Our smart cities are dumbing down
It's easy to launch a flashy new project. Way harder to keep it going. Despite grand makeovers and dutifully media-covered inaugurations, most cities have, to put it euphemistically, 'maintenance issues'. And as each monsoon reminds us, even so-called 'smart cities'. This week, Bengaluru and Pune, both ostensibly 'smart', were waterlogged after just a round of pre-monsoon showers, proof that smartness lies not in tech but in the dull discipline of upkeep.
In 2014, GoI announced 100 smart cities envisioned to use technology as the backbone to pre-empt and solve everyday challenges - from traffic snarls to urban flooding. But somewhere along the way, the goal shifted. Smart Cities Mission (SCM) became confined to renovating and retrofitting existing cities and providing basic facilities, such as housing, clean water, power and transport. Over the past decade, roughly 8,000 projects worth ₹1.64 lakh cr were sanctioned under SCM. The mission ended on March 31, but without clear answers about the future of SPVs, including integrated command and control centres (ICCCs), the nerve centre of these smart cities. These were set up in all 100 smart cities to enable real-time, data-driven decision-making.
To ensure continued maintenance of smart city assets, the parliamentary standing committee on housing and urban affairs rightly recommended that the ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) frame guidelines for SPVs to keep operating beyond the mission's end. But there has been no movement on this. Public money doesn't just need to be spent, it needs to work. Without a culture of upkeep and performance tracking, we'll keep rebuilding the same cities and assets every decade. This is as unsmart as it can get.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
11-06-2025
- News18
What To Do If You're Trapped In A Fire: Lessons From The Dwarka Tragedy
Last Updated: The recent Dwarka fire highlights why it's essential for high-rise residents to understand basic fire survival strategies, especially when help may take time to arrive On Tuesday morning, a fire broke out on the seventh floor of Shapath Society in Delhi's Dwarka Sector 13. Within minutes, thick black smoke engulfed the upper floors, and flames leapt violently from the windows. As per media reports, trapped inside their apartment, two 10-year-old children— a boy and a girl—jumped from the balcony in desperation. They were declared dead at Aakash hospital. Their father, Yash Yadav, followed minutes later and also did not survive. The fire brigade was alerted and fire tenders rushed to the spot, but the scale of the blaze escalated rapidly. The tragedy unfolded in real-time, faster than help could arrive, and more brutally than anyone watching could intervene. As horrifying as the visuals were, they also raised a life-saving question: what should you do if you're trapped inside a burning building, and how can you increase your chances of survival before help arrives? Don't Jump, Stay Put In high-rise fires, the instinct to flee—especially when flames are visible—is overwhelming. But jumping from upper floors is rarely survivable unless it's from a very low height. Unless there is absolutely no other escape, it's safer to stay indoors and delay the fire's entry for as long as possible. This is not just common sense—it's also embedded in India's official fire safety code. According to the Model Building Bye-Laws issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), high-rises must have enclosed staircases, protected by fire-rated doors, to serve as internal evacuation routes. These are meant to help residents escape safely without ever needing to jump or be rescued from outside. If you're trapped and the flames are nearby, your first move should be to shut the door and seal the cracks with wet towels or clothing. This slows down smoke intrusion and gives you time to assess your options. How To Stay Alive When Trapped If smoke is already in the room, crawl low—smoke rises, and the air is clearer near the ground. Cover your mouth and nose with a damp cloth to reduce inhalation of toxic fumes. Move to a balcony or window and signal for help. Use a flashlight or phone torch, wave a cloth, or shout loudly to alert rescuers. If you can call, give your exact flat number and floor. If you live in a high-rise, consider investing in a foldable rope ladder that can be hooked onto balcony grills or window frames. Use it only if you've practised with it and are physically capable. Panic and inexperience can be just as dangerous as the fire. Never use a lift. If the stairwell is free of smoke and heat, use it quickly and calmly. Otherwise, remain in the sealed space and wait for help. The Essentials: Gear That Saves Lives Every household in a high-rise should be equipped with basic fire safety tools. A small fire extinguisher can help put out a contained blaze. Don't just buy it, learn how to use it: pull the pin, aim at the base of the flames, and spray side to side. Install smoke detectors, especially near the kitchen or living areas. These offer a critical early warning—often before fire is even visible. Fire blankets and rope ladders, when stored properly and mounted correctly, can be last-resort tools that save lives. Preparedness doesn't end at purchasing these tools. You must learn to use them, test them occasionally, and ensure they're within easy reach—not packed away in an obscure cupboard. Do's And Don'ts In A High-Rise Fire DO DON'T What Buildings And RWAs Must Do The responsibility of fire safety cannot fall solely on residents. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and building managements are legally required to renew fire safety NOCs, maintain functioning equipment like hose reels and alarms, and ensure all exits are accessible and free of obstructions. Regular fire drills, clear signage, and trained security or maintenance staff can mean the difference between chaos and coordinated evacuation. The Dwarka incident raises urgent questions: Were the alarms working? Were the extinguishers maintained? These are questions every apartment complex should now be asking. Prepare Before, Not During In a fire, every second counts. By the time sirens are heard outside, it may already be too late. Your survival may ultimately depend on how well you are prepared. The Dwarka tragedy is a wake-up call. Fires don't announce themselves. But with the right knowledge, tools, and mindset, we can all be better equipped to face the unthinkable, and survive it. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : fire tragedy high rise buildings Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 11, 2025, 15:50 IST News india What To Do If You're Trapped In A Fire: Lessons From The Dwarka Tragedy
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Review last year's tree plantation status: Haryana chief secy
: Haryana chief secretary Anurag Rastogi has said that under the state government's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0, (EPMKN 2.0) green initiative, 'whole of government' and 'whole of society' approach will be adopted. The chief secretary reviewed the state's action plan in a meeting with senior officials and discussed the strategies to align the campaign with key national missions while the forest department said that 1.81 crore saplings are available for this year's plantation drive across 200 government nurseries in 22 districts. Rastogi also directed a thorough review of last year's plantations to ensure their sustained upkeep and growth and sought a report in this regard. Additional chief secretary (ACS-environment, forests and wildlife) Anand Mohan Sharan said that last year 1.87 crore saplings were planted with over 52 lakh in urban areas and about 135 lakh in rural regions. The campaign saw the participation of 51 government departments and lakhs of citizens, reflecting Haryana's strong commitment to climate action, he said. Meanwhile, the chief secretary stated that this year the campaign will align closely with national flagship schemes such as MGNREGA, Jal Shakti Abhiyaan, Swachh Bharat Mission, Smart Cities Mission, and the National Green Highways Mission. The 2025-26 campaign will place a major emphasis on massive plantation activities by involving youth and students. In addition to schools, the state forest department (SFD), urban local bodies, and the horticulture, public works, and HSVP departments, along with community organisations and volunteers, will actively participate in the plantation drives. These activities will target riverbanks, canal bunds, Amrit Sarovars, and other water bodies, in line with this year's 'Catch the Rain 2025' theme under the Jal Shakti Abhiyaan. To ensure effective on-ground implementation, Rastogi instructed deputy commissioners to form district plantation committees. These committees will be responsible for identifying plantation sites, assessing land availability, preparing plant demand, and finalising coordination plans. Each department at the district level has been asked to submit data on available lands suitable for plantation and to collaborate closely with nurseries to meet sapling requirements. They were also directed to prepare a plan regarding the aftercare of planted saplings under the scheme. Haryana lokayukta to conduct proceedings via video conferencing The Haryana government on Monday said that the state Lokayukta will now adopt video conferencing (VC) facilities to hold the proceedings of the cases. This is a part of a broader state government initiative aimed at leveraging audio-visual electronic means for all official interactions, aligning with new central criminal laws and Supreme Court guidelines, a government spokesperson said. Haryana chief secretary Anurag Rastogi has issued a letter in this regard to all administrative secretaries, heads of departments, board/corporation managing directors, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners etc to ensure compliance of the new instructions. The spokesperson said that the decision to integrate VC facilities is rooted in the enabling provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Section 336 (Evidence of public servants, experts, police officers in certain cases) and Section 530 (Trial and proceedings to be held in electronic mode) explicitly promote the use of audio-visual electronic means for all proceedings.
