City Level Rain Water Harvesting and Water Recycling: Workshop

We often talk of taking steps to harvest rainwater (by tapping rainwater on roofs o store at ground level plastic tanks and pumping up back to roof)  or recycling grey water (using double plumbing to recycle toilet water to flush further  for flushing, washing or gardening) at the house scale.

For a planned town like New Town, it may be possible to scale up both activities to the city level.

The entire New Town has a network of box drains for draining off rain water from roads. These converge ultimately to a canal (like the link canal or pass-khal in Action Area 1, for example) and a Drainage Pumping Station (DPS) pumps out the water to the Bagjola Canal of Irrigation Department that ultimately takes it to the sea. The possibility I'm asking my engineers and planners to explore is as follows: can the DPS send the water to the nearby Tarulia raw water reservoirs where water from the 6ft pipes from Hoogly river will be brought in? In that case, we will save ourselves the cost and energy needed to pump in water from a 11 km distant source. We will also be able to supply additional water into the distribution channels.

For waste water too, there are Sewage Treatment Pumps (STPs) all over various locations of New Town. After treatment, the waste water is pumped out to bheries or canals. There is the possibility of using the treated water, with a second stage purification, to use for gardening (think of water needs of plants of Eco Park/ tea garden/ chilren's parks, greenery on medians) or in community toilets (think of Pay & Use toilets at Eco Park / Rabindra Tirtha/ Convention Centre etc) for flushing and washing.

I have advised Mr Debashis Banerjee, EE PHED to make out a basic concept note / discussion paper within the month. Thereafter we can have a technical discussion involving engineers, planners and experts.

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Clippings:

Khabar 365 dt 18 Oct 2015

Anandabazar dt 18 Oct 2015

Abz dt 18 Oct 2015

Bartaman dt 18 Oct 2015

Asian Age dt 18 Oct 2015

Motor Vehicles of New Town to be Registered at Salt Lake from 2nd November 2015

In terms of a notification just issued bearing no 3902-WT/3M-51/2010 dated 15.10.2015 it has been agreed by Transport Department, on the request of NKDA, that vehicles of New Town should be registered in PVD office at Salt Lake rather than in Barasat. with effect from 2nd November 2015. This was a long-standing demand of the residents of New Town.

Today, an Expression of Interest has been published for procurement of three electric buses for New Town. The link is http://www.wbhidcoltd.com/uploads/tender/Tender_913.pdf
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Clippings:

Pratidin dt 17 Oct 2015

Khabar 365 dt 17 Oct 2015

Khabar 365 dt 17 Oct 2015

ToI dt 17 Oct 2015

Bartaman dt 17 Oct 2015

Convergence Meeting for four smart cities: 911 of Kolkata?

This morning, we had a meeting of all four Smart Cities with different departments to ensure convergence of initiatives. Senior officers of Home, Health, Transport, Power, IT, Webel, CII, Nasscom and Consultants attended. Mission Director Sutanu Kar and Ms Shivani Raina, ADCP Bidhannagar were also there. We requested write-ups by first week of November of Departmental activities on these four smart cities on smart solutions under Digital India, Megacity (Safe City) Programme, National Urban Health Mission, m-Governance, urban mobility, Solar City, Intelligent Transport Systems and other Central / State Govt schemes. We were told of different initiatives in citizen centric activities such as call-an-ambulance,  complaint-to-police or call to fire brigade etc and decided that a common control and command room system would be required so that in times of emergency like car-crash-with-fire, all agencies can move with speed and accuracy, somewhat like the 911 system of USA.

We also discussed about city-wide wi-fi systems with free wi fi in public hot spots in a PPP mode.
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A Ficci-FLO (Ficci Ladies' Organisation) meet was held in Utsari Glass Hall this afternoon. Members toured Eco Park and discussed how they can associate with Smart City activities of New Town. A photo:

Smart City discussions in New Town with FLO members
16 Oct 2015

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Clipping:

Free Wi Fi during Pujas

We decided today to give free Wi Fi during 19-22 Oct (Sashthi to Dasami) at Golf Putting Court  near Gate no 6 of Eco Park and at First Rotary (near Eastern High) (Up to 1 GB). At first rotary, there will be a smart camp too.
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Clippings:

ET Bangalore dt 14 Oct 2015

Times of India dt 14 Oct 2015

ToI dt 13 Oct 2015

Khabar 365 dt 13 Oct 2015

Khabar 365 dt 14 Oct 2015

Ei Samay dt 14 Oct 2015

Bangalore Road Show

From the dais of FICCI road show at Bangalore
(Top and below)

We had three road shows today at Bangalore:

1. With AmCham over breakfast at Hotel Taj Gateway
2. With FICCI at Taj Gateway
3. With ET at Leela


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Clippings:

Ei Samay dt 13 Oct 2015

Sports in New Town

1. Ice Skating on imported artificial ice surface to start next Monday (18th) at Eco Park Gate 6
2. Swimming Pool in Action Area 1 to start in December
3. Golf (Putting on 9 hole course) started near Gate 6
4. Football and Cricket fields in operation
5. Tennis and Volley Ball court to be commissioned in November
6. Cycling at Eco Park in Operation
7. Kayaking, Zorbing, Paddle Boating and Water Scooter in operation in Eco Park
8.Roller skating practice is in operation at Eco Park

Yesterday, a group of 300 odd skaters, roller skaters both single line and double line) did aday long competition. I was invited at the closing ceremony. A picture:

Sunday afternoon at Clock Tower Plaza
New town; 11 Oct 2015

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Clippings:

Khabar 365 dt 12 Oct 2015

Khabar 365 dt 12 Oct 2015

Times of India dt 12 Oct 2015

Asian Age dt 12 Oct 2015

Anandabazar dt 12 Oct 2015

EOI for First Theme City

Today, Uttam City at Baruipur has been officially launched.
It is an 86 acre plot. Its theme is Wellness and Health with focus on Senior citizens. The detailed document can be seen at http://wbhidcoltd.com/uploads/tender/Tender_899.pdf . e Auction will be held on 30 Nov 2015. Here is the EOI notice:

Expression of Interest,Notice
Times of India dt 11 Oct 2015

 Other than Baruipur, there will be other theme cities too that will be launched shortly. We will hold a series of roadshows, the first of which will be held on Tuesday 13th October. Here is an announcement that will appear in few Bangalore based dailies:

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Clipping:

Asian Age dt 11 Oct 2015

Tea from Eco Park

I took tea made out of tea trees of Eco Park today. A packet was presented to me by Mr Kallol Datta, CMD Andrew Yule. It tasted like green tea. A picture:

Tea from tea trees grown in Eco Park

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Clippings:

Anandabazar dt 10 Oct 2015

Ajkal dt 10 Oct 2015

Khabar 365 dt 10 Oct 2015

Khabar 365 dt 10 Oct 2015

Singapore Delegation

A delegation consisting of Grace Chiew, Wong so San, Khor Aik Lan, Amita Mehta, Tay Lian Cheu Dr Uma Maheswaran and Nirup Jayanth met me at UD yesterday. They talked of their expertise and interest in Urban Planning and Mobility, Parks and Leisures and other specialities. I told them of our plans for 4 Smart Cities, 6 Theme Cities, Financial and Legal Hub and Monorail Project.

A photo:

8 Oct 2015, Nagarayan

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A photo at EmByPass:

Hon'ble CM inaugurating Paroma-Park Circus Flyover and
10 projects of New Town: 9 Oct 2015

Clipping:

Ei Samay dt 9 Oct 2015

Smart Puja

Today, I wrote a letter to all Puja Committees of New Town to use the festival time to engage family and friends in our effort to catapult New Town Kolkata into the future.

Here is an extract:

"   We have to make a Smart City Plan by November 2015.  We need to engage all residents, visitors, guests, tourists, their family and friends during the Sharodutsav  this year so that we can make a unique strategic plan that will catapult New Town into a future-ready international city.
I would call upon you to hold debates, quizzes and events to elicit opinion on what would make your locality a truly smart neighbourhood and what smart solutions can work in your own area.  A simple flipboard, post-it-sticky notes or even a register for comments at the Puja Pandel would be okay.  I myself would visit your “Smart New Town” camp if I get the information. And whatever you do, please upload photographs,short videos and write-ups at NKDA’s facebook (facebok.com/nkdamar)/ twitter (twitter.com/nkdamar) / e-mail (smartcity@nkda.in) / WhatsApp  (   + 91 78909 03729)   "

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Labanhrad Sanbad

Clippings:

(Top and below) Times of India dt 7 Oct 2015

 

Ideas Camp

The Ideas Camp organised at Delhi's J W Marriott was a great effort. Representatives from 100 cities assembled and experts from across India and abroad gave inputs. There was a plenary session in the morning and breakout sessions thereafter.

