NCHF BULLETIN

6A/6, SIRI FORT INSTITUTIONAL AREA, AUGUST KRANTI MARG,

NEW DELHI - 110 049 PHONE : 2649 0535

Vol. XXXII No. 1 July, 2019

Editorial Board : Board of Directors NCHF Cover Page

Shri S.N. Sharma, MLA
Chairman
CA R.K. Pikale Shri S.N. Sharma, MLA
Adv. M. Ebrahimkutty
Vice-Chairman
Shri Vijay Kumar Sharma Shri S.T. Somashekar, MLA
Dr. B.B. Goel
Directors
Shri N.S. Mehara
Adv. Balvir Singh
Shri Kuljeet Singh Chahal
Shri J. Murali, IAS
Editor : Shri Ranjeet Kumar Dass, MLA
N.S. Mehara
Shri Rajesh Goyal
CA R.K. Pikale
Technical Support : Shri Yogesh Sharma
S.P. Kumar
Dr. Ajay Sharma, IAS
Adv. M. Ebrahimkutty
The facts stated, conclusions
Dr. Govind Singh
reached and views expressed in
individual contributions are of the
Shri Vishwas Bajirao Patil
contributors concerned and are
not necessarily endorsed by Shri E. Sarangapani
NCHF.
Shri Gurmeet Singh Mann
Shri Vijay Kumar Sharma
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No part of this bulletin should
be reproduced without prior Chief Executive
permission of the Editor. N.S. Mehara
A view of Cooperative Housing
Project in the UT of Chandigarh.
CONTENTS
1. From Editor's Desk .......... 2
2. The Challenge of Air
Pollution
–A.K. Jain ......................... 3
3. Urban Green Infrastructure:
The Smart Compliment to
Smart Cities ...................... 9
4. Message of the
International Cooperative
Alliance ........................... 10
5. Legal Column ................. 11
6. Snippets .......................... 13
7.     
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  ......................... 17
8.    
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
   .......... 18
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 FROM EDITOR’S DESK
DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
The first Saturday of July is observed as the International Day of Cooperatives (IDC) each year across the world. It
remembers what cooperatives do to improve the global economic and social development. The United Nations recognizes and
reaffirms the vital role of cooperatives in economic, social & cultural development as well as in the achievements of social
policy objectives. This year, the IDC was celebrated on 6 th July, 2019 on the theme ‘Coops 4 Decent Work’. In view of the
widening inequality, increased job insecurity and high unemployment levels especially among the youth, the theme was
chosen to support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially SGD-8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Cooperative endeavour is about empowerment, inclusion and sustainability. Cooperatives have an important role to play
in the creation of decent jobs and the social and economic empowerment of local communities. The 2 nd Cooperative Principle-
Democratic Member Control; enables communities to own and govern cooperatives jointly through democratic control that
brings about inclusive and sustainable growth, leaving no one behind. Based on ethical values and principles, the cooperative
model of business serves to meet the needs and aspirations of the masses in an economically, socially and environmentally
sustainable way. Cooperatives have a proven record in building sustainable and resilient societies. Agricultural cooperatives
work to maintain the longevity of the land where they grow crops through sustainable farming practices. Consumer cooperatives
support sustainable sourcing for their products and educate consumers about responsible consumption. Housing cooperatives
help ensure safe and affordable dwellings for their members. Utility cooperatives are engaged in the transition to cleaner
electricity and rural access to energy and water. Worker and social cooperatives aim to provide goods and services in an
efficient, environment-friendly way while creating long-term, sustainable jobs.
Cooperative employment has great significance. According to recent estimates of the International Cooperative Alliance
(ICA), cooperatives across the globe are the main source of income for about 28 crore people-almost 10% of global working
population. Further, different studies have confirmed that, by comparison with employment in other sectors, cooperative jobs:
(i) tend to be more sustainable over time; (ii) show a smaller gap in earnings between higher & lower-paid positions; and (iii)
are more evenly distributed between rural and urban areas. The President of the ICA, Mr. Ariel Guarco at the unveiling of the
theme earlier had rightly said “Cooperatives help to preserve employment and promote decent work in all sectors of the
economy. Through participation, members have a motivation to change their lives, their communities and the world.”
About 50% of the world population still lives on the equivalent of USD2 per day with global unemployment rates of 5.7%
and having a job doesn’t guarantee the ability to escape from poverty in many places. This slow and uneven progress requires
us to rethink and retool our economic & social policies aimed at eradicating poverty. A continued lack of decent work
opportunities, insufficient investments and under-consumption lead to an erosion of the basic social contract underlying
democratic societies: that all must share in progress. Even though the average annual growth rate of real GDP per capita
is increasing year on year worldwide, there are still many developing countries that are decelerating in their growth rates and
moving farther from the 7% growth rate target set for 2030. As labour productivity decreases & unemployment rates rise,
standards of living begin to decline due to lower wages.
Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs that
stimulate the economy while not harming the environment. Job opportunities and decent working conditions are also required
for the working age population. There needs to be increased access to financial services to manage incomes, accumulate
assets & make productive investments. Increased commitments to trade, banking and agriculture infrastructure will also help
increase productivity and reduce unemployment levels in the most impoverished regions. India has embarked on the journey
to attain the SDG-8: Decent Work & Economic Growth for all. Programmes like Make in India, Start-up India, Skill India, and
Digital India have the underlining principle of creating employment opportunities for the country’s youth. Government is laying
emphasis on creating conducive trade & business environment. This was reflected in the Ease of Doing Business Report-2016
by the World Bank. All these initiatives reflect that the country is committed to attain the targets set forth and it is employing
the two pronged strategy of growth & employment to achieve the same.
India can forge its own growth path, which can rely on manufacturing & services as a growth escalator & employment
generator. The challenge will be to create well-paying and productive jobs in non-farm sectors that can absorb more unskilled
workers, including women & those in rural areas. As of now, labour-intensive manufacturing has not driven productivity growth
and job creation. The sectors that have made productivity gains have been skill-intensive. Increasing labour force participation
of women is a powerful tool not only to empower women, but also to steer economic growth itself. As reported by McKinsey
Global Institute (2015), if India increases its female labour force participation rate by 10% by 2025, its GDP could rise by as
much as 16% as compared to the business-as-usual scenario. The flagship programmes of the Government like National Skill
Development Mission, Deendayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Yojana, Atal Innovation Mission, National Service Scheme & the
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme are aimed at bringing decent work to all. India’s national
development goals and its “development with all, and for all” policy initiatives for inclusive development converge well with
the SDGs, and India is most likely to play a leading role in determining the success of the SDGs, globally.