Economic Times
06-06-2025
- Economic Times
Is India doing enough to combat its waste management and pollution crisis?
Sparkle and hum India is battling a waste management and pollution crisis, identified by UNEP as among the three planetary crises. Several areas of Delhi-NCR face both challenges. The Bandhwari landfill in Gurgaon stubbornly stands as a symbol of environmental damage. Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla (NCR), Deonar and Mulund (Mumbai), and Mittaganahalli (Bengaluru) are among the 2,400 landfills across cities and winter sets in, residents grow increasingly concerned about the sharp decline in AQI. Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is periodically invoked to keep toxicity in the NCR within liveable limits. Managing waste remains challenging for thousands of local bodies and those spearheading ambitious urban rejuvenation plans. Some policy alertness is visible: Over half of the 2,500 lakh tonnes of legacy waste and more than 1,000 dumpsites have been remediated in recent years. Approximately half of the 15,000 acres locked up in these dumps have been recovered. Indore has long been a leader, with cities like Lucknow following suit, turning recovered land into green spaces. India generates an estimated 1.6 lakh tonnes of solid waste per day, comprising various materials, including municipal solid waste, industrial waste and construction debris. Of this, 80% is processed - a remarkable increase from 18% in 2016. Door-to-door waste collection across the country's 96,000 urban wards is nearly 100%, a feat once considered unthinkable. Material recovery centres, composting units, bio-methanation and waste- to-energy plants are steadily increasing processing capacity. GoI has declared a shift from 'manhole to machine-hole', aiming for 100% mechanical desludging of septic tanks and sewers. Supported by survey-backed competition, cities and villages of all sizes aspire to earn the clean badge, with SBM continuing to drive progress. In the most recent Haryana and Delhi assembly elections, waste management and pollution featured on public platforms, raising hopes for change. The new Delhi government swiftly introduced several measures, including deploying water sprinklers, anti-smog guns, increasing mechanical sweepers and promoting clean-energy vehicles to combat pollution. Monitoring of drains and wastewater from sewage treatment plants is also being prioritised, as cleaning up the Yamuna has come under sharp political this week, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) directed Haryana and Punjab governments to mandate the use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets/briquettes in all brick kilns located in the districts beyond NCR, as one of the means towards elimination of the practice of open paddy-stubble burning. It envisions the elimination of open burning of crop residue, promoting clean and sustainable fuel alternatives in the industrial sector. To reduce vehicular pollution, CAQM ordered the adoption of cleaner modes of transport for all new vehicle inductions and imposed stricter regulations on institutional, commercial and incoming of the most worrying sources of waste is plastic. India generates an estimated 95 lakh tonnes of plastic waste annually. Single-use plastic (SUP) was banned in July 2022. However, given the large population, public campaigns - such as the ongoing 'End Plastic Pollution' initiative and the one in September-October 2019 - combined with showcasing eco-friendly alternatives, may achieve better compliance. Communication and advocacy have been extensively harnessed by SBM in fostering toilet-usage municipal waste, various forms of highly toxic waste come from electronic, radioactive and biomedical discards. Sanitary waste from households needs separate attention. The key lies in the complete segregation of waste and scientific needs to be seen as a resource in a circular economy. Researchers have found a way to use non-recyclable plastic in bituminous roads. Individual initiatives to create resources from immediate waste are often celebrated on the PM's Mann Ki Baat broadcast. Policymakers must facilitate better business opportunities, and startups and enterprises must pursue greater innovation and employ suitable technologies to extract value from waste and generate profit. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (RRR) must be a serious pursuit, especially regarding plastic. Viksit Bharat of 2047 cannot be an unclean and polluted Bharat. New India deserves to be free of garbage. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Everything 'e' won't make you a millionaire. Just look at e-pharmacies Are Indian banks staring at their worst in 7 years? How Uber came back from the brink to dislodge Ola Will Royal Enfield's back to the future strategy woo GenZ? Stock Radar: Cummins India stock breaks out from Ascending Triangle pattern on daily charts; check target, stop loss Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus Multibagger or IBC - Part 9: With exceptional margins, can this small-cap stock make it to the big league? These large- and mid-cap stocks can give more than 30% return in 1 year, according to analysts
