URBAN GREENS SPACES IN DELHI, INDIA Milestones Behind, Miles Ahead Manoj Dabas Founder Director & CEO Center for Urban Green Spaces, New Delhi, India [email protected] The National Capital Region as notified covers the territorial jurisdictions of National Capital Territory of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan Spread across an area of 1484 Sq. KM in the National Capital Territory of Delhi is the second largest city of India. Urban Green Spaces in Delhi Benefits of History and Geography Shape of things in a city are, to a very large extent, an outcome of its geographical location, interplay of eco-political realities over time and administrative and planning rigor that goes into its development at various phases of its evolution. From Urban Forestry perspective Delhi had 3 things going for it: 1. Location at the northern fringe of Aravali Ranges 2. Yamuna flows through the city. 3. Inhabited since 50 BC. Major center of political power since 1206 AD. Declared capital of India in 1911AD. At the fringe of Aravali Mountain Ranges Aravali mountain ranges in western India run app. 300 miles from northeast to southwest across Rajasthan state. Towards the north it continues as rocky ridges and isolated hills into Haryana ending into Delhi. Aravali Mountain Ranges : Downhill Human impact has degraded the natural environment in Aravalis. Still there are areas wherever conservation has succeeded. Delhi is once such area, to an extent Located on the banks of River Yamuna Encroached Flood Plains Inhabited since 50 BC. Major center of political power since 1206 AD. Capital of colonial/Independent India since 1911AD. Lodhi Gardens Roshanara Bagh Quadasia Bagh Gardens of Delhi A Multifaceted Legacy •Aastha Kunj •Qudasia Bagh •The Delhi Ridge •Sanjay Van •Indraprastha Park •Kalindi Kunj •Buddha Jayanti Park •Asola Bhatti Wildlife •Okhla Bird Sanctuary •Aaram Bagh •Garden of Five Sanctuary •Bhalaswa Lake Park •Yamuna Biodiversity Park Senses •Talkatora Gardens •Roshanara Bagh •Jahanpanah City •Delhi Zoo •Shalimar Bagh Forest •Delhi Golf Course •Lodhi Gardens •Qutub Golf Course •Nehru Park, Delhi •Deer Park •Netaji Subhash Park •India Gate Greens •The Mughal Gardens •Central Park •Rose Garden •The Mughal Gardens DELHI’s TEEMING MILLIONS Population Trends Year 1981 1991 2001 2011 Population 6220406 9420644 13850507 16787941 AAEGR 4.25 4.15 3.85 1.92 Density 4194 6352 9340 11320 Rural Households 71922 163920 169528 79574 Urban Households 1139862 1696828 2384621 3356425 Total Households 1211784 1860748 2554149 3435999 State of Urban Green Spaces in Delhi Byproduct of a Colossal Urban Planning Failure •Urban planning process has failed to anticipate, reduce, provide for population influx into Delhi. •Result : More than 50% of Delhi’s population lives in informal settlements. •First casualty of unplanned development is open/green spaces as they conflict head-on with commercial interests. •This compromises quality of life of residents by distancing them from health, hygiene, recreation and social benefits of open green spaces. •Degradation/sub-optimal development of Urban Green Spaces hurts urban poor disproportionately higher than the affluent sections of the society. State of Urban Green Spaces in Delhi Byproduct of a Colossal Urban Planning Failure But Delhi is still one of the greener (greenest) capitals of Asia. How? But Delhi is still one of the greener (greenest) capitals of Asia. How? •A more informed and demanding population. •Sustained awareness and mobilisation campaign for green cover/river quality. •Particular attention to engage school children with environmental conservation/afforestation drives •Civil Society Movements to protect Delhi’s natural heritage. •Judicial Pronouncements (Delhi High Court/Supreme Court of India) since 1994 on Yamuna /Forest Conservation. •Legislative and Executive Measures to conserve/augment green cover. Delhi Preservation of Trees Act - 1994 •Tree officer/Tree Authority •Act deals with all aspects management of standing trees in Delhi and compensatory planting •Replanting obligation 1-10-5 Rule Rs. 28000/tree deposit, 50% refundable after 5 years •Tree Helpline •FCA Rules / CAMPA Funds Urban Forests in Delhi Area Type Location (in Ha.) Reserved Forests 7777 Northern Ridge Forest 87 Central Ridge Forest 864 South Central Ridge Forest 626 Southern Ridge Forest 6200 Protected Forests Misc. 1658 City Forests 979 Old 708 New 2007-08 160 New 2008-09 111 Grand Total 10414 Source: Forest Department, Govt. of NCT Delhi Year Green Cover %age of Total Area 1993 22 1.48 1995 26 1.75 1997 26 1.75 1999 88 5.93 2001 151 10.2 2003 268 18.08 2005 283 19.09 2009 299 20.17 2011 299 20.17 2013 299 20.17 As per the India State of Forest Report (SFR)-2009, the total Forest and Tree Cover of NCT of Delhi is 299.58 sq. km. (20.20%) as against 283sq. km. (19.09%) reported in SFR-2005. This is made up of 123 sq. kms. of tree cover and 176.58 sq. kms. of forest cover making a