2 NCHF BULLETIN
 THE CHALLENGE OF AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution in India stands out as the most disturbing
aspect of environmental damage and health risks. As per
the World Health Organisation, 13 Indian cities are among
the World’s top 20 cities with severe levels of PM2.5 and
PM10.
A large, emerging economy such as India’s has
numerous and varied sources of air pollution, be they from
industry, construction, urban transport or domestic services.
Regulating the air pollution from all these different
stakeholders is especially difficult because its impact is
geographically dispersed, often across the States and
jurisdictional lines. For instance, around half of Delhi’s air
pollution during the months of October and November can
be attributed to the burning of agricultural waste in
neighbouring States. This means that apart from developing
a localized solution to the air pollution that is generated within
its own city, the Delhi NCT Government must also coordinate
with the Governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh
and Uttarakhand to control this external source of pollution.
The central conflict in the effort to control air pollution
is the balancing of effective environmental policies against
robust economic growth, much of which is driven by mass
consumption. With India having a GDP per capita that is
only 16% of the global average, the lion’s share of this
mass consumption comes from citizens in low-income
brackets. Unfortunately, citizens from a low-income bracket
also rate as the most inefficient in terms of carbon footprint
per unit of consumption. Environmentally efficient
technology is more expensive to use. India’s CNG buses
are frequently costlier than using the unregulated, heavily
polluting private buses. Likewise, the indoor use of ‘dirty’
fuels such as wood, coal in low-income households is
much more polluting than using a costlier LPG stove or
induction cooker does. In emerging economies like India
policymakers find it hard to curtail such carbon inefficient
consumption because doing so would prove unpopular
with the masses. However, such a notion ignores the
economic cost of rising air pollution, something that still
needs extensive research to be conducted for it to be
properly quantified.
Air pollution is not a standalone factor but is a product
of several aspects of urban development, such as mobility,
* Former Commissioner (Planning), Delhi Development Authority,
He was a Member of the Committee of the Ministry of Urban
Development on DDA (2015) and UN Habitat (2007-12).
JULY, 2019
––A.K. Jain*
recreational, greens, solid waste management, energy and
infrastructure services. Under the smart cities and other
programs, several initiatives have been taken, which can
contribute in reducing the air pollution.
CLEAN AIR AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
GOALS
In order to arrest air pollution, the following can be
the agenda of Sustainable Development Goals for 2030
(adapted from SDG 7 and SDG 11):
i Double the rate of improvement of energy efficiency
in India’s 5 largest metropolitan cities.
ii Double the emission reduction from energy
production.
iii Halve the number of deaths per 100,000 persons
caused by air pollution
iv Halve the number of health complications per 100,000
caused by air pollution
Based on the identification of major components and
sources of air pollution and analysis of ambient air quality,
various scenarios of emission control from point sources
and area sources can be worked out for next five years.
PLANNING FOR CLEAN AIR
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, urban areas account for more than half of global
primary energy use and energy related CO2 emissions.
They account for 67 to 76% of global energy use and 71
to 76% energy related CO2 emissions. Infrastructure and
urban form are interlinked and shape the land use,
transport choice, housing and affect the sustainability and
efficiency of city. This needs adopting a low carbon (thus
low emissions) urban form and structure.
According to the IPCC (Climate Change Report, 2014,
WG III) the critical aspects of spatial planning for clean air
comprise:
– Density, FAR optimisation
– Land use (mix of activities, population)
– Connectivity, walkability and traffic density
– Accessibility for all by public transit, cycle, walk
3
 Bundling these strategies can reduce emission by Some of the critical pathways towards clean air are
reduced transport, and increasing density, jobs, dwellings, given below:
shops, informal trade, etc. It is necessary that a
comprehensive insight into urban problems and air Transport: The installation of engine optimization
pollutionis developed so as to evolve the strategies of and exhaust gas recirculation technologies and promoting
sustainability, decentralization, localization, civic rail and waterways for public transport and freight
engagement, participation and partnership. Table details can reduce black carbon emissions by 90%. Some
out a matrix for Clean Air, covering the aspects of other critical areas to reduce emission from transport
Technology, Public Engagement and Policy Imperatives. include:
Table. : Technology, Citizen Engagement and Policy Matrix for Clean Air
Manufacturing and Energy Urban Mobility Environmental Building and Farming
Industry Data Construction
Technology – Installing continuous – Emission and – Development – Installing – Green building – Use of
emissions monitoring fossil free of low- citywide air technologies agriculture
technology (CEMS) at technology emission quality that produce residue for
manufacturing – Trigeneration public monitoring as much power
locations, placing more – Renewable transport networks. energy as a generation
accountability on Energy – Increase the – Communi- building – Conversion of
industrial polluters – Zero Net use of electric cating air consumes. agri-waste
– Development of low- Energy cars/e- quality data – Cool roof material, bio-
emission commercial Building rickshaws through mobile – Net Zero char
and industrial vehicles – Use of – NMTs, Apps Energy – Satellite
processes and logistics Gaseous pedestrians Building surveillance
– Optimise industrial Fuels – Transport – Passive – Gasification
infrastructure and – Elimination of Demand design, technology to
promote industrial D.G. Sets Management Natural convert bio-
restructuring – Smart Meters – Transit ventilation, waste into
– Accelerate – Micro Grids Oriented – Indoor plants pellets/
technological Development – Green Rating electricity
innovations
Citizen – Applying public – Renewal – Providing N- – Vayu Apps – Green – Incentives
Engagement pressure on polluting energy 99 pollution – EIA building and
industries – Campaigns masks to – Early warning movement infrastructure
– Promote citizen – Facilitates traffic system – Incentives for for recycling
engagement in reduced policemen, GRIHA rating agriculture
industrial environment energy municipal – Promote residue
management consumption workers, citizen
– Disclosure of air street participation
pollution data vendors, etc.
– Initiating a
public
campaign for
carpooling
and
ridesharing
Policy – A cap-and-trade – Emission – Building – Actionable – Facilitating – Schemes for
emissions scheme for Tracking support for use of the proper
industries Systems tighter environmental widespread management
– Ensuring compliance of – Install clean controls on data. use of a of agricultural
industrial emissions energy vehicular – Publicizing green rating waste and
with the standards production emissions and for a waste to
– Enforcement and supply – Increased use campaigning building’s energy
– Institutional and legal of electric for action or energy schemes
review vehicles Pollution consumption
– Strengthened Graded and produced
environment threshold Response emissions
and industrial layout Plan.
– Clarify responsibilities
of government,
enterprises and civil
society

