Blues in the blueprints: Linking Land Use Planning and Water
Mohan Rao
Sustainable Urban and Industrial Development Dialogue
SUID DIALOGUE NEW DELHI 27 Sep 2019 MOHAN RAO

PART 1: NATURAL SYSTEMS IN URBAN AREAS
Ecosystem Services and Urban Planning

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT PARADIGM
RE- MODELLING PLANNING & DESIGN
FRAMEWORK ACROSS SCALES
Networking Decentralized Systems for City/

Region RESILIENCE
NATURAL SYSTEMS PLANNING FRAMEWORK
Conventional Planning Framework

Natural Systems in Urban
Areas
Response to Natural Systems
Potential of Natural
Systems as Urban
Infrastructure Lack of Integration of Natural Systems
into Development Planning & Design
Various Ecosystem
Services ABUSE OF
NATURAL SPACES
Original Current
Under Valuation of Natural Spaces
Natural Natural Discharge of Sewage and
Potential Potential Waste
Low Land Value
URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE Slums
DEGRADATION OF
Engineering Systems Replace Ecosystem NATURAL SYSTEMS
Services provided by Natural Systems
Decentralization
DECENTRALIZED beyondV/S
Governance CENTRALIZED URBAN SERVICES
ECOSYSTEM POTENTIAL

UNDERSTANDING NATURE AS A SYSTEM

Conventional Planning Frameworks
Land Use Plan of Bangalore Across Transect representing Bellandur Lake
SPATIAL PLANNING Two- Dimensional translation
TERRAIN treated two

dimensionally. Land
form and slope gradient
rarely considered
EXISTING SYSTEMS
Plan detached from
existing natural systems
SPATIAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK New Raipur Master Plan

Abstract concept as base for Spatial Planning
Framework
Conventional Planning Frameworks
LAND PLANNING: Driven by land use parcelization & mobility

network proximity with no recognition of intrinsic land potential
Central Capitol Complex with grid iron pattern of

layout planning of various zones
New Capital of ANDHRA PRADESH
URBAN STRUCTURE defined and dominated by the Mobility

Network and Hierarchy

Potential of natural systems as urban infrastructure
PROVISIONING SERVICES
Ecosystem Services in Urban Landscapes
• Provisioning – water, food, fodder, fuel

• Regulating - microclimate, floods, disease
• Supporting – sewage and waste
management, nutrient cycles, pollination
REGULATING SERVICES • Cultural – recreational, spiritual
Intrinsic Capacity of various natural system to

serve as green infrastructure in urban
ecosystems
Natural Systems serve as cheap and efficient

SUPPORTING SERVICES
Urban Infrastructure
Natural systems address water security,

controls floods, manage waste and create
livelihood opportunities
CULTURAL SERVICES
Source: Integrated Design (INDE’)

Response of Conventional Planning to Natural Systems
Natural Systems seen as ‘no development‘ spaces
Primary function of planning tools is to exclude all

natural systems from ‘ planned development’
Natural Systems seen as either a hindrance to

development or as a liability
The Master Plan which is also the legal document for

spatial development in cities, legalizes development on
floodplain and thus encroachment into river and its
floodplain.
Source: Delhi Development Authority

Lack of Integration of Natural Systems
Natural Systems left as disconnected spaces
Retained purely as ‘no development’ zones
Often have no assigned ‘use’ – kept out of any

active engagement
Natural spaces ‘locked in’ by non-responsive

land uses

Condition of Natural Systems in Urban Areas
Critical linkages not acknowledged- Catchments, Overflow,

etc.
Non sympathetic or counterproductive land uses enclose

natural systems
Often are further bounded by fences, walls and other

barricades; further restricting their connection to regional
systems
Source: Sabarmati River Front Development Corporation Limited & AMC
Defined by enclosing land uses irrespective of nature of

A river perceived as an isolated channel
system enclosed- Hills, Quarry, River, Lake, etc.
physically separated from its natural drainage
system in its watershed. Natural riparian
functions affected.
Sabarmati River Front

