Page 64 - Shashwat - Restoring Green Economy

Feature

62

Sustainable

Urbanscape

and Growing

Relevance

of Green

Infrastructure

In this article, Dr Pranab J Patar foregrounds the relevance of green
infrastructure (GI) in urban centres of the Indian subcontinent. With climate
change risks, global warming threats, and unsustainable practices in an age
of globalization, the utility of GI has assumed a new meaning altogether. Our Figure 1: Urban Green Space, Noida
ecosystem is in danger; disappearing waterbodies and diminishing green spaces
are serious threats we must address immediately. In this regard, GI is the only
solution that must be adopted soonest, the author argues in this timely piece.

»
oday, the disappearance micro-climatic changes to name a
of green and blue spaces is few, the occurrences of which are Dr Pranab J Patar is an award-
Ta major cause of concern becoming frequent in most urban winning environment and
for both rural and urban areas. centres with each passing day. By sustainability professional.
For most urban centres, the crisis destroying these natural areas, we Currently, he is Chief Executive
is more pronounced given the are letting our guard down against of Global Foundation for
increasing anthropogenic pressure climate change risks. Advancement of Environment
in the cities and towns (Figure 1). – a Delhi-based Indo-American
The way things are in the so-called Though the term ‘green initiative – where he leads a
developed spaces, industrial infrastructure’ (GI) might sound number of initiatives towards
expansion and concretization have alien to many, waterbodies and finding innovative and enduring
taken over a large part of natural green areas are common features solutions to some of the key
and open spaces leaving very little in most cityscapes. As per socio-environmental challenges
for the non-human urban dwellers. historical evidence, the evolution
of GI in the Indian subcontinent through multi-stakeholder,
The fallout is already evident in started around as early as 3000 trans-disciplinary, and hands-on
terms of increased waterlogging, BC during the Indus Valley approaches. He can be reached at
groundwater shortage (due to lack Civilization. Gradually, several pranab.patar@gmail.com.
of aquifer recharge), increasing other cities/building complexes
urban heat island effects, and established around the period