Background

The first discussions on “EcoCity” started in the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India and the first concepts were presented in the Conference of Ministers of Environment from various states in India held in May 2000. Subsequently, in January 2001 the Ministry of Environment & Forests took up a comprehensive EcoCity Programme for the Kottayam-Kumarakom region in Kerala.

In the year 2002, as a part of the X Plan activities, the EcoCity Project was initiated by the Central Pollution Control Board with the grants-in-aid from the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India and has strong partnership with the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) under the Indo-German Environment Programme on “Advisory Services in Environmental Management” (ASEM). The EcoCity Project is an innovative and proactive measure intended to be implemented in a phased manner, starting with initial project coverage of six small to medium towns.

The overall control of the EcoCity Project rests with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India while the planning & coordination of the project is the purview of the Central Pollution Control Board. GTZ plays a key role in providing technical support for ensuring high quality results and improved urban sustainability management and also supports project development and facilitating strategic alliances. The implementation rests with the municipalities.

The EcoCity Project aims to improve the existing environment, addressing comprehensively to those aspects that are causing the environmental damage. The focus of the project is pollution control, improvement of environmental quality, protection of environmental resources like rivers and lakes, improving sanitary conditions, improving the needed infrastructure and creating aesthetic environs in the chosen towns. The EcoCity Project is hoped to pave a way for transforming the identified project areas into places that are clean, orderly and sustainable.

The EcoCity Project has emphasis on custom made plans, designs and specifications that are harmonious with the town’s profile while ensuring sustenance of the interventions. The project structure includes preparation of proposals/plans for the identified project area, preparation of detailed project reports for the identified priority projects, documentation of “Environmental Indicators” and implementation of the identified projects. Broadly speaking, the areas that the project will impact can be divided into:

• Environmental Quality: Bringing down air and water pollution is a primary concern. Conservation of natural resources, improved sanitation, waste management and reduced water-borne diseases are the other important aspects.
• Socio-economic Aspects: The EcoCity Project is hoped to help in improving the living conditions of the people while also helping in improved tourism and increased revenues for the municipalities.
• Recycling: Reducing of wastes, recycling of materials and reuse of products are important aspects that would gather momentum, while municipal solid waste management system would be improved.
• Urban Design: Urban areas will be designed to have pedestrian friendly zones, clean and green open spaces and parks. The green canopy in the project areas would not only be maintained but also be increased.
• Transportation: Pedestrian pathways would be created to ensure safe access to sites such as temples and tourist spots. Parking facilities would be developed and road surface improved especially to suit the barefooted pedestrians. Traffic is to be restricted in congested areas and service lanes are to be properly integrated to place sewers, storm water drains and cables.
• Urban Management: Improved urban management through introduction of urban sustainability management systems, including facilitating networking with European towns, is yet another target of the Project.

The EcoCity Project is targeted to bring in visible environmental improvement through implementation of a set of identified projects.