4 NCHF BULLETIN
– Development and spread of low emission public
transport, commercial and private vehicles
– To increase the use of electric cars, e-rickshaws and
e-buses
– Initiating a consumer campaign for car-pooling and
ride-sharing
– Building support for tighter controls on vehicular
emissions and stricter compliance with PUC norms.
– Providing N-99 pollution masks to traffic policemen,
rag pickers, street vendors, sanitary workers,
construction workers, students, etc.
Safe and accessible cities are compact, walkable
and sustainable, which provide comfortable, safe,
affordable, reliable and non-polluting public travel modes.
Most of the local facilities are reachable by a convenient
5-minute (400 to 500 meter) walking, with dedicated paths
for walking and cycling. Neighbourhood facilities, shops,
schools, parks, clubs and city centres are located along
the pedestrian, cycle and public transport corridors. The
urban form plays an important role in the safe urban
mobility by accommodating all modes to travel, including
walking, wheelchair, cycling, public transit and people by
a safe, efficient and attractive road network, with generous
footpaths and trees.
density, mixed use development near new or existing high
quality public transportation infrastructure that provides
housing, employment, entertainment and civic functions
within walking distance of the transit system. Pedestrian-
oriented design features of TODs encourage residents and
workers to use their cars less and ride public transit more.
The primary goals of TOD are to:
1. Reduce/discourage private vehicle dependency and
induce public transport use – through policy
measures, design interventions & enforcement.
2. Provide public transit access to the maximum number
of people through densification and enhanced
connectivity.
City-level integrated Transit Oriented Plans need to
be prepared for reducing need to travel, and for optimum
use of land and public transport system. The aim is to
minimise air pollution caused by urban transport.
INFORMAL AND NON-MOTORISED TRANSPORT
Informal and intermediate modes of transport, which
include 3 wheelers, vans, pickups, rickshaws, manual thelas

The strategy for non-polluting, safe and non-violent

mobility should cover the following:
– Reduce need to trav el by Transi t Oriented
Development and Travel Demand Management
– Improvement of public transport, sidewalks, cycle
tracks, NMVs underpasses and overpasses
– Saf ety orient ed pl anni ng and engineering
specifications, norms and practice
– Upgrading of traffic control - multi-functional and
sophisticated signal control and ITS
– Drivers’ license regime Fig.: Dedicated Right of Way for Pedestrians, Cyclists and Buses
– Work Zone Safety
– Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

It is necessary to provide wide and safer pedestrian

corridors at grade while the motorised vehicles move up
and down. The walkways also need to cater to wheelchair
users that require avoidance of steps and provision of
curb ramps. Such facility should be provided on all major
roads, national and state highways, in front of village abadi,
cattle grazing fields, transport nodes (Railway Stations,
Metro Stations, Bus Terminals, etc.), and also forests and
wildlife areas.

TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT (TOD)

Fig.: A Pedestrian Passage also caters to wheelchair and prams
TOD is generally characterized by compact, high-

