Census of 2011puts in numbers what we have always known, a sharp raise in the urban population. Adding to that is the inference that for the first time since 1921 that this raise in urban population is more than that of in rural India. And obliviously there are too many reasons, the details of which we are not delving into. But we are focussing into the consequence of this finding given that this trend is the future.
Urban development with a focus on sustainability is as much a concern as that of the rural. Reason:Time-criticality.You don't want to chase a bullet train in a bullock cart. Urban growth, in terms of population,economy and industrialization is exponential. With that the natural side effects of congestion, pollution and de-gradation of quality of life also grows. But the infrastructure to support the growth is stagnant. Census shows us the speed of the former and that of latter is up to us. We are already light years away in many Tier I cities but we could catch up on tier II if we wake up. The later we push the tougher it will be to implement.
There are certain backbones to an urban region and they need to be strengthened time and again. Modes and means of transportation is a crucial one. A transportation infrastructure is the life line of any urban region especially a growing one. It needs to spread its wings, diversify its modes and penetrate into pores to accommodate an ever growing migration and ever changing economy. It is a race against time and "better late than never" is not an option that we can settle for, for it is like a growing virus, if you are not going to cut through early you need to cut through deep and shed lots of blood in the process. Having said that we dont need a stop-gap arrangement. A clear futuristic plan with immediate action is the need of the hour.
It is to be known that there have been quite a few plans put forward by the union ministry of urban development over the years and very recently an official announcement [Nov 16th 2011. Find link 1 below] on this regard came about. The government offered to set up and build strong infrastructure for tier II cities provided the respective state governments show interest and share the cost. Better share than forego.
Coimbatore falls under the centre's radar. Me, born and brought up in the City of Coimbatore, decided to see what lies in store for the future of my city. It could be inferred that numerous organizations and civic bodies of the city had compiled a set of plans, views and suggestions for the development of the city's infrastructure and submitted the same for consideration in the Coimbatore master plan 2011 [on Mar 27 2011. Find link 2 at the bottom] to the district collector, way before the centre's announcement. There have been suggestions made for Mono Rail system since Coimbatore being a radical city rather than a liner city. i. e. population is distributed on it's radius. Plans for a mono rail with MRTS[Mass transport transit system] or Bus Rapid Transit system as implemented in Ahmedabad have all been put forward by the groups.The 21 lakh population of the city would have had it's hopes high.
The ball dropped from the centre's court to state.NOW WHAT HAS THE STATE DONE?[ Find link 1 at the bottom]. Please note that the 12th five year plan of Tamilnadu is being prepared and we do have the annual plan as well in addition to the budgetary plan of the city's corporation. There has never been a mention of any plan for Coimbatore's infrastructure in any of these till date. [ Follow the link 3 ].In all plans mentioned above we have what is being called as the 'participatory government' model wherein suggestions from civic bodies, NGO's and individuals are 'supposedly' welcomed and considered.
NOW WHAT CAN WE DO ? We must make ourselves heard and heard everywhere. Let us take the future of our city in our own hands. We need not wait and watch for things to happen. This written effort is a HOPE that if we can push for this, if we can protest for this and take it to as many people as possible, someone or some group can take it forward, gather momentum and make sure this falls in the next five year plan due to be submitted this june. It is easier said than done, but it is much easier not even to say.
WHY WE NEED TO DO? If we had known years before that our city wouldn't have power for 10+ hours every day, wouldn't we have protested? Now we have a situation where we have another negligence shown to the city. Sooner or later this would turn to be another barrier to the growth of the region. Another inconvenience which everyone has to learn to live with. We are already left stranded in house and at work without power, let us not get stranded in the streets as well amidst pollution, congestion and confusion. There is a better way of life.
This is a generation which shall standup for what it needs.Talk about this to your friends, to your parents, to the fellow coimbatorians. Post your views everywhere. Post it in the forum for draft budget.[Link 5]. Submit a petition using Right to information act asking why state didn't respond to centre's initiative. I can help with the procedure. Numbers do matter. the more the better.
Logesh
03/18/2012
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