AHMEDABAD

Undermining natural systems and their Ecological Role
➢ Increased reliance on engineered

systems removes all natural systems from the
public imagination
➢ Their contribution to urban ecology is never

factored in
➢ ‘Ecology’ and ‘urban’ seen as mutually

exclusive
➢ ‘Ecology’ and ‘ecological functions’ seen as

redundant and of no significance to urban
planning and infrastructure development
The natural drainage flowing into and flowing

outside the lake is built on whereby the ecological
function of drainage management is affected.
Urban planning and infrastructure not valuing these

natural ecological functions.

Undervaluation of Natural Systems as an Urban land use
Lack of defined ‘use’ removes

natural systems from the formal
economy
Adjoining land uses ‘turn their

backs’ on natural spaces
Urban land valued for physical

development only within the
formal economy – defined by its
build ability and as a transferable
asset
Common goods and services

offered by natural spaces not seen
Source: BDA as contributing the urban economy
No functional use designated to natural landscapes. Merely classified as

water bodies and green spaces.
There function in contributing to maintaining urban habitats like storm

water management, carbon sequestration, nutrient recycling, etc. not
represented in any services or amenities category
Engineered Systems replace ESS of Natural Systems
MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
Pipeline inside City
Arkavathi Source
➢ ‘Instantaneous’ engineered solutions leads to
KRS Reservoir in
Kaveri
neglect of traditional, natural sources
➢ Engineered services seen as more reliable

T K Halli WTP Pipeline from WTP solutions
➢ Engineered provision of urban services seen as

a right – even communities traditionally reliant
Kabini Reservoir
on natural resources demand ‘modern’ solutions
Source: BWSSB
➢ As a direct consequence, traditional / natural

sources fall into neglect
SUB SYSTEM OF LAKE NETWORKS
Lakes ➢ Sources once neglected, drastically fall in

capacity
Dependence on river alone as a source of water and

transporting water from distance with increased
footprint and ever increasing demand while ignoring
the existing and once thriving lake system that
harvested and stored rain water

Abuse of Natural Systems
Increasing densities render natural spaces as
desirable but inaccessible urban land parcels
Natural spaces thus provide fertile grounds for

‘undesirable’ developments – squatting, land fill,
etc..
Increased engineered solutions and decreased

natural capacity undermines intrinsic value of
natural systems
Two-dimensional land use plans fragment

contiguous systems
Non-recognition of the intrinsic characteristics of

natural systems means these spaces are treated as
‘left-over’ lands
Decreased capacity used as an excuse for further

colonisation of the natural space
Non-functioning systems due to abuse treated as a
validation for physical occupation and at times,
complete obliteration of the natural space.
The community depends on lake and its buffer as a direct and
indirect resource area, but since the area is not part of any
intervention agenda as per land use classification, encroachment, Vicious cycle of non-recognition-abuse-
sewage and waste disposal is found to be prevalent. This further colonisation-death-obliteration of all natural
degrades the lake. spaces in urban areas
COMPREHENSIVE RESTORATION OF NATURAL SYSTEMS
ALTERATION OF LAKE
TRANSFORMATION Catchment area altered, roads around the tank – lake becomes a traffic island
Dried lake used as playground
Tank bed developed as public amenities
CULTIVATION
Lake bed used for cultivation, fertile land, bore-well as source of water
Cultivation shifts downstream with the stress of urban development
Institutional and residential layouts proposed on the lake bed
SEWAGE DISPOSAL Sewer lines from residential layouts open into the lake
Deterioration of water quality, becomes mosquito menace, breached for malaria eradication program
Residential layouts proposed and small portions left as open space
SILTATION Reduced vegetative cover leads to soil erosion and silting of lake
Silted lake becomes marshy with slowly converting into open space
Lakes dry up and residential layout proposed
DESILTATION
Desilting and cleaning of lake
Urbanisation cutting the lake off from upstream and downstream activities
Silting due to less vegetative cover in surrounding areas
REVERSING THE DEPTH OF LAKE