JULY, 2019 5
and rehri, etc. cater to about 30 to 60% of passengers and
goods movement in the cities like Delhi. As compared to
small truck, the autos and rickshaws are substantially
cheaper, which by multiple trips deliver as much as a 5-ton
truck in a day. Courier services, perishables, such as milk,
vegetables, fruits, groceries and other short-haul deliveries
are increasingly being made by auto-rickshaw, van or
tricycle. These reach in the narrow lanes and congested
areas where public authorities do not allow trucks/public
carriers during day time and also during frequent VVIP visits,
processions, ceremonies, etc.
HIG H DENSIT Y, MI XED-USE, MIXED-INCOME
DEVELOPMENT
Maximize densities within TOD in order to facilitate
maximum number of people walking or cycling or use
NMT or feeder services easily to access public transit
facility. In greenfield development, higher the density, lower
the per kilometre infrastructure cost. Enable a balanced
mix of jobs and housing along MRTS corridors coupled
with caps on parking supply, higher housing affordability
through design and technology options, improved efficiency
and equity in the resulting developments.
It is being increasingly realized that the structural
solutions, like flyovers built at enormous cost, provide only
a temporary relief and fail to keep pace with the growth of
traffic. For a synergy between land use and public transport
system, it is necessary to restructure the city by Transit
Oriented Development, higher density, FAR and mixed
land use for a compact and smart growth with an integrated
multi-modal public transit system. Simultaneously transport
infrastructure, roads, dedicated two wheelers, cycle and
pedestrian tracks are to be improved.
As urban transport in Indian cities contributes up to
two-third of the emission and pollution, it is crucial that the
concepts of walk to work, inter-modal public transit, mixed
land use, e-governance, transit oriented development and
travel demand management are adopted, rather than just
end of the pipe, pollution under check certification. Low
carbon, green mobility is crucial for an efficient, sustainable
and healthy society.
TRAFFIC CALMING AND NOISE CONTROL
The need for traffic calming has become urgent in
India.This involves reducing speeds, noise and volumes
by various measures such as no horn zoning, traffic circles
at intersections, raised crosswalks, and partial street
closures to discourage short-cut traffic through residential
neighbourhoods. Traffic calming may be necessary on
certain streets, such as high security zones, areas fronting
university, college, schools, hospitals, etc. Traffic calming/
noise control measures involve notifying No Horn Zones,
6 NCHF BULLETIN
constitution of area-wise noise control circles, preparation
of Noise Monitoring and Control Plan (NMCP), hybrid
electric vehicles, speed breaker/hump, landscape and
noise buffers and rubberised road surface.
Fig.: Indian drivers are so fond of blowing horn that
amused the architect Patrick Crooke to sketch the
above cartoon
The walkways need to cater to wheelchair users that
require avoidance of steps and provision of curb ramps.
This may be possible by raising the carriageway of the
road by about 2 to 3 meters, so that pedestrians keep
moving freely at the ground level without mingling with
vehicular traffic. Such facility should be provided on all
major roads, national and state highways, in front of village
abadi, transport nodes (Railway Stations, Metro Stations,
Bus Terminals, etc.), and also forests and wildlife areas.
The walking zone should be barrier free and designed as
per the specifications.
Public transport has to be disabled and wheelchair
friendly with tactile flooring, low floor buses with footboard
at level with the platform and proper street lighting for the
safety and security of pedestrians. A dedicated bicycle
lane has to be built along every road. The signage, maps,
variable message signs, pedestrian crossings, integrated
f are collection systems, protection systems and
communication are important elements of safe mobility.
POWER AND INDUSTRIES
Industries and power have a crucial role in shaping
India’s path to combating air pollution. Cement and steel
are the building blocks of modern infrastructure and the
two industries account f or roughly 10% of global
greenhouse gas emissions. These industries need to shrink
their environmental footprint by following measures:
– Strengthening of enforcement and emissions
monitoring
– Scaling up of Emissions Trading Schemes.
– The development and installation of emissions free
technologies, especially in the power and brick-
making industries.
– Installing continuous emissions monitoring technology
(CEMS) at manufacturing locations and placing more
accountability on industrial polluters.
– Introduction of gaseous fuels and enforcement of
stringent SO2 /NOx/PM2.5 standards for industries
using solid fuels.
– Elimination of DG set usage by provision of 24x7
electricity and by innovative tall pipe control
technologies.
– Use of agricultural residue in power plants and ether
industries to replace high ash coal and open burning
in fields.
Innovations at local level are important. Chakr
Innovations Pvt. Ltd. proposed a technology that coupled
with exhaust pipe of diesel engines absorbs PM emissions
and converts the captured particulate matter into black ink
and paints. In this project, the goal was to test the
effectiveness of Chakr’s device in reducing PM emissions,
and assess if this technology is a cost-effective way of
reducing diesel genset pollution.
Another project,Charvesting, deploys charvesters that
recycle rice straws into biochar with clean emissions using
the biochar reactors. It helps farmers to comply with
existing air pollution laws at minimal cost and effort,
increase soil productivity and restore depleted land.
PHASING OUT BIO-MASS FUELS AND BOOSTING OF
PNG SUPPLY NETWORK
Air pollution is caused by burning of fossil fuels,
especially for cooking, wastes, etc. This can be mitigated
by following measures:
– Boosting of PNG Supply Network and clean-cooking
stoves that use PNG/LPG or solar energy.
– The implementation of gasification technologies to
help convert waste into biomass pellets or electricity.
DUST CONTROL
Dust is a major contributor to urban air pollution.It is
necessary to adopt wall to wall paving of roads, green
cover, trees and shrubs and the vacuum sweeping of roads.
Dust particles can be controlled by screens, filters, flagging
machines, vacuum cleaning, humidification, sprinkling of
water and artificial rain.
GREEN BUILDINGS
The polluting agents found indoors are chemicals
JULY, 2019
such as cleaning products, volatile organic compounds,
dust, infectious agents, fragrances, cooking fumes, smoke,
etc. Mold spores and various other particulate matters
and toxic gases are the biggest pollutant found in the air.
A humidity level of 65% or more along with a temperature
ranging between 10° and 32°C make a suitable
environment for the mould spores to grow indoors. Mold
growth can be prevented by increasing ventilation, covering
cold surfaces like water pipes with insulation, and
increasing the air temperature and keeping all hard
surfaces clean by washing or wiping with detergent or
other disinfectants.
Proliferation of low-carbon and green building
technologies that produce as much energy as a building
consumes, can help in controlling the air pollution,
wider use of green rating, such as GRIHA, can help
reducing the building’s energy consumption and emissions.
Passive design of buildings can reduce the need of air
conditioning. For a comprehensive approach, it is
necessary to prepare energy efficiency and low carbon
neighbourhood plans.
Green Roof Mahila Housing SEWA Trust, in
collaboration with Tata Centre for Development and Energy
Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, India unit has
deployed cool roofing solution in a Delhi slum which
attempts to lower indoor temperatures and energy
consumption for cooling.
TREES AND LANDSCAPE AS SINKS OF AIR
POLLUTION
The plants remove toxic pollutants from environment
by the process of phytovolatilization(pollutant is released
in volatile or gaseous form), phytoextraction (pollutant is
accumulated in harvestable parts tissue like leaf surface),
phytodegradation (pollutant is broken down into simpler
molecular form), phyto stimulation (organic pollutants from
soil are broken down ensuring oxygen to the rooms) and
phyto-stabilization (pollutant is immobilized in soil).
The indoor environments also reflect outdoor air
quality and pollution. Therefore, if outdoor pollution is
reduced, there will be less PM indoors. As such, it is
necessary to sustain existing trees and increase number
of healthy trees, which will reduce and regulate pollution
levels. It is also necessary to plant evergreen trees which
can filter air pollutants. Plants with smaller, rough and
variegated leaves are more efficient in trapping air
pollutants than longer and smooth leaves.
Interior landscape is an important aspect of pollution
abatement. It is low-cost, does not require any specialised
knowledge. It can be a new frontier in making the indoor
air clean and healthy.
7
CONCLUSIONS
Low-carbon and sustainable development involves
reducing emissions from transport, power and industries,
incineration of wastes, dust, etc. Such a city is planned on
the principles of compact and dense development,
intelligent traffic management, transport demand
management, efficient, comfortable and non-polluting public
transport, bicycles and non-motorised transport (NMT) and
walk to work. As a policy, only zero polluting industries
must be allowed, besides converting coal based thermal
power plants into CNG and renewal energy along with
smart grids and energy efficiency. Preparation of pollution
control plans at district, municipal, and local levels should
incorporate low carbon transit system, zero net energy
buildings, black hole technology of waste management
and smart utilities. Intelligent and smart systems viz, Big
Data Analytics, Supervising Control Data Acquisition
Systems (SCADA), ERP solutions, GIS, Integrated Digital
Control/ Command Centres and Satellite Surveillance are
exploited for air pollution control.
REFERENCES
1. Central Pollution Control Board (2018) Report on Air Pollution
in India, New Delhi.
2. Centre for Science and Environment (2013) Vehicles-Taming
Emissions Workshop, New Delhi
3. Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) Real Time Ambient
Air Quality Data of Delhi, India, Delhi Pollution Control
Committee (DPCC). http://www.dpccairdata.com/dpccairdata/
display/index.php.
4. Greenstone, Michael, Rohini Pande, Anant Sudarshan, and
Santosh Harish (2018) A Roadmap Towards Cleaning India’s
Air, India Policy Forum, 2017-2018.
5. Gardiner, Beth. The Challenges of Cleaning Up Cooking. The
Ne w York Tim es . D ec em be r 2 1, 2 01 7. http s://
www.nytimes.com/2015/12/09/business/energy-environment/
the-challenges-of-cleaning-up-cooking.html.
6. Harvard John A.Paulson School of Engineering and Applied
Sciences (2018), Agricultural Fires Can Double Delhi Pollution
during Peak Burning Season https://www.seas.harvard.edu/
news/2018/03/agricultural-fires-can-double-delhi-pollution-
during-peak-burning-season
7. IPCC (2014) Climate Change Working Group III, 5 th
Assessment Report, Cambridge University Press, New York
8. Jain, A.K, (2009) Low Carbon Cities-Policies, Planning and
Practice. Discovery Publishing House, New Delhi.
9. Jain, A.K, (2019) Sustainable Architecture, Buildings and
Cities, Synergy Books, New Delhi
10. Modi, Narendra (2011) Convenient Action, Macmillan
Publishers, New Delhi.
11. World Meteorological Organisation, (2014) WMO Greenhouse
Gas Bulletin, Geneva

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M.D. : 0484-2402734
Dy. G.M. : 0484-2402335

KERALA STATE COOPERATIVE HOUSING

FEDERATION LTD., NO. 4330
P.B. NO. 1896, KALOOR,
ERNAKULAM, KOCHI – 682017

The Central Financing Institution

of Housing Cooperatives in the State
Providing Long Term Loans upto Rs.15 Lakhs

For Further Details, Contact Primary Housing Co-op. Societies

ADV. M. EBRAHIMKUTTY AHAMMED, E.M.

