In Odisha, urban areas are expanding rapidly, or rural areas are merging fast into nearest urban areas by forming conurbation, as the state expects its demographic sheet to overshoot rural population by 2036 and 60% by 2047. In other words, within a span of two decades from now.
This rapid growth will pose significant challenges in terms of food security, resource management, and environmental sustainability. To meet these challenges and harness the potential of a city as driver of economic growth, integrated approaches to urban planning and design are essential with approaches that prioritise both human wellbeing and environmental health and sustainability.
In this journey of demographic transition, Bhubaneswar will certainly be the lighthouse for other cities and towns in the state. Therefore, Bhubaneswar must choose a path that will generate tangible improvements in the health and well-being of people and their environments by strategically integrating urban and peri-urban agriculture and forestry, green infrastructure and bioeconomy practices into city fabrics.
Whilst this rapid urbanisation has been the catalyst for innovative solutions in many areas, including housing, transportation and infrastructure, few key factors are often overlooked. It means Bhubaneswar must focus on inspiring creation of sustainable, resilient and inclusive cities through strategies like the 15-minute city, smart city technology, vertical urbanism and circular economy principles. Other emerging ideas include integrating green public spaces, redeveloping declining areas, and using data for evidence-based decision making to improve quality of life for all inhabitants.
Unfortunately, Bhubaneswar has been busy building skyscrapers of no use when majority of its inhabitants lives under non-concrete roofs and has poor dietary choices. Even in Bhubaneswar, food is a major source in waste composition.
Urban sprawl is also happening around Bhubaneswar at the expense of natural resources and green spaces, increasing the vulnerability of urban communities to effects of climate change.
If we want to create healthy, sustainable cities for future generations, we must reevaluate the way our cities are planned, managed, designed, and function. Policy makers must incorporate food systems into the city’s urban planning.
Here are a few ways by which we can make Bhubaneswar healthier and more sustainable.
When you think of agriculture, most people think of rural areas. But many don’t know that over 800 million people worldwide practise urban agriculture. Then why not Bhubaneswar?
By preserving agricultural land in urban areas, we can shorten supply chains and the amount of CO2 emitted when transporting food from rural to urban areas. Producing and selling more fresh food within the city itself can reduce the environmental impact of food distribution, increase opportunities for inclusive local supply chains and improve access to nutritious foods, ideally through farmers’ markets.
In Medellin, Colombia, more than 7,500 families have benefitted from community gardens by allowing them to grow their own food with the possibility of selling the surplus. Having learnt from the initiative, Colombia is now developing a number of political, legislative and governmental initiatives to promote similar schemes countrywide.
Lifestyles and dietary patterns are strongly influenced by the types of food available and their affordability. In Bhubaneswar where there is a large choice of fast food and convenience options, available food is often energy dense and highly processed. Consumption of processed food with little nutritional value is a growing trend across India, which is having an effect on health issues, reflected in obesity increasing at an alarming rate.
However, Bhubaneswar can play a greater role in ensuring healthy diets. Just like Singapore took the opportunity to assess its food outlets and launch the Healthier Dining Programme in 2014. A subsidy scheme encouraged food operators to use healthier ingredients, such as oils with reduced saturated fat content, and to put lower calorie meals on menus. In just over a year, the number of healthier meal options had doubled.
Cities need to reduce food waste. People in Bhubaneswar consume around 70 per cent of food supply, but much of it is thrown away. Although the causes of food waste vary from one person to another within the city, generally poor food planning, inadequate packaging, improper storage and cultural practices contribute to the problem.
In addition, food waste that is not recycled or reused is filling up the landfills. There, it decomposes and generates methane, a greenhouse gas that is more harmful to the planet than CO2. This scenario is not just a waste of food but also a waste of energy, money and natural resources such as land and water that is used to produce and process the food. Citywide measures for recovering safe and nutritious food and redistributing it through charities and food banks, composting or utilising discarded food to generate energy can make a huge impact in reducing food waste.
Boosting green spaces for healthier environments and improved lifestyles is also very crucial.
As urban areas continue to expand, green spaces are disappearing. More than just for aesthetic appeal, trees and green areas are essential for improving air quality, mitigating urban temperatures, encouraging physical activity and improving overall health. Air pollution, rising local temperatures and sedentary lifestyles can increase the probability of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, obesity and fuel the spread of new pathogens.
In Los Angeles, for instance, researchers have found that more the number of parks within 500 metres of a child’s home, lower that child’s Body Mass Index (BMI) will be at the age of 18.
Cities must reconnect with surrounding rural areas. Cities and urban areas don’t function in isolation from rural areas, rather they are highly dependent on rural regions surrounding them. Bhubaneswar relies heavily on neighbouring rural areas for food, labour force, water supply and food waste disposal.
It is often said that the battle for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be won or lost in cities, which is why SDG 11 – making cities inclusive, safe and sustainable – is so important.
We need to plan Bhubaneswar around environment-friendly ways through green infrastructure like parks and vertical gardens, and incorporating the circular economy to reduce waste and promote local production. 15-Minute City is what Bhubaneswar needs where residents can access most daily needs (work, shopping, leisure, healthcare) within a 15-minute walk or bicycle ride from their home instead of 15-kilometre car drive.
Bhubaneswar master plan must be such that it can withstand and recover from economic, social, and environmental shocks like extreme weather events.
If we can do this and continue to drive urban innovation in thoughtful, ground-breaking ways, we can ensure that ‘no one and no place’ is left behind in the planning for the needs of all residents, including accessible infrastructure, diverse housing options, and opportunities for social and economic inclusion.