Deepening of lake with deepest end near the bund
CURRENT LAKE CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES
Collection of polluted water in the lake

Becomes a hazard to public health
BEAUTIFICATION AND LANDSCAPE

Intervention concentrated on landscape to beautify the lake
No regulation of construction , valley and lake connectivity lead to progressive death of lake
Silted areas further landscaped
Elevated jogging or pedestrian track created around the lake ELEVATED TRACK
Extensive construction around leads to disconnectivity to the valley
Progressive death of lake and water logging

RISK-BASED LAND EVALUATION
• Large portion of parcels affected by a high degree of exposure to natural and industrial 72 plots of 155 affected by a high degree of risk from industrial and natural hazards.
hazard risk, 46 % of the owners with a decreased value of their land after 5 years compared to others.
• Disparity between owners exacerbated by future development, – 23 % after 5 years for land with risk
• Risk to compromise the economic and social balance + 61 % after 5 years for land without risk.

ECOLOGY & INFRASTRUCTURE
Productive Landscape, the Ecological Parameter

Vicious circle of undervaluation and decay
- Encroachment
- Non reorganization in
Land Use Plan
NATURAL SYSTEMS
➢ Increased decay and abuse –
decreased valuation of resource
➢ Resource and space are equated – often

confused to be one and the same
➢ Land is of no value since it is not amenable

Ecosystem
Services = Land Component
as an asset for ownership, transfer, etc.
➢ The resource is neither recognized or

LAND VALUE valued since it is thought to be synonymous
with land / space
Ecosystem Services are results of ecosystem processes

and functions, not always represented by land, but
Land by a system of tangible and intangible components.
Hence LAND IS NOT ALWAYS EQUAL TO ECOSYSTEM
Ecosystem Services
SERVICES.
CONVENTIONAL LAND VALUATION OMITS this

intangible component and considers only build-
CONVENTIONAL LAND ability as the valuation parameter.
VALUATION SYSTEM
Leading to UNDER VALUATION and DEGRADATION
facilitated by encroachment and non recognition in
Master Plan

Increased Engineering solutions to compensate for loss of ESS
Abused/undermined/dead natural spaces

no longer able to perform their ecological
functions
Reduced functions presented as an

expected failure
Increased engineered solution to

compensate for non-performing natural
spaces
Further demands on engineered solutions

to meet the ‘scarcity’
Vicious circle of increased engineering

solutions and reducing natural capacity
Consequent increase in resource footprint

– extraction of distant resources
The nexus of undervaluation of natural systems

Source: Integrated Design (INDE’) and consequent loss by encroachment which
further degrades its any existing quality in
terms of services that it provides

Centralized urban services V/s Decentralized
CONVENTIONAL ECOSYSTEM SERVICE POTENTIAL ESS potential
SYSTEM
Complexity of management higher in a single large

centralized system as any failures would affect the entire
Water Supply system
Flexibility for expansion lesser and expansion would mean

Lakes
increased complexity
Resilience to externalities and failures much lesser as the

Sewage Management system cannot revive itself unlike in the case of natural
systems based services
Provisioning of Urban Ecosystem Services in a

decentralized manner
Storm Water Management

Spatial reflection of hierarchy in natural system
Adopting natural system boundaries to define

decentralized functional sub-system

PART 2: CASE OF COIMBATORE

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
➢ Explore sustainability of water bodies and their linkages with human settlements
➢ Prepare a set of recommendations for integrating findings from these explorations with city level plans

Approach - Methodology
Site level typologies:

Regional Context
Development of informal Site level detailed study on
settlements 4 chosen sites
Tradition and Mapping of Natural
• Storm water drains • Type of development
Culture Systems and Commons
• System, non-system tanks • Impacts (benign/ long-term
• Commons /immediate)
Morphological
Evolution of Mapping of Informal
Settlements and other Current Issues and future
Landscape risks (city and region level)
Developments in the
Development Plans vicinity of:
Recommendations and
in the Region strategies
• natural systems
• commons
• To address issues and
Institutional Potentials and Opportunities mitigate risks
Arrangements: (site and city level) • Use potential opportunities
• relationship between that can better existing DP’s
state and city planning projects, schemes
• ownership • Institutional strengthening
Gaps in DP’s Institutional
Arrangements
Best Practices and Case

Studies

Regional Context
Understanding Coimbatore’s landscape in relation to the Noyyal river Basin
The Noyyal basin has three

distinct topographic segments
➢ Slopes and valleys in the

Western Ghats, a well-drained
region
➢ The lower catchment area in

the flat plains
➢ The eastern Noyyal river basin

which is flat or gently undulating
The natural flow is seasonal
Urban domestic and industrial

sewage from Coimbatore
+
return flows from the Lower
Bhavani Project (LBP)
= perennial flow in some

stretches

Historic context and traditional water management systems
The Cholas built an ingenious system of tanks and anicut

upstream along the river to prevent flooding downstream.
Region received scanty seasonal rainfall. During monsoons, the

anicut channelized excess water into tanks where it was stored
for irrigation and domestic uses.
Tanks are known as ‘ery’ in Tamil and temple tanks as ‘Kulam’.
In the absence and shortage of rain water, tank irrigation played

a vital role in the progress of agriculture.
Kinds of tanks: System tanks and non-system tanks
System tanks are fed with water from rivers and run off through
diversion weirs (anicut), feeder channels and surface flow. This
tank is formed by throwing a low bund across a shallow valley to
hold the runoff from its catchment above
Non-system tanks are rain fed tanks. They are found either in
series or in isolation.

Surface water systems in the Noyyal Basin
SYSTEM and NON-SYSTEM TANKS
Coimbatore
System tanks
Non-system tanks
Noyyal Basin: 31 tanks - 23 anicut (originally 32)
➢ regulate water levels in the Noyyal

➢ prevent floods during excess rain
➢ percolation structures for groundwater recharge
Tank irrigation is regarded as a stabilizing factor of agricultural production in the region where uncertainty of rainfall is pronounced.
Almost every village in the eastern plains have a tank

Conventional Water Provisioning
Pillur scheme
Coimbatore
Siruvani project
For meeting domestic water needs, the main infrastructure is in the form of pipelines linking dams and reservoirs
outside the basin servicing mostly urban consumers within the basin.
City Growth Pattern
Water bodies formed the initial nuclei for urban growth and later become a barrier for urban expansion. Hence, growth pattern towards the north.
Noyyal river forms a natural divide to the expanding city.
1910 - 1953 1961 1971
1981 1991 2000

Water systems within Coimbatore
Linkage between surface drainage and Ery

The tanks and development
Mapping Developments along Water Systems

The tanks and development
Mapping Developments along Water Systems

Examining the Master Plans
Case of Amman Kulam

Examining the Master Plans
Need to recognise the role (functional service) of Anicut and Natural Drainage
Doesn’t recognise the functional capacity and use of natural drainage networks, anicut, tanks, open spaces, vegetated landscapes (parks, sacred
groves, floodplains etc.)
Institutional Actors
Water Resources
Organization
Central Ground Water Board
Tamil Nadu Water and