President Managing Director

8 NCHF BULLETIN
 URBAN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE:
THE SMART COMPLIMENT TO SMART CITIES
Urbanisation is a phenomenon that is altering the
landscapes worldwide. The rapid, unregulated process of
construction to meet the ever-increased demand for
housing and infrastructure is leading to declining of green
spaces in the cities. These open spaces and natural lands
in and around the city intervened with the built up cover
makes up the social and ecological system that provide
quality of life. Thus, there is need to keep this system in
balance. One such approach in that direction is the ‘Smart
City Challenge’ by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs,
Government of India.
Besides incorporation of smart technology being the
thrust area for the smart city challenge, there is an equal
need to restore, plan and manage the natural ecosystems
in the city. It is essential to preserve the indigenous natural
resources – the city forests, trees, and other open green
spaces. This green resource is a onetime investment with
least maintenance, and which gives maximum returns in
the form of the ecosystem services it provides.
Evidence from the research in the field of urban
ecology highlights the expanse and magnitude of roles
urban greens spaces have in the city. For example, clean
air, regulated microclimate, and storm water conservation
are some of the services urban trees provide to the city.
While these services have been long emphasized, there
is a need to utilize the natural resource aptly in the course
of developing the city smartly.
Following are the means of incorporating the natural
resources in the core elements of the smart city challenge
that will yield ecological balance in the city:
Adequate Water Supply: Woodlands in and around cities
act as natural watershed – trees retain rainwater/storm
water runoff. Urban trees direct precipitation into the ground
and absorb rainfall through their roots – making them a
precious sustainability asset in the urban environment.
Assured Electricity Supply (Reduction in Electric
Power Demand): Distance from the house and proper
orientation of tree species planted nearby can make a
great deal in cutting down the demand of artificial daylight
and cooling needs of the residents. Planting the suitable
tree in the right place is the solution to conserving energy
with trees. Shade from trees decreases air conditioning
needs and makes non-air conditioned homes more
comfortable.
JULY, 2019
It is recommended to plant deciduous trees so that
they will shade east-facing walls and windows in the
morning and west-facing surfaces in the evening hours
during summer months. Trees with mature heights of at
least 25 feet should be planted 10 to 20 feet east and
west of the house. Planting smaller deciduous or evergreen
trees with lower limbs northwest and northeast of the
building will provide the afternoon and early morning shade.
Sanitation, including Solid Waste Management: Trees
have sequestration potential which makes them applicable
for preventing leachate to reach lower layers of the ground
water table at landfill and dump sites. In many cases,
trees (with short rotation coppice) or grasslands have been
successful in phytoremediation of leachate has been
successful.
Efficient Urban Mobility and Public Transport: Urban
trees in streetscapes have a positive impact on air quality
through adsorption of pollutants by vegetation canopy,
sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, reduction of
summertime air temperatures and associated ozone
formation.
Trees that play role in mitigating dust pollution are
Ear leaf acacia, Scholar Tree, Palash, Weeping fig, Banyan
Tree, Mahua, Pongam Tree/Karanj, Peepal tree, Arjun Tree,
Indian Siris, Semal Tree.
Empirical studies have revealed the magnitude of
the effect of trees on the microclimate. Urban parking lots
with trees have reduced the surface temperature of
pavements and asphalt by an average of 20°C. Some of
the tree species reported to reduce the air, and surface
temperature are Rosewood, Indian laurel fig, Common
Bamboo, Fern tree, weeping fig, etc.
Besides choosing the tree species for their air
cleaning and cooling properties, street scape designing
with appropriate street trees for different road types should
be considered. The public highway should have trees with
relatively upright growth that will not require regular pruning
and prevent any damaged by the passage of the vehicles.
Broad crowns should be considered away from the kerb
line and should not interfere with the utility lines overhead.
Large evergreen and deciduous trees with adequate
spacing and at a distane of about 3 feet from road edge
(Contd. on Page 20)
9
 MESSAGE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE ALLIANCE
97TH ICA INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE DAY, 2019
25TH UN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF COOPERATIVES
6th July 2019
"Cooperatives for decent work"
On this year’s International Day of Cooperatives (CoopsDay) to be celebrated on 6th July, we as cooperatives
are championing our commitment to decent work.
Given today’s widening inequality, increased job insecurity, and high unemployment levels – particularly among
young people – the 2019 Coopsday theme “Cooperatives 4 decent work” wishes to support Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) 8 “Inclusive development and decent work.”
To do this we're joining forces with the International Labour Organisation – the ILO – an organisation we've
worked with hand in hand since its inception and who this year are celebrating their centenary with a special
focus on the future of work.
We have recently reaffirmed our century-long friendship by signing a new Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) to foster collaboration and the promotion of cooperatives as a sustainable business model to advance
inclusive and sustainable development.
With the ICA having committed itself to “respect, promote, and act diligently to support the fundamental tenets
of decent work” through its Declaration on Decent Work and Against Harassment, we also welcomed the
ILO Centenary Declaration adopted on 21st June which commits “to a world free of violence and harassment”
and gives recognition to cooperatives and the social and solidarity economy.
As cooperatives we are responsible for providing jobs or work opportunities to 10% of the world's
employed population. Beyond these numbers, different studies have confirmed that – in comparison with
employment in other sectors – cooperative jobs...
– tend to be more sustainable over time
– have a smaller gap between the lowest and highest earners, and
– are more evenly distributed between rural and urban areas.
The second International Cooperative Principle, “Democratic member control,” enables communities to own
and govern cooperatives jointly through democratic control, bringing about inclusive and sustainable growth,
and leaving no one behind. As people-centred enterprises and key development actors, cooperatives have an
important role to play in the creation of decent jobs and the social and economic empowerment of local
communities.
International Day of Cooperatives is our day to give recognition to the whole international community for the
role we're all playing in creating a better world.
As a movement of men and women we’re building a fairer economy - by putting people and their needs and
aspirations, first. We’re building a society based on our principles and values to create decent work.
Join us on 6th July 2019 as we celebrate a future in which human development and social justice are
priorities.
We are building the future of work, today!
With decent, inclusive, and sustainable work for all.
Happy International Day of Cooperatives

