Editorial 1 : Letting in light & air
Introduction: While we await the investigation into the recent mishaps that different cities across India have experienced in the past two weeks, the innocent lives lost ask for someone to take the blame. The ongoing events show the debilitating condition of India’s urban administration and infrastructure.
The recent man-made disasters
- The falling of an oversized hoarding over a petrol pump due to a dust storm in Ghatkopar, another collapse of a billboard in Pune just three days after Mumbai, the boiler blast at a chemical factory in Dombivli, and the more recent cases of fire outbreak in Rajkot’s Game Zone and the short circuit-induced blast of oxygen cylinders in a paediatric hospital in Vivek Vihar in New Delhi — each of these unfortunate events could directly or indirectly be identified as man-made disasters, for they suggest institutional failure.
How urban development is regularised in India?
- Urban development is controlled through the instrument of by-laws that are, in turn, framed under the National Building Code.
- All buildings in the city must abide by these laws that safeguard aspects of livability, safety and sustainability of its users.
- Further, city planning documents demarcate distinct facilities at considered proximities from or within a given neighbourhood to balance its social and economic requirements.
Complexity of Spatial Relationships in Cities
- Planning Order Imposed on Semi-Developed Areas:
- Cities grow to accommodate higher densities, leading to complex spatial relationships.
- Construction involves negotiating laws in a strained manner to balance enterprise and survival.
- Interpretation of Construction Laws:
- Laws become prescriptive and may not be spatially meaningful.
- Example: Minimum room-to-window area ratio might not ensure sufficient light/air if not oriented properly.
- Example: Fire escape staircases in older buildings may be difficult to access internally.
- Economic Constraints on Construction:
- Construction economics can eliminate essential refuge spaces.
- Balconies in mid-rise apartments are eliminated due to lack of economic incentive.
- Terraces and open spaces are not economically viable for developers since their cost can't be charged to residents.
- Resident Demands and Construction Laws:
- Residents focus on more carpet area rather than better light and fresh air.
- Laws intended to ensure user well-being become prescriptive checklists or efficiency indicators.
Privatization of Public Spaces
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- Privatization of Public Realms: Smaller public spaces are being privatized and consolidated into larger lands with tall buildings and enclosed green spaces.
- Surveillance of Leftover Spaces: Leftover spaces around private developments are heavily surveilled, discouraging public activities like lingering and loitering.
- Loss of Open Public Spaces: The reduction of open public spaces affects both residential and commercial areas.
- New Forms of Recreation: Loss of public space leads to recreation within malls or large independent structures.
- Hyper Interiorized Environments: Buildings become closed, mechanically controlled spaces insulated from the exterior. Outer skins of buildings are used for advertisements, becoming flatter and larger.
- Impact of Advertisements: Early efforts aimed to eliminate large hoardings for aesthetic reasons. Current efforts seek their removal for safety reasons. Hoardings persist, often compromising access to natural light and ventilation.
Urban Distress and Reckless Urbanization
- Rapid Urbanization Issues:
- India is experiencing rapid and reckless urbanization focused on consumption.
- Recent distressing incidents highlight the need to improve urban environments.
Vision for Safe and Sustainable Urban Environment
- Stakeholder Involvement:
- All stakeholders must demand a healthy environment, beyond just following laws and codes.
- Awareness and Investment:
- Urban residents should recognize the pitfalls of short-term quantitative advances like extra floor space.
- Focus should be on long-term qualitative gains, such as well-ventilated houses with natural light.
- Emphasis on social and ecological sustainability is crucial.
Role of Planning Institutions
- Quality Assessment:
- Planning institutions should periodically assess the quality of built spaces.
- Assessments should check for accumulated vulnerabilities in urban infrastructure.
- Maintaining Urban Space Quality:
- Ensure the dignity of lived spaces.
- Avoid foreclosure of access to public spaces.
- Uphold the overall quality of urban spaces.
Conclusion: A safe urban space is a collective responsibility. While the law makers must ensure that spatial codes are meaningfully and correctly implemented, the city users must ensure that their participation in urban processes set the priorities right for achieving a sound urban environment.
Editorial 2 : Days after cyclone Remal
Introduction: Cyclone Remal prompts us to consider nature's unpredictability. Part of the rise in global temperatures is due to modern lifestyle flaws, negatively impacting the climate. This leads to rising sea levels and resulting floods. Scientists warn that if these trends persist, cities such as London, New York, Chennai, and Bangkok could be submerged.
Natural Disasters and Their Impacts
Floods in Mississippi and Hurricane Katrina
Recurring Floods and Hurricanes:
- The Mississippi River areas frequently experience severe hurricanes and subsequent flooding.
- Notable incident: Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which caused 85% of New Orleans to be submerged.
Historical Flood Management (1927):
- In 1927, the Mississippi River's overflow threatened to devastate New Orleans.
- A critical decision was made to use dynamite to create a new drainage path for the river, diverting it into the sea.
- This decision faced strong opposition due to fears of property destruction but was ultimately implemented, saving the town.
Inadequate Infrastructure and Response in the US
Persistent Flood Challenges:
- Despite significant resources and technological advancements, the US struggles to establish effective flood management infrastructure.
- The repeated flood damage remains a source of ongoing sorrow and concern.
Japan's Earthquake Challenges and Technological Responses
Frequent Earthquakes:
- Japan, a highly advanced nation, frequently faces severe earthquakes, accounting for 20% of global quakes of magnitude 6 and above.
- Historical example: The 1923 earthquake devastated Tokyo and Yokohama, destroying over 300,000 houses and killing more than 140,000 people.
Technological Advancements Post-1923:
- Japan has since developed sophisticated mechanisms to mitigate earthquake damage.
- Innovations include quake-resistant structures like the Imperial Hotel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, which withstood the 1923 quake.
- Modern advancements: Tokyo now has quake-resistant reservoirs providing 10 days of drinking water and comparable food storehouses.
Global Examples of Natural Disasters
Mexico Earthquake (1985):
- A severe earthquake in 1985 impacted Mexico, with tremors felt as far away as Houston, USA (1,200 km).
- Rescue operations highlighted the effectiveness of trained dogs in locating survivors trapped in debris.
Limitations of Disaster Prediction
Unpredictability of Natural Disasters:
- Despite advancements, predicting natural disasters remains challenging.
- Example: The US Parkfield Prediction Experiment, despite using sophisticated technology, illustrates the limitations in accurately forecasting earthquakes.
Conclusion: In China, Pakistan, India and in several other places, we have faced earthquakes and other natural disasters in which lakhs of people perished and vast areas were laid to waste. But we should remember that what we have heard so far was not the roar of the earth but its murmur.