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The tribune DEBATE asli vs naqli chandigarh - part VII Rajmeet Singh/TNS
A look around Chandigarh would tell you that while there appears to be an unbundling of the city in the haphazard growth of several townships, there is nothing beyond that. New Chandigarh, thus, shows only microcosmic trappings of a planning that at best works in fits and starts. Today, the population in urban, semi-urban and rural settlements of the Greater Mohali Region -- Nayagoan, Mullanpur, Mohali, Kharar, Kurali, Zirakpur, Dera Bassi, Lalru and Banur -- stands around 1 million - a little less than Chandigarh’s 1.5 million. Compared to 28,000-acre planning area of City Beautiful, the area of the Greater Mohali Region stands at 2,97,500 acres. As per the Mohali Regional Master Plan 2008-2058, the water requirement for the region by 2021 would be 274 million gallons per day (MGD). The current demand is 35 MGD and the shortfall is of around 10 MGD.
Similarly, Chandigarh will need 140 MGD. The demand at present is 87 MGD, short by 29 MGD. Power requirement for the Mohali region will be 7,019 MW by 2021 and 9,358 MW by 2031 (up from 630 MW available at present). Given the severe shortages, it’s anybody’s guess as to what would happen to New Chandigarh and City Beautiful. Experts ask: In years to come, will there be a Maha Chandigarh, a shapeless entity, which town planners and architects dread to even contemplate? “There is no harm in planned development. But it should not eat into Chandigarh’s resources. Urban settlements should be self-sufficient. Otherwise it would be a disaster,” said Kishanjit Singh, a former UT chief engineer. Punjab officials are hopeful. Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) chief engineer Tarlochan Singh says the upcoming 80 MGD line from Kajauli will be enough for all the planning areas for another 25 years. To treat solid waste, there are plans to set up treatment plants. A solid waste management site is being set up at Samgouli, Derabassi, he says. A realistic reappraisal of progress, or the lack of it in master plans of various clusters of Greater Mohali, reflects a grim reality that New Chandigarh must face before it is taken to the next stage of development: Mohali
Punjab’s newest district, where property prices have soared dramatically. It posted a population growth of 32 per cent (1,23,484 in 2001). The census 2011 puts Mohali’s population at 1,46,104. It is projected to touch 12,95,000 by 2031and 17,26,500 by 2056. Planning area:
25,206 acres, divided into 126 sectors, stretching up to Kharar-Banur road. The area earmarked for residential, commercial and institutional land is 5,369 hectares, 1,975 hectares, and 1,305 hectares, respectively. Projects:
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) is developing sports complexes in different parts of the city. Roads are being widened. Central Business District (CBD), District Administrative Complex and a new inter state bus terminus are being developed. Civic amenities:
The city gets 13 MGD water against a 23 MGD requirement. GMADA says it is set to complete Phase-5 and 6 of the Kajauli waterworks that would bring in 80 MGD to meet the requirement of 34 MGD by 2016, 51 MGD by 2021 and 64 MGD by 2031.
Zirakpur
It is a planning disaster. Thanks to politicians, hundreds of illegal structures were regularised before GMADA came up with a master plan in 2010. Developed along the Chandigarh-Ambala and Panchkula-Patiala highways, the town has a population of one lakh. It was only 26,000 in 2001.It means a four-fold growth in 13 years! On drawing board:
As per the master plan, the area earmarked for residential and commercial was 5,285 acres and around 750 acres. Wall of politics:
When the Zirakpur master plan was notified, it ran into opposition from politicians as the agency wanted wider roads and relocation of certain structures. Not much has happened as per the master plan recommendations. Civic sorrow:
A sewer network was completed around the 2012 elections, but the STP has not been installed. Against the present demand of 5 MGD, the water requirement is projected at 18 MGD by 2020 and 31 MGD by 2031. Currently it depends on around 40 underground tubewells. Power:
It woefully inadequate. Against the present requirement of 105 MW, the township would need 252 MW by 2021 and 420 MW by 2031.
Dera Bassi
It flaunts its location, being on the Chandigarh-Ambala National Highway. The master plan released three years ago has not made much difference in the lives of the residents. Around the last Assembly elections, a sewer network in the inhabited areas of urban settlement was laid, but the sewerage treatment plant is nowhere in sight. On drawing board:
As per the master plan, the residential and commercial areas measured 3,082 acres, and around 1,100 acres respectively. 12 major housing and commercial projects are in the works Population:
26,000. Would be 86,325 by 2031 and 2,88,960 by 2056. Water &
power: Against the present requirement of 1.3 MGD, it would need 20 MGD of water by 2020. The township would require 488 MW of power by 2031, compared to the present demand of 80 MW. The place generates 6 tonnes per day of solid waste and It would generate 207 tonnes by 2031.
Kharar
It’s closest to Chandigarh like Zirakpur, but is a civic disaster. What makes it even worse is despite the fact that many projects have come under the jurisdiction of Kharar Municipal Committee, the end result has been chaos: many housing projects within the civic body are without basic amenities. GMADA officials point out the civic body seldom adheres to the planning norms while approving projects. As a result, integration of services within and outside the limits has become impossible. The sewer network recently laid in Kharar town has failed as no arrangement for its disposal has been made. The STP work is yet to be completed. Population:
70,000, nearly double than in 2001. It will be 1 lakh 30,000 by 2031 and 2lakh 76,000 by 2056. Planning area:
7,832 acres, of which, 2024 have been reserved for residential and around 700 acres for commercial use. Civic amenities:
Present consumption: 3 MGD. Demand: 22 MGD by 2031. The township is slated to generate 141 tonnes per day of solid waste in the next 18 years, compared to 8 tonnes per day today. Power: Present demand: 50 MW. It would be 108 MW by 2020, 270 MW by 2035 and 360 MW by 2056.
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Chandigarh, July 21
Other than Mohali, which gets a major part of its supply from the Kajauli waterworks, all other areas depend on the depleting groundwater.