10 NCHF BULLETIN
 LEGAL COLUMN*
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
(BEFORE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE A.A. SAYED AND HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE A.S. OKA)
Shakti Yezdani and Another
Vs.
Jayanand Jayant Salgaonkar and Others
and
Nanak S. Ghatalia
Vs.
Swati Shatishchandra Ghatalia
(APPEAL NO. 313 OF 2015 ALONG WITH APPEAL NO. 311 OF 2015)
DATED 1ST DECEMBER, 2016
GENERAL
A legal question that has been put to test time and
again before various Courts is whether the rights of
nominees prevail over those of successors in respect of
various subjects of nomination, such as financial
instruments, shares in a cooperative society etc. A Division
Bench of the High Court of Bombay in the aforesaid appeal,
by way of landmark judgment, has upheld the rights of
successors over nominees. The Court ruled that the
nominees are appointed to ensure that the subject matter
of the nomination is protected until the legal heirs or legal
representatives of the deceased take appropriate steps,
such as obtaining probate of the will of the deceased or
letters of administration of the estate of the deceased, to
claim rights over it.
FACTS
The justness and tenability of the view taken by the
learned single Judge in the case of Harsha Nitin Kokate vs.
The Sarswat Cooperative Bank Limited and others, 2010
(3) Mh.L.J. 780 [for short Kokate case] was the touchstone
before the Division Bench of the High Court of Bombay. In
Kokate case, the learned single Judge held that the act sets
out that the nomination has to be made during the life time
of the holder as per procedure prescribed by law. If that
procedure is followed, the nominee would become entitled
to all the rights in the shares to the exclusion of all other
persons. The nominee would be made beneficial owner
thereof. Upon such nomination, therefore, all the rights
incidental to ownership would follow. This would include the
right to transfer the shares, pledge the shares or hold the
shares. A reading of Section 109A of the Companies Act
* Compiled by : R. Muralidharan, Puducherry Civil Service Officer
(Retd.), Director, Catalyst (The Training People), Puducherry.
JULY, 2019
..... Appellants
.....Respondents
.....Appellant
.....Respondent
and 9.11 of the Depositories Act makes it abundantly clear
that the intent of the nomination is to vest the property in the
shares which includes the ownership rights thereunder in
the nominee upon nomination validly made as per the
procedure prescribed.
The aforesaid view of the learned single Judge that
the rights of the nominee prevail over that of the successors
in case of shares held in a company was found to be per
incuriam [through lack of care] by another learned single
Judge of the said Court who held a contrary view, i.e., in
favour of the successors. However, the competency of a
learned single Judge to review the findings of another
learned single Judge created a quiver and this is how the
case was referred to a Division Bench.
ISSUES
The questions proffered for deliberations in these
appeals are :
(i) Whether a nominee of a holder of shares or securities
appointed under Section 109A of the Companies Act,
1956 read with the bye-laws under the Depositories
Act, 1996 is entitled to the beneficial ownership of the
shares or securities subject matter of nomination to
the exclusion of all other persons who are entitled to
inherit the estate of the holder as per the law of
succession?
(ii) Whether a nominee of a holder of shares or securities
on the basis of the nomination made under the
provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 read with the
bye-laws under the Depositories Act, 1996 is entitled
to all rights in respect of the shares or securities subject
matter of nomination to the exclusion of all other
persons or whether he continues to hold the securities
in trust and in a capacity as a beneficiary for the legal
11
 representatives who are entitled to inherit securities
or shares under the law of inheritance?
(iii) Whether a bequest made in a Will executed in
accordance with the Indian Succession Act, 1925 in
respect of shares or securities of the deceased
supersedes the nomination made under the provisions
of Sections 109A and bye-law No.9.11 framed under
the Depositories Act, 1996?
Discussion and Analysis
The Courts have spoken on this issue earlier and the
precedential guide is available in the judgment of the Apex
Court in Indrani Wahi vs. Registrar of Cooperative Societies
and others, (2016) 6 SCC 440 : AIR 2016 SC 1969 : [2016]
INSC 291. The Apex Court in the said decision considered
the provisions of nomination under Sections 69 and 70 of
the West Bengal Cooperative Societies Act, 1983 (for short
‘the West Bengal Act of 1983’). The Apex Court also
considered its own decision in the case of Sarbati Devi and
another vs. Smt. Usha Devi, AIR 1984 SC 346, which dealt
with the nomination under the Life Insurance Act, 1938. After
considering Section 79 of the West Bengal Act of 1983, the
Apex Court came to the conclusion that where a member of
a cooperative society nominates a person in consonance
with the provisions of the Rules framed under the West
Bengal Act of 1983, the cooperative society is mandated to
transfer all the shares or interest of such member in the
name of the nominee. This view was taken by the Apex
Court in the light of the express provisions of Section 80 of
the said Act of 1983 read with Rule 127 of the Rules of 1987
framed under the West Bengal Act of 1983. Sections 79
and 80 of the said Act of 1983 appear to be different from
the provisions relating to the nomination in the Maharashtra
Cooperative Societies Act, 1960. In the same manner as is
postulated under Section 79 of the 1983 Act, Rule 127 of
the 1987 Rules provides, that if a nomination has been made
by a member under Section 79, the share or interest or the
value of such share or interest standing in the name of the
deceased member, would be transferred to the nominee.
After issuing the directions to the cooperative society
to transfer the shares of the deceased member in the name
of the appellant who was a nominee, the Apex Court
specifically observed that it will be open for other members
of the family of the deceased members to pursue their case
of succession or inheritance in consonance with law. The
conclusion drawn by the Supreme Court was that the
cooperative society is bound by the nomination made by
the member. In case of such nomination, the society has no
option except to transfer the shares in the name of the
nominee after the death of the member. However, those
who are claiming inheritance will be entitled to pursue their
remedies and claim title in the shares on the basis of
inheritance. Thus, the conclusion drawn by the Supreme
Court was not that the nomination binds the legal
representatives of the deceased shareholder or a member
of the society or that it overrides the law of succession.
12
The provisions relating to nominations under the
various enactments have been consistently interpreted by
the Apex Court by holding that the nominee does not get
absolute title to the property subject matter of the nomination.
The reason is by its very nature, when a share holder or a
deposit holder or an insurance policy holder or a member of
a cooperative society makes a nomination during his life
time, he does not transfer his interest in favour of the
nominee. It is always held that the nomination does not
override the law in relation to testamentary [estate
bequeathed under a will] or intestate succession [without
making a will]. The provisions regarding nomination are
made with a view to ensure that the estate or the rights of
the deceased subject matter of the nomination are protected
till the legal representatives of the deceased take appropriate
steps. None of the provisions of the aforesaid statutes
providing for nominations deal with the succession,
testamentary or non-testamentary.
The object of the provisions of the Companies Act is
not to either provide a mode of succession or to deal with
succession. The object of the Section 109A is to ensure
that the deceased shareholder is represented by someone
as the value of the shares is subject to market forces. Various
advantages keep on accruing to shareholders, for example,
allotment of bonus shares. There are general meetings held
of the companies in which a shareholder is required to be
represented. The provision is enacted to ensure that the
commerce does not suffer due to delay on the part of the
legal heirs in establishing their rights of succession and
claiming the shares of a company.
Considering the consistent view taken by the Apex
Court while interpreting the provisions relating to nominations
under various statutes, there is no reason to make a
departure from the consistent view. The provisions of the
Companies Act including Sections 109A and 109B, in the
light of the object of the said enactment, do not warrant any
such departure. The so called vesting under Section 109A
does not create a third mode of succession. It is not intended
to create a third mode of succession. The Companies Act
has nothing to do with the law of succession.
HELD
In view of the facts, situations and reckoning of law,
the Division Bench found no reason to take a view which is
contrary to the view taken in the long line of decisions of the
Supreme Court on interpretation of provisions regarding
nominations. The view taken by the learned single Judge in
Kokate’s case runs counter to the binding ratio in the
precedents and is therefore incapable of legal support or
approval. The answer to first question is in negative and
third question in affirmative. The second question is
answered accordingly. Appeal No. 313/2015 stands
dismissed while Appeal No. 311/2015 is allowed.
Note : Please write to NCHF Secretariat for copy of above
judgment, if required.
NCHF BULLETIN