total of 299.58 sq. kms Department has created around 40 City Forest on the land provided for plantation/compensatory plantation upto 2011-12. Total area in these city forests is more than 1000 Ha. Most of the City Forests are either in North-West district or South- West district of NCT of Delhi. The availability of land in other districts for creation of City Forests have been scarce. So does that solve the problem? NO Forest Cover and Forest Area per city dweller for some districts of India State District Geographical Total Forest Cover Percent of Population Forest Area Area (inSqkm) (2011 Assessment) Geographical per capita (in Sqkm) Area Sq. Mts. NCT of Delhi Central Delhi 25 5.05 20.20 578671 34.91 NCT of Delhi East Delhi 64 2.99 4.67 1707725 2.73 NCT of Delhi North-East Delhi 60 4.0 6.83 2240749 3.05 NCT of Delhi North-West Delhi 440 16.49 3.75 3651261 4.52 NCT of Delhi New Delhi 35 16.31 46.60 133713 121.98 NCT of Delhi North Delhi 59 4.81 8.15 883418 5.44 NCT of Delhi South Delhi 250 78.32 31.33 2292363 + 15.58 2733752* NCT of Delhi West Delhi 129 6.33 4.91 2531583 2.50 WHO/FAO Standard 9 Gujarat Ahmedabad 87.07 1.44 1.65 7208200 0.20 Gujarat Gandhi Nagar 649 42 6.47 1387478 30.27 Karnataka Bangalore U/R 5815 812 13.96 9588910 2.17 Karnataka Bangalore Urban 2190 150 6.85 Maharashtra Mumbai City 157 2 1.27 3145966 0.635 Maharashtra Mumbai-SU 446 120 26.91 9332481 12.86 Rajasthan Jaipur 14069 631 4.49 6663971 94.688 Tamil Nadu Chennai 144 9 6.25 4681087 1.92 West Bengal Kolkata 185 0 0 4486679 32.540 Andhra Hyderabad 7710 391 5.07 4010238 97.50 Andhra Vishakhapatnam 11161 3439 30.81 4288113 801.98 Pradesh Chandigarh Chandigarh 114 16.78 14.72 1054686 15.90 Green Cover in Delhi – Unmet Goals • Species Selection : Heavy preference towards non-grazable species. • Recreational Infrastructure : Inadequate budgetary provisions • Educational Outreach : Missing Focus • Public Participation in Management : Sporadic, not systemic •Public Utilities and Conveniences : Poor provisioning and Upkeep •User Fees : Capacity to Pay, Politics, Populism rolled into one. Land Owning/Greening Agencies in Delhi •East Delhi Municipal Corporation •National Highway Authority of India • New Delhi Municipal Corporation •Delhi Cantonment Board • South Delhi Municipal Corporation • Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Dept. • New Delhi Municipal Committee • Revenue Department • Delhi Development Authority • Forest Department •Land and Development Office, • Ministry of Defence •Delhi Waqf Board • Ministry of Telecommunications • Public Works Department • Large Institutions • Delhi Jal Board India- Reinventing its Cities The Mission will cover 100 cities and its duration will be five years (FY2015-16 to FY2019-20). The Mission may be continued thereafter in the light of an evaluation to be done by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) and incorporating the learnings into the Mission. India- Reinventing its Cities Smart City Features i. Promoting mixed land use in area-based developments — planning for ‘unplanned areas’ containing a range of compatible activities and land uses close to one another in order to make land use more efficient. The States will enable some flexibility in land use and building bye-laws to adapt to change; ii. Housing and inclusiveness — expand housing opportunities for all; iii. Creating walkable localities — reduce congestion, air pollution and resource depletion, boost local economy, promote interactions and ensure security. The road network is created or refurbished not only for vehicles and public transport, but also for pedestrians and cyclists, and necessary administrative services are offered within walking or cycling distance; iv. Preserving and developing open spaces — parks, playgrounds, and recreational spaces in order to enhance the quality of life of citizens, reduce the urban heat effects in Areas and generally promote eco-balance; v. Promoting a variety of transport options — Transit Oriented Development (TOD), public transport and last mile para-transport connectivity; vi. Making governance citizen-friendly and cost effective — increasingly rely on online services to bring about accountability and transparency, especially using mobiles to reduce cost of services and providing services without having to go to municipal offices; form e-groups to listen to people and obtain feedback and use online monitoring of programs and activities with the aid of cyber tour of worksites; vii. Giving an identity to the city — based on its main economic activity, such as local cuisine, health, education, arts and craft, culture, sports goods, furniture, hosiery, textile, dairy, etc; viii. Applying Smart Solutions to infrastructure and services in area-based development in order to make them better. E.g. Making Areas less vulnerable to disasters, using fewer resources, and providing cheaper services. URBAN GREENS SPACES IN DELHI, INDIA Milestones Behind Miles Ahead.