About a year ago A Ravindra, then Chairman of the Centre for Sustainable Development, had written in a leading Mumbai-based magazine about the proposal of the government of India to allocate around Rs 7060 crore for setting up 100 smart cities in the country. It was therefore amazing (or was it “amusing”?) to find that the garbage-ridden city of Panjim had been selected as one of those hundred lucky sites.
Around 21 qualities that would be expected from a smart city were listed. Among these are some minimal expectations of most inhabitants of any civilized part of the world, like 24/7 supply of good quality water. The author would like this to be reinforced by conservation and recycling, but for the time being, as far as Panjim is concerned, the supply of water 24/7 would be adequate, thank you. Other items of general expectation are people-friendly walkways and adequate parks and public spaces for recreation. If the 60th birthday bash of one of our revered politicians is any indication there is adequate space for all that – the only problem is that it is not for the proletariat.
Living in a smart city, says Ravindra, should be affordable ie the cost of services should be within the reach of the people. This is not a problem for Panjim, or any part of Goa for that matter, since everything is at ‘tourist rates’. The minimum charge on a two-wheeler (pilot) within Panjim is Rs 50 while the corresponding rate in metropolitan Mumbai in a four-wheeler is Rs 22. Then, going hand-in-hand with affordability is the need for “inclusiveness” – the clamorous claim of the powers that be. And it needs to be said to the credit of those powers that there are vast sections of the population that now feel ‘included’ but are not quite sure in what.
Clean and green environment, with progressive use of public transport which enables smooth mobility within the city are other general expectations – the ‘third bridge’ will ensure all this, no doubt. And talking about these piecemeal measures and sporadic attempts at clearing the chaos, it is necessary that a smart city work on a master plan which, instead of the land-use orientation, is based on holistic planning that integrates economic, social and environmental dimensions of city life. No problems here either: the government of Goa has produced a masterful regional plan for the whole State – let alone the city of Panjim – which has the holy stick of righteousness behind it. Like the Mopa airport (which was also holy-stick-ally planned and is about to be executed) the regional plan will be rammed down the throat of the residents. Period.
A significant aspect raised in the article is that of financial and administrative strength of local governments. The CCP had openly declared their problem of finances some time ago which was stated to a reason for failure to pay some 300 casual workers. No, the city of Panjim is financially strong and so is its administration!
“Transparency, accountability and participation in governance” is another aspect of the smart city of the future. Oh, the ‘future’? The future is far and away… we will have a semblance of governance by then, which will certainly be transparent and answerable to the public. We need not worry our heads too much so far ahead of the future.
A smart city would ensure a key role for information and communication technology, smart grids providing efficient energy services while renewable sources which would enable uninterrupted and clean/green supply of power; also smart technology would provide connectivity, easy access to information and make life more secure and comfortable. This would result in clean, healthy living conditions with a workable infrastructure where energy, connectivity, computing and other essential services which in turn will help the citizens to compete globally? Oh, but don’t you know? Our people are competing globally, from several parts of the world – that they are not doing it from Goa is a mere matter of detail. You name the place and there’s a Goan presence there. We are very proud of the Goan Diaspora. In the meantime, the Goan population in Goa is dwindling because… oh well, who cares?
Sustainability, another aspect of any development plan, implies the use (not exploitation) of our resources while ensuring that the planet remains habitable for the future generations. At the same time it would attract business and investments to ensure economic growth, to create employment for the people. The mining scam has shown us clearly that our ‘sustainability’ is high on our agenda – only we are not talking about ecology.
How can cities look smart? What would a smart city look like? From the air or from the pavements or from the sea/river front perhaps? The river front of Panjim is blocked by casinos – objects of beauty in themselves. The sea front is occupied by the navy etc. which was a very smart move on their part in the early days of the Liberation; it would certainly add to our smartness on the day of reckoning. The atmosphere (near the airport particularly) has chemical effluents that go unchecked. The pavements are lost to the constant trenching and repairs and festival hoardings and… yet Panjim will be smart.
Smartness of a city implies, nay, cries out for, smart governance. Each department of the local government needs to work with the others to provide synergistic services to the public. The silo-based attempts at running the corporations and its sub-units governance are passé – we need to step out of the stupor and get cracking if we are to consider ourselves fit for smart city funding. For that, as Ravindra rightly points out, there is need for good leadership. And therein lies the rub.
(The author is a Management Consultant in Goa)