Drainage Board
Coimbatore City Municipal

Corporation
Coimbatore Local Planning

Authority
Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance

Board
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control

Board

Schemes and Projects
Scheme Coverage
Rethinking with respect to natural capacities
Scheme Coverage
Smart City Proposal Developing Eco-Restoration Plan for Eight Lakes identified under Coimbatore Smart City Proposal
Selvachinthamani, Periya Kulam, Valankulam, Narasempathy, Krishnampathy, Selvampathy, Kumarasamy, Singanallur
AMRUT & JNNURM CCMC proposes to implement city-wide sewerage coverage by bringing added areas not covered under the existing
sewerage system under AMRUT. This is reflected in its City level SLIP which has already been submitted. Bidding 24X7 Water
Supply in core city area to be implementation on PPP (Staggered annuity model) with funding from JNNURM is already
underway.
Swachh Bharat Mission Coimbatore targets to be Open-defecation free and 100% compliant to SWM rules 2000 by 2019 in line with the targets set
the Swachh Bharat Mission. Under SBM, 6000 toilets are being built under in the next two years of which 1000 toilets fall
within the wards covered in the Area development plan. This proposal has already been approved and is under
implementation
Housing for All The TNSCB is constructing 10,800 tenements which will be ready for occupation by 2016, with support from Housing for All
and its predecessor schemes. These tenements will help making the Area covered slum-free. A Slum Free City Action Plan is
also ready. Support from Housing for all scheme will be converged towards CCMC’s target of making Coimbatore Slum free.
Government of Tamil GoTN Vision TN 2023 envisages support to creation of 10 world class cities through schemes such as the Chief Ministers
Nadu (GoTN) schemes Integrated Urban Development Mission and as the second largest city in TN, continues to receive support under various GoTN
schemes for municipal administration. Support in the form of loans through nodal institutions including TNUDF and TUFIDCO
is also envisaged. Part of NMT proposals are being implemented under CM's '110 announcement' in the Assembly for 2015-16

The Altered Landscape
▪ Seasonal nature to perennial nature of tanks, anicut and drainage channels (ground water along with sewage discharge)
▪ Catchment diversions and fragmentation of linked systems, that are caused by alteration of land form and construction
▪ Road drains that are carrying sewage and are fragmented and de-linked from the higher order drainage channels
▪ Increasing pollution in the water bodies and health concerns
▪ Vulnerable conditions of dependent communities and informal settlements as well as aquatic biodiversity
Water flow in anicut

from Noyyal River
Surface drainage flow
Sewage flow
Flow of Noyyal River

Water systems within Coimbatore
The Evolution of Water Systems
Terrain and Water flow Traditional system: Anicut and Tanks Development: Road drainage - sewage flow
The nature of terrain and land form determines the In the case of the region of Coimbatore, traditional system In the present scenario of development;
surface water flow dynamics. Ridges/ mounts and valleys of anicut and tanks exists which was established to
result in the formation of smaller watersheds and manage floods downstream. Construction activities cause catchment diversions
catchments. (multiple localized changes that over time alter the
These divert water through created channels called anicut flow). This is along with loss of permeable land is the
This system is hierarchical and forms a network of from the river into detention tanks (Ery). These anicut tend major cause of urban floods even in areas away from
channels which typically converge into higher order to follow the natural terrain and the regional flow. river flood plains. Water is accessible round the year
channels that drain into the river. The system is non- (from distant sources). The used water and sewage is
perennial and the landscape transforms seasonally. This system is again dependent on the presence and discharged into these tanks, drainage channels and
amount of water in the river Noyyal and therefore rivers.
The surface flow dynamics is influenced by change in transforms seasonally.
terrain, soil, permeability of land surface and vegetation Road drains and sewage discharge are the new
cover. The flood plains and wetlands which are inundation The water landscape attracts dependent livelihoods and determinants of water dynamics apart from the natural
extents are influenced by the above factors. communities. and traditional systems.

