Bhubaneshwar “smart city”
https://www.facebook.com/bmcbbsr/videos/1717974291597604/
I’m always impressed by the ability of India to show itself to the world. It is true that there are so many richness and heritage in Odisha, but there is still so much poverty and dirt all around there... so this is only a part of the story, just like Dalits and poor is a part of what makes India. India is a mix of modernity and tradition, the place within contradictions are evident and make sense at the same time. It is much more than is “visible to our eyes” (referring to L.Sandercock) that is why I don’t think smart cities is the core priority for now: to deliver and to implement politics in order to give an answer to basic need question seems more appropriate to me!
If course, this is only my modest opinion, I’m open to critics and comments.
Very good! I hope your question attracts responses from people who know far more than me on this subject!
Good luck
Christopher NOCK
I've lived & worked in Bhubaneswar between 1986 and 1991, when it was a small sleepy town, and have gone back many times thereafter, most recently about 6 months ago. I see that the stark poverty of the past is slowly disappearing (in-fact, just a month ago I was in Kalahandi, the poorest part of Orissa, and even there, there is a sharp improvement on Human Development Indices). On cleanliness, I do agree, there is a cultural issue as well, but the newer parts of Bhubaneswar as good as any other modern city & comparable to Hyderabad, where I live. Being a small city and in the growth phase, there is a good prospect that the Smart City project will work for Bhubaneswar.
Dear Emmanuel
Thanks for providing such a helpful and clear response to Daphne's question. She's just getting going on her project, as far as I can determine. She is at an early stage in her Ph.D studies in Italy. I know she's working on a number of things at the moment. But I'm sure she'll be in touch when she can.
Many thanks
NOCK
Dear Emmanuel,
I know Odisha quite well, as I lived in Gopalpur-on sea for a while in 2015 and came back for a month in 2016 to visit friends (in tribal area)... if I raised that question, it is because, as a European, I think there is a difference of vision in the idea of "smart city" in India and Europe: as far as I've seen , it is true, some things changed, but still Orissa is messy and mixed. Do not misunderstand my words, I 'm sure that slowly Orissa just as India will reach a state of inclusive wellness that is missing now. whereas I think that changements can occur if we do that without rush.
I'm glad you shared your opinion with me, and hope we will come back to discuss about Odisha soon, as I carry that state in my heart.
It is very hard to determine what should ideally be a priority for urban development in the states of India. I have been working closely with local and state governments in housing for urban poor and now under the Swacch Bharat Mission. My take is it is hard for the states to ignore what the centre (Govt. of India) plans to do. Once the GoI is bent on creating smart cities, the states have to follow suit (although the state has the constitutional right to decline and set its own course of action; but it seldom happens). To me, the priority in urban governance and development should be responding to the decrepit (and severely convoluted) land information and management system of cities and towns. Land being the most prized commodity in cities, there are perks of keeping its ownership nebulous. However, with rising poverty, inability of local bodies to provide infrastructure to all parts equitably, scarcity of affordable housing etc. it is very crucial that land ownership and tenure issues are addressed at the earliest.
Odisha has taken a bold step in this direction. It has amended its land laws to provide property rights to slum dwellers in cities and land rights in towns and Nagar Panchayats. A mammoth task, it is being done in phases by utilizing the best possible means and methods. Although Odisha is also in the run for developing smart cities in the state, it has actually taken a step back to address a problem that could have ramifications in its ambitious plans of developing smart cities.
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