Few takeaways:
1. Cities are like DNAs of people. The are similar but each has a different identity
2. Strategic planning doesn't necessarily mean long term: it can also be for tomorrow, next week, next month, next year or next decade.
3. Technical solutions without citizen communication or political back-up will fail. Behavioural changes cannot happen without citizen engagement. And citizens could mean a commuter or a tourist too.
4. Smart solutions doesn't have to be technological / ICT based: it can be smarter way of doing things.
5. Pan City solutions can look at such areas which impacts a large number of goals like MDGs.
6. Management of public spaces - including smart roads - is a key component in respect od Smart solutions.
7. Regulatory changes like increasing FSI progressively as population swells (I thought of our Densification of Cities approach in New Town through Transit Oriented Development) or zero approaches (Zero Waste etc) make good impacts
8. Projects should be chosen through the 80:20 route: benefit to most (80%) with low effort / costs (20%)

Just before the plenary session started: 6 Oct 2015

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Clipping:

ToI dt 5 Oct 2015

G2B with AmCham India

We had a Government to Business meeting this morning with collaboration of American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham India). This was held in Banga Bhavan Circular Road complex. We had with us Mr Dillon Bannerjee, Minister Counsellor for Commercial Affairs from the US Embassy in Delhi, Mr Ajay Singha, Executive Director, AmCham India, Mr Sanjeev Gupta MD Accenture Strategy, Mr Asif Ahmed of 3M, Mr Avinash Ramachandra of DELL, Mr Pawan Gupta of AECOM, Mr Samit Ray of United Technologies, IBM, Mr Rajul Mehrotra of IBM and others. On our side besides me, Mr Sudip Datta of ILFS, Mr RD Meena, Resident Commissioner and Mr Deepak Gupta of Transport Department were present.

We presented ways in which US Companies may partner with the four smart cities of West Bengal. There was detailed discussions and it was agreed that the companies would express their preference for one smart city or the other and that a meeting with the ULBs and Consultants of all the four smart cities would be organised in October itself.

I also highlighted that the opportunity in respect of the 6 theme townships may also be exploited since all of these high end towns would be sure to use smart solutions. I even suggested that like CII (Asansol), FICCI (Siliguri), BCCI (Kalyani), CREDAI (Baruipur) AmCham may also handhold any of the theme cities and especially Howrah (Dumurjala).

A picture by Deepak Gupta on my iPhone:

Just before the meeting with AmCham India

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I participated very briefly at Vigyan Bhavan a workshop on Public Spaces for All. I told Chairman HUDCO that we were doing great work on public spaces at Eco Park in New Town Kolkata. I met Chairman National Housing Bank there and proposed if NHB could form a partnership with Govt of West Bengal to help finance the investment plans of the six theme cities. I requested Transaction Advisor BUIDL to send a formal letter. I met Ms Nandita Chatterjee, Secretary MoHUPA too.

I discussed with Mission Director Smart Cities MoUD about the methodology to be adopted for evaluating the Smart City proposals.

Smart Saturday: Urban Gardening

There was a great turn-out from citizens even this week, in spite of municipal elections in neighbouring Salt Lake and Rajarhat, Many came with written suggestions. We talked at length on Urban Farming that uses coir of coconut instead of soil, translucent solar PV panels for roof-garden shed, compost of kitchen waste and recycled water to produce high-value vegetables such as cherry tomatoes. We decided to do a pilot scheme through NKDA at markets 1B and 1C.

Smart Saturday at NKDA : 3 Oct 2015

Photo of Urban Garden

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Clipping:

Hindustan Times dt 3 Oct 2015

Golf Starts

A little while ago, we soft-launched the nine-hole putting facility at Eco Park. This is located near Butterfly Garden / Food Park and one can enter through Gate 6, near Deer Park road.

We got a trainer. We got clubs / golf balls. We got the holes installed and numbered. We got the flags. And we planned for other features too.

We will get a video on a TV screen in the demonstration centre. A trainer will be available. Anyone can try one round at an introductory offer of Rs 50. Golf ball and club will be given free initially. Time: 12 noon- 4 pm on all days except Monday when Eco Park is closed. More features will be added gradually. For any qureies regarding participation, please contact Mr Partha Ghosh, Curator Eco Park at 98361-09962

Based on postings here and on Facebook where I'd indicated an email, I got several queries. One  them, Mr Arun Majumdar, an IT professional and a citizen of Australia, actually came at 12 noon today at the putting course. I requested him to be a member of an Advisory Committee on Golf at Eco Park.

Others present today were Neil Law (Golpher) and his little daughter, Khokan (Golfer, trainer), Partha Sarathi Ghosh (Curator), Suman Neogy (GM Hidco) and Biswajit Paul (Correspondent)

Golfing in Eco Park: 2 Oct 2015

Two vidoos, just uploaded:

https://youtu.be/mILFWAwJ

https://youtu.be/Q6QepQqU-Uc

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Clippings:

Anandabazar dt 1 Oct 2015

Times of India dt 1 Oct 2015