IE : Cluster model pilot for city's old buildings : Aug 25, 2007

Cluster model pilot for city's old buildings
 REDEVELOPMENT ? State govt plans 'block by block' initiative
 DHAVAL KULKARNI
AUGUST 24

THE state government on Friday decided to initiate a pilot project for the
redevelopment of old buildings in Mumbai.
According to a decision taken by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh at a
meeting to review the Mumbai makeover projects, a "block by block"
redevelopment would be undertaken. To demonstrate the viability of such
redevelopment, it has been decided to undertake a pilot project of at least
25 acres.
The government will release an advertisement soon, calling for offers from
developers to redevelop a block. A panel of senior officials, including IAS
officials are likely to monitor the project, which would be financed through
major banks like ICICI and the HDFC.
The project would also help the government in assessing the ground-level
impact of the cluster model suggested in the housing policy. And if
successful, it could pave the way for the residents of the 60,000-odd old
and dilapidated buildings built before 1940 and dotting the older areas of
the city to get better houses and also create more housing stock.
A group of experts and government officials, in a meeting held last week,
suggested to the state government that they implement a pilot project of the
cluster development (see box), especially in the "most challenging and
difficult areas with substantial number of old and difficult buildings".
The All India Institute of Local Self Governance (AIILSG) had conducted
pilot studies in four places like Null Bazaar, Girgaon, Bora Bazaar and
Dadar Parsi Colony in favour of cluster development based on the opinions of
the people. However, it was necessary to test the model on the ground.
"The residents of the old buildings have some apprehensions in case of
redevelopment, which need to be understood. They feel that they may be
doomed to stay in the transit camps and hence, it is necessary to instil
confidence and credibility about the time-bound nature of the redevelopment.
The local residents need to be assured that they will be resettled there
first, with the balance FSI being used for free sale later," said a senior
official from the state housing department.
The official added that the experts had arrived at a consensus on the need
to carry out the project on the ground. "There seems to be no other way," he
said, pointing to complaints of paucity of water and inadequate width of
roads by residents in areas where high-rises had replaced old buildings.
The cluster model, where the integrated development of the area is to be
taken up, is aimed at solving the infrastructure woes that may arise in case
of haphazard and fractured development.
Civic body to conduct survey on greenhouse gas emission

 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
AUGUST 24

TO tackle the issue of global warming, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
(BMC) will soon undertake the first-of-itskind baseline survey to determine
the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission in the city.
Expression of Interest (EoI)inviting expert agencies to carry out the
survey-was issued on Friday. Consulates and embassies of various countries
will also be given a copy of the (EoI).
Additional Municipal Commissioner (city) R A Rajeev, during a press
conference on Friday, said that considering the rise in global warming,
there is a need to know what percentage of green house gas is being emitted
in the city. "We need to take measures to tackle global warming
effectively," he said, adding most international cities have a ready data
available of green house gas emission.
He added, "Currently there is no collected data. Once we have a baseline
survey ready, it can be used for drawing future environmental policies and
projects."
According to Rajeev, the agency to carry out the survey will be finalised by
October.
The survey, which is to be conducted in six months starting from the date of
the agency's appointment, will be carried out in all the 24 wards of the
city.
It will cover quantum of operations in units and estimated greenhouse gas
generated per day. The survey will cover 11 sectors including transport,
construction, industry, energy, commercial and waste.
"Depending on the agency's experience and profile, we will decide to take
its suggestions for adopting strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emission,"
Rajeev said.

Publication : IE; Section : News; Pg : 3; Date : 25/8/07
URL :
http://70.86.150.130/indianexpress/ArticleText.aspx?article=25_08_2007_523_004