SNIPPETS
HOUSING FINANCE SECTOR COMES UNDER RBI
SUPERVISION
The Government has proposed to transfer the
regulatory authority over housing finance sector to the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from the National Housing
Bank (NHB) in a bid to strengthen the sector which was
hit by payment delays and liquidity crunch.
While presenting her first Union Budget, Finance
Minister Ms.Nirmala Sitharaman said, “efficient and
conducive regulation of the housing sector is extremely
important in our context. The National Housing Bank,
besides being the refinancer and lender, is also regulator
of the housing finance sector. This gives a somewhat
conflicting and difficult mandate to NHB.” “I am proposing
to return the regulation authority over the housing finance
sector from NHB to RBI,” the Minister said. “Necessary
proposals have been placed in the Finance Bill,” she
said.
The HFC segment was recently rocked by the
payment delays by DHFL and some NBFCs. The housing
finance sector has been facing challenges, which have
led to a contraction in spreads, a rise in funding cost and
an increased spotlight on their asset-liability mismatches.
Such mismatches have resulted in constrained financing
from both market-based sources (commercial papers and
non-convertible debentures) and banks for many players.
Shri Amit Wadhwani, Co-founder, SECCPL, said, “the
Government has empowered the RBI to regulate the
housing finance companies which will help in quality
assessment by the lender for fear of facing scrutiny if
found indulging in improper practices.” While there are 82
HFCs in India, more than 90 per cent of the housing
finance business is controlled by the top five companies.
Shri Karthik Srinivasan, Group Head – Financial Sector
Ratings, ICRA, said, “with regulatory authority over HFCs
moving to the RBI from NHB, it would lead to greater
parity of regulations for NBFCs and HFCs.”
According to an Indian Ratings report, the systemic
rise in market borrowings rate has affected the housing
loan business. “The borrowing cost for some large HFCs
could be upwards of banks’ marginal cost of funds-based
lending rate (MCLR). This has led to the shrinking of
margins in mid-to-large ticket housing loans, where banks
are highly competitive. Furthermore, the ongoing
challenges in the real estate and small and medium
enterprise segments (loan against property customers) may
lead to HFCs reassessing loan growth plans, thereby
putting pressure on their margins,” it said.
JULY, 2019
During FY17-19, to mitigate the margin risk, many
HFC players expanded their non-housing books at a
significantly higher rate than their pure housing loan books.
The increase in the proportion of non-housing loan book
could lead to asset quality pressure amid the current
slowdown in disbursement to developers. The current
liquidity tightness in the housing finance industry has led
to a large number of non-bank entities (both HFCs and
NBFCs) curtailing loan disbursements, thereby creating a
significant funding crunch in the sector, the rating firm
said. (THE INDIAN EXPRESS, 6TH JULY, 2019)
AFFORDABLE HOUSING GETS SHOT IN THE ARM,
WITH MAJOR TAX BREAKS
In a bid to provide “Housing for All by 2022”, the
Government announced major tax benefits in the Budget
to help stimulate demand for the affordable housing
segment, that is expected to attract first-time home buyers
in the country. Interest deduction up to Rs.3.5 lakhs for
affordable housing priced upto Rs.45 lakhs, as against
Rs.2 lakhs earlier, will now be available until March 31,
2020.
“For realising the goal of Housing for All and
affordable housing, a tax holiday has already been provided
on the profits earned by developers of affordable housing.
Also, interest paid on housing loans is allowed as a
deduction to the extent of Rs.2 lakhs in respect of self-
occupied property. In order to provide a further impetus, I
propose to allow an additional deduction of up to
Rs.1,50,000 for interest paid on loans borrowed up to
March 31, 2020 for purchase of an affordable house valued
upto Rs.45 lakhs. Therefore, a person purchasing an
affordable house will now get an enhanced interest
deduction up to Rs.3.5 lakhs. This will translate into a
benefit of around Rs.7 lakhs to middle class home-buyers
over their loan period of 15 years,” the Finance Minister
said. As many as 1.95 crore houses are proposed to be
provided to eligible beneficiaries under PMAY-Grameen,
while another 19.5 million houses are to be built under
PMAY-Urban between 2020 and 2022.
The Minister also proposed providing capital gains
exemption from profits earned by selling residential houses
by investing in start-ups. This would be permitted only up
to March 31, 2021.
Ms. Sitharaman also noted that the completion of
houses that previously required 314 days per house in
2015-16 had come down to 114 days since 2017.
Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban, over 81
lakh houses with an investment of about Rs.4.83 lakh
crores have been sanctioned, of which construction has
started in about 47 lakh houses. Also, over 26 lakh houses
13
have been completed of which nearly 24 lakh houses have
been delivered to the beneficiaries.
There is large-scale adoption of new technologies
for construction of these houses, the Minister noted, adding
that over 13 lakh houses have so far been constructed
using these new technologies. (THE ASIAN AGE, 6 TH JULY, 2019)
2.51 LAKH MORE HOUSES TO BE BUILT IN 10 STATES
Construction of 2.51 lakh more houses in 10 States
under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) (Urban)
has been sanctioned taking the total number of houses
approved under the scheme since it started in 2015 to
83.62 lakh, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said
in a statement.
At a meeting of the Cenral Sanctioning-cum-
Monitoring Committee (CSMC) under the PMAY (U),
chaired by Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry Secretary
Shri Durga Shanker Mishra on 28th June, 2019 at New
Delhi a total of 2,51,093 houses, with a project cost of
Rs.11,373.20 crore, of which Rs.3,766.40 crore will be
Central assistance, were sanctioned.
“The CSMC discussed, among other important points,
the progress of the scheme in Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand, Meghalay, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Uttar
Pradesh and Haryana. Uttar Pradesh presented proposals
for the construction of nearly 1.38 lakh more houses, which
is the highest among all 10 participating States,” the
statement said. Uttar Pradesh now has 12.96 lakh houses
sanctioned, followed by Andhra Pradesh (12.48 lakh) and
Maharashtra (9.86 lakh). (THE HINDU, 29 TH JUNE, 2019)
SWACHH 2.0 TO FOCUS ON SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT
The next phase of Swachh Bharat Mission in rural
areas will focus on sustainable solid waste management
in every village alongside efforts to make them free of
open defecation.
Highlighting the progress of the flagship scheme,
Finance Minister Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman said nearly 10
crore toilets had been constructed since October 2, 2014
when the Mission was launched and almost 6 lakh villages
have become open defecation free (ODF). “We have to
build on this success. We must not only sustain the
behavioural change seen in people but also harness the
latest technologies available to transform waste into
energy,” she said.
She said the Government is confident to achieve
100% toilet coverage by October 2 this year and to mark
this occasion, Rashtriya Swachhta Kendra will be
14
inaugurated at Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat. “A Gandhipedia
is also being developed by National Council for Science
Museums to sensitise youth and society at large about
positive Gandhian values,” she said. While mentioning the
progress of swchhata in urban areas, the Finance Minister
said more than 95% of cities have also been declared
ODF. “More than 45,000 public and community toilets
across 1,700 cities have been uploaded on Google maps,
covering more than 53% of India’s urban population,” she
said. (THE TIMES OF INDIA, 6TH JULY, 2019)
HUDCO CELEBRATES WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
Dr. M. Ravi Kanth, CMD, HUDCO inaugurated a
Workshop on “Clearing the Air-Combating Air Pollution in
Indian Cities”, organised by HUDCO’s HSMI, to observe
World Environment Day and stressed the need to work for
sustainable urban development to improve the air quality.
The CMD reiterated the Prime Minister’s call to move
towards zero defect and zero effect - zero defect in
production and zero effect on the environment. HUDCO’s
initiative in this direction has been to extend loans for
waste-to-energy initiatives and innovative solutions. The
workshop was attended by sector experts, representatives
of NGOs, local bodies, MoEFCC, and senior HUDCO
officials. (THE TIMES OF INDIA, 14 TH JUNE, 2019)
      