A closer look at the water system
Case 01: NARSAMPATHI AND KRISHNAMPATHI LAKES/ TANKS
Existing Situation Scope for Interventions
Narsampathi and Krishnampathi tanks have to be officially declared as important resources which benefit both the residential and agricultural communities around them.
1. Retrofit inlet and outlet points of the tanks with interception units like (gross pollutant traps, silt traps)
2. Retrofit the sewage inlet points for bio-engineered interventions
3. Retrofit edges to the lake/tank with swales
4. Integrate vegetated filters strips along the transition edge of the Narsipuram road.
5. Retrofit existing development and land cover (especially the areas along the drains that flow into the tanks) for at source management of waste (liquid and solid)
6. The link road from Narsipuram road through Krishnampathi tank to be either diverted or raised as an arch bridge to let water reclaim the tank bed.
7. The spatio-temporal characteristics of the tank bed should be mapped. During dry seasons, an area of the dry tank bed can be earmarked for growing seasonal crops.
8. As a large part of the tank bed remains dry during the dry season, this space can be used as recreational and community open spaces with appropriate regulations
9. Use of chemical fertilizers to be prohibited in agricultural areas around the tanks, especially on the area owned by TNAU, adjacent to the tank bed. This will make sure that the water that
drains into the tank from these areas is not polluted and can be further used.
10. Water from the Narsampathi overflows into the Krishnampathi tank. This point of overflow in the bund should not be subjected to modifications and if done so, the surrounding areas will
have the risk of flooding.

Case 02: SELVAMPATHI AND KUMARASWAMY LAKES/ TANKS
Selvampathi and Kumaraswamy tanks have to be officially declared as important resources which benefit both the urban and agricultural communities around them.
1. Retrofit inlet and outlet points of the tanks with interception units like (gross pollutant traps, silt traps)
2. Retrofit the sewage inlet points for bio-engineered interventions. This would ensure inflow of clean water leading to healthy biodiversity and aquatic life. Fish thrive in clean water
hence, sustaining the local fishing community in these tanks.
3. Although water hyacinths are an invasive species, moderate growth helps in oxygenating the water thus benefitting aquatic life.
4. Retrofit edges to the lake/tank with bio-swales.
5. Integrate vegetated filters strips along the transition edge of the roads around the tanks.
6. The southern edge of the tank has cattle sheds. The type of vegetation here can be for cattle grazing.
7. Retrofit existing development and land adjacent to the tanks for at-source management of waste (liquid and solid)
8. For low lying settlements along the northern side of the tanks, in situ redevelopment to manage risks of flooding.
9. The spatio-temporal characteristics of the tank bed should be mapped. During dry seasons, an area of the dry tank bed can be earmarked for growing seasonal crops.
10. Use of chemical fertilizers to be prohibited in agricultural areas around the tanks. This will make sure that the water that drains into the tank from these areas is not polluted and can be
further used.
11. Water from the Krishnampathi overflows into the Selvampathi tank. This point of overflow in the bund should not be subjected to modifications and if done so, the surrounding areas
will have the risk of flooding.

Case 03: SANGANUR PALLAM AT SHIVANANDA COLONY
The functionality of the Sanganur channel needs to be established as a natural storm water channel that is seasonal and reaches its highest flow during monsoons.
1. Verify and map the official records and revenue maps for the width and extent of the storm water drainage channel.
2. Buffer spaces need to be identified(according to the topography) and incorporated all throughout the channel and clearly differentiated from ‘open’, ‘parks’ or ‘unused land’ type of land
use.
3. Map and locate the lower order drainage streams linked to the channel. These may not be evident on ground as these are occupied by built development. But during monsoon these will
reappear during monsoons. In these cases, scope of site level retrofits to improve the local drainage flow should be explored. Small detention ponds can also be incorporated in open
spaces.
4. Map and locate the sewage inlet points/ areas flowing into the drainage channels.
5. Retrofit these inlet points of sewage and outlet point of the drain with interception units like (gross pollutant traps, silt traps)
6. Retrofit sewage and storm water inlet points for bio-engineered interventions.
7. Retrofit existing development and land adjacent to the channel for at-source management of waste (liquid and solid).
8. Once the buffer areas are identified, low lying settlements along the channel falling in the buffer zone should be assessed for in situ redevelopment to manage risks of flooding.
9. The canal can be retrofitted to accommodate vegetated swales and vegetated filter strips especially along the buffer and canal edge.
10. Integrate vegetated filters strips along transition edges of roads along the canal.
11. The buffer areas can be used to retrofit opportunities of creating vegetated urban forests, recreational spaces, community open spaces, urban agriculture/ horticulture areas etc., where
ever viable within the regulatory extents suggested.
12. Examine viability of interventions for the buffers on ground through surveys

