Bring Back Lost Spring To Bhubaneswar

During our school days three decades ago, it was beyond our imagination that Bhubaneswar will change so fast. We could  not think that the city will turn warmer with every passing summer, receive more rainfall in less number of monsoon days, feel winter chill for a handful days and see spring vanish into thin air.

Our leaders and decision-makers keep on blaming global climate change without accepting their contribution at the local level. Climate change in Bhubaneswar seems a remote problem for them. The question is how long will they force Bhubaneswar to seat on a time bomb before it explodes without even giving a siren.

The world no more lives in rural hamlets, nor the disaster. Urban population has surpassed its rural counterpart in 2008. In today’s world, major disasters are taking place in and around cities affecting vulnerable structures like buildings, infrastructure and human lives.

Unfortunately, most of the effects of climate change are now visible in Bhubaneswar. Flood in Bhubaneswar, which was unbelievable in past, has become a reality now as many natural streams, which have become carriers of sewage, are not in a position to carry rainwater within hours.

Canals have been squeezed to pave way for roads to carry traffic and some of the lakes are now a place for garbage dumping. Similarly, all natural streams have become sewage carriers and many swampy lands that were unsuitable for construction activity are converted for construction activity in latest city Master Plan leading to reduction of water mass carrying capacity of the city.

Huge amount of money is spent on building flyovers to encourage vehicle movement that will add green house gas emission without incentivising provision of infrastructures i.e. under-passes, efficient public transport, pedestrian provision, solar energy etc that would make Bhubaneswar a city of low carbon.

By 2036, it is expected that Bhubaneswar will have the maximum concentration of urban population in India’s eastern region. The city planners need to revisit its Master Plan before its 75th foundation day as independent India’s first planned capital city.

The foundation of independent India’s first planned city was laid in Bhubaneswar as the Capital of modern Odisha 73 years ago on the occasion of Maha Bisuba Sankranti on April 13. The foundation was laid with a vision that women can easily walk to a health centre and market without depending on others and children can go to school and playground located in walking distance. The blueprint was driven by grid shaped square as the basic of city planning.

These principle were core of neighbourhood-based city planning inspired by cities of former Soviet Union, Barcelona in Spain, Rio De Janeiro in Brazil, London in UK and Stuttgart in Germany. When Bhubaneswar was planned, Singapore was not even born nor thought of a city state. Now, Bhubaneswar is chasing Singapore with same principles of neighbourhood that it has forgotten while dreaming world class city.

Yes, residents of Bhubaneswar do have a dream of going back to three decades down the line. They wish to see their children walking to school, people travelling in efficient public transportation system or cycling down to their destinations, every house integrated with access to renewable energy grid, garbage converted into zero waste and lakes and water bodies having fish and aquatic animals.

Perhaps that will be the day when the Temple City will see return of spring.