    
 
   
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         

         
        
       
       

         
      
  
        
        
          
         
NCHF BULLETIN
 I
II

RERA IT

JULY, 2019 15
          
        
        
         
     
      
          
         
  
          
         
  
           
          
           
           
          
   
   
  
         
           
            
          
   
       
           
  
          
        
        
         
          
  
          
          
           
          
          
      
16
    
          
         
       
   
       
           
       
    
       
      
      

  
       
   
      
  
        
  
  
     
       
  
        

          

         
        
          
    
   
   
        
        
     
NCHF BULLETIN
             
                    
            
                  
                     
                     
                  
                  
                    
              
   
                   
                   
                     
                   
          
   
                    
                     
                   
       
                  
                  
                  
                    
   
   
                  
                 
                    
              
            




 

JULY, 2019 17
      
  
         

         
          
  
           
          
           
           
          
         
    
          
          
  
   
    
        
  
          
        
    
     
    
  
          
         
           
          
    
          
         
    
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  
  
         
          

  

           
         
         
          
          
        
        
          
         
  
          
       
           
         
           
  
           
          

           
          
   
          
 
           

 
 
NCHF BULLETIN
          
       
        
         
         
          
           
        
          
         
  
        
         
         
         

    
           
 
           
        
          
            

   
         
  
     
           
        
           
          
           
          
     
      
           
          
        
        
JULY, 2019
         
         
        
          
        
    
          
          
          
    

        
          
        
          
      
     
          
          
          
        
           
          

         
   
       
           
        
  
           
           
          
          
        
         

         
           
           
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 
   
        
           
       
         
           
        
          
        

         
         
      
         
   
   
         
   
   
(Contd from Page 9)
should be planted with proper pits and tree grates. In
narrow streets, columnar or upright cultivars may be
needed, like false Asoka. Shrubs and ground cover should
be provided where possible. Annual or perennial flowering
plants may be planted in high visibility areas. Trees and
landscaping should include an automated irrigation system.
Sustainable Environment: A Proper network of
‘ingredients’ that solves urban and climatic challenges by
building with nature is termed as the Green Infrastructure.
Parks, avenue plantation, water bodies account for making
the environment of the city sustainable. The urban natural
resource is a valuable municipal resource and the key
ingredient of city sustainability.
In context to the space crunch in old urban areas,
renovation offers chances to increase planting spaces
within and in front of buildings. In densely-packed
neighbourhoods with poor urban green space provision,
brownfield sites could become green spaces there.
On the contrary, green roofs, green walls/vertical
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gardens, green curtains are some of the innovative ideas
that are revolutionizing the developed countries. They are
regarded as future urban gardens. The high added value
of land and lack of green space in the cities are making
such technologies suitable and useful choice for improved
quality and sustainability of the urban environment.
Safety and Security of Citizens: Studies have shown
that green space enhances perceptions of social safety.
Trees create more pleasant walking environments,
improving the likelihood of increased walking, care of the
place, association and sense of actual ownership and
surveillance of homes, blocks neighbourhoods parks, and
other municipal spaces. Green spaces create safer walking
environments, by forming and framing visual walls and
providing distinct edges to sidewalks so that drivers better
distinguish between the road and the sidewalk and prevent
any accident.
Heath and Education: Trees affect the resident’s physical
and emotional health. Contaminants in air, which are the
cause of many cardiovascular diseases and related cancer,
are removed by the trees.
Urban nature fulfils many social functions and
psychological needs of the citizens. These spaces target
all groups of people and account for their recreational
needs. There is evidence of the strong association between
quantity of green spaces (objectively measured around
residents) and mental health and all-cause mortality, and
moderate evidence for an association with perceived
general health.
Thus, there should be clear space for people to
interact with nature on a regular basis. The importance of
green spaces at both residential and locality level must be
encouraged among the citizens. Such interactions inculcate
in them the knowledge about the valuable resource that is
urban trees and green spaces.
Complementing the core elements of the Smart City
Mission with the values of Urban Green Infrastructure
seems to be a sensible choice. The developed world is
making benchmark work in applying the smart technology
of utilizing natural resources to make the city sustainable.
We need to learn from the already developed signature
cities and sites. The solutions are out there to incorporate
into the planning and development. There is a need for
insightful decisions on the utilization or resources.
Technological fixes don’t have to be only contemporary
costly designing and makeup. Restoring and incorporating
natural resources in the city can provide for quality life
and sustainable urban environment. A small measure like
a right tree in the right place can go a long way.
(Courtesy: Builders’ Friend – May, 2019)
NCHF BULLETIN