Case 04: NOYYAL RIVER AT PERUR
1. As a large part of the river bed remains dry during the dry season[1], measures need to be taken to prevent encroachment of the river bed. In fact, with appropriate regulations, this
temporal space can be used as recreational and community open spaces, urban agriculture, etc.[2]
2. The open space along the river can become the commons and earmarked for community and temple activities especially for festivals and other events.[3]
3. It should also be ensured that current temple activities are not causes of any kind of damage to the river and its environment. The garbage dump at the ghats and in the river should be
prohibited and a system of waste management needs to be implemented.
4. Place participatory regulatory mechanisms for activities happening along the flood plain of the Noyyal River. The activities should make sure as to not damage the health and the ecology of
the river and its linked system.
5. Use of chemical fertilizers to be prohibited in agricultural areas along the Noyyal precincts.
6. Agricultural activities (eg. type of crop) taking place on the flood plains need to be regulated so as to ensure no damage is caused to the ecology of the place. These flood plains are fertile
and help in groundwater recharge during the monsoons.
7. The wetlands along the river also host tremendous biodiversity. Identifying appropriate buffers along the river would ensure the sustenance of this ecosystem.
8. Retrofit sewage inlet points for bio-engineered interventions for the village along the river.
9. Measures need to be taken to ensure that a buffer zone is established between the river and the peri-urban settlements along the river to ensure that no future built development
intrudes upon the river. This buffer can act as the commons for the village.
10. The river bed should be desilted and cleared of debris to allow for maximum flow of water during the monsoon season.
11. Retrofit the existing residential and public developments(in-situ where ever viable) along 30m extents of the river to manage pollutants-nutrient run-off and waste (liquid and solid).

POTENTIALS OF INTEGRATING WITH THE URBAN SYSTEM

Emerging Opportunities and Strategies to explore these
OPPORTUNITIES:
Water network (tanks, drainage channels, anicut, riparian flood plains) can be developed as the base for an integrated network of landscape
infrastructure.
Other open spaces can be linked with the network to function as open green and water corridors for the city. These can function as shaded movement
corridors, grazing areas, parks, urban agriculture and horticulture lands, sewage management landscapes etc. Refer annexure 4 for the listing of open
spaces and features that can be integrated into the green-blue corridors (natural and bio-engineered)
STRATEGIES:
The recommendations are made keeping in mind the following strategies;
➢ One of the foremost actions that need to be taken is to include the nomenclature of the water systems and associated ecological systems (eg. Buffer
space, soil, land profile, etc) into the formal systems of land use planning, water and waste water management departments etc. Presently the natural
storm water channels are treated as drain which allows for wrong interpretation. The sensitive and critical areas integral to the water systems (especially
buffers) has to be incorporated and recognized uses and regulatory zones in development control regulations.
➢ Utilize the intrinsic functional capacities of system and non-system tanks into servicing the city and communities needs
➢ Take up system based approach for long term results for rejuvenation of the lakes/ tanks.
➢ Evolve in-situ spatial and management interventions to improve existing situation through retrofits where ever viable
➢ Bring back nature and quality of flow by adapting existing activities and uses- Symbiotic adaptation of temporal nature of water landscape.
➢ Take proactive measures to prevent any future risks of degradation of the landscapes
➢ Develop and mandate a model for regular and continued collaboration between various departments and decision makers along with other
stakeholders. This increases accountability and ownership within the existing institutional framework.
➢ Initiate application of recommendations through a pilot case.

Recommendations
AT CITY-REGION AT LOCAL LEVEL
In cognition of regional embeddedness to the larger basin and sub-basin, In cognition of local conditions, sensitivities, linkages and functional
upstream and downstream consequences, ecosystem functions and capacities associations
etc.
Mapping and Delineation
Mapping and Surface water modelling Retrofits
Risk and Vulnerability assessment Bio-engineering
Water Security and Capacity assessment Wetlands and buffer landscape revival
Awareness Use and activity regulation and management
River and buffer regulatory area identification from above aspects Adaptive retrofits considering local conditions and dependencies to
Landscape infrastructure development communities
Integration into master planning and development guidelines, Benefit for local communities thus enabling stewardship
schemes and projects


2019 - SUID Dialogue - Blues in The Blueprints - Concept Note - Agenda - and Presentation

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2019 - SUID Dialogue - Blues in The Blueprints - Concept Note - Agenda - and Presentation

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__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mr. Mohan S. Rao

Ms. Shalini Sinha

Dr. Ratoola Kundu

Dr. Partha Mukhopadhyay

Sustainable Urban and Industrial Development Dialogue

SUID DIALOGUE NEW DELHI 27 Sep 2019 MOHAN RAO

SUID DIALOGUE NEW DELHI 27 Sep 2019 MOHAN RAO

Networking Decentralized Systems for City/

NATURAL SYSTEMS PLANNING FRAMEWORK

Conventional Planning Framework

Response to Natural Systems

Low Land Value

URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE Slums

SUID DIALOGUE NEW DELHI 27 Sep 2019 MOHAN RAO

SUID DIALOGUE NEW DELHI 27 Sep 2019 MOHAN RAO

Land Use Plan of Bangalore Across Transect representing Bellandur Lake

SPATIAL PLANNING Two- Dimensional translation

TERRAIN treated two

SPATIAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK New Raipur Master Plan

LAND PLANNING: Driven by land use parcelization & mobility

Central Capitol Complex with grid iron pattern of

New Capital of ANDHRA PRADESH

URBAN STRUCTURE defined and dominated by the Mobility

SUID DIALOGUE NEW DELHI 27 Sep 2019 MOHAN RAO

• Provisioning – water, food, fodder, fuel

Intrinsic Capacity of various natural system to

Natural Systems serve as cheap and efficient

Natural systems address water security,

Source: Integrated Design (INDE’)

SUID DIALOGUE NEW DELHI 27 Sep 2019 MOHAN RAO

Natural Systems seen as ‘no development‘ spaces

Primary function of planning tools is to exclude all

Natural Systems seen as either a hindrance to

The Master Plan which is also the legal document for

Source: Delhi Development Authority

SUID DIALOGUE NEW DELHI 27 Sep 2019 MOHAN RAO

Natural Systems left as disconnected spaces

Retained purely as ‘no development’ zones

Often have no assigned ‘use’ – kept out of any

Natural spaces ‘locked in’ by non-responsive

Source: Integrated Design (INDE’)

SUID DIALOGUE NEW DELHI 27 Sep 2019 MOHAN RAO

Critical linkages not acknowledged- Catchments, Overflow,

Non sympathetic or counterproductive land uses enclose

Often are further bounded by fences, walls and other

Defined by enclosing land uses irrespective of nature of

Sabarmati River Front

SUID DIALOGUE NEW DELHI 27 Sep 2019 MOHAN RAO

➢ Increased reliance on engineered

➢ Their contribution to urban ecology is never

➢ ‘Ecology’ and ‘urban’ seen as mutually

➢ ‘Ecology’ and ‘ecological functions’ seen as

The natural drainage flowing into and flowing

Urban planning and infrastructure not valuing these

SUID DIALOGUE NEW DELHI 27 Sep 2019 MOHAN RAO

Lack of defined ‘use’ removes

Adjoining land uses ‘turn their

Urban land valued for physical

Common goods and services

No functional use designated to natural landscapes. Merely classified as

There function in contributing to maintaining urban habitats like storm

Pipeline inside City