Former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on Tuesday stressed the need to have carbon-free cities across the globe for happy and healthy living of citizens.
Delivering the keynote address at the plenary session of the World Metropolis Congress that is currently on at the Hitex in the city, Dr Kalam wanted the delegates, gathered for the conference here, to deliberate on building carbon-neutral and fossil-free urban conglomerations which should look like ‘shining vessels’. “To have carbon-neutral cities is my dream,” he said and fondly hoped that the participants will focus more on building such urban areas.
“Whether smart cities or over-smart cities, the urban areas should be places for healthy living,” he observed. “And, healthy living is possible only if we adopt methods of generating solar power and create non-carbonised environment,” he added.
With growing migration to urban areas and the migration , “we are facing various challenges to create a clean environment. You are all expert urban planners, who assembled here, should deliberate on building healthy cities and your deliberations will go a long way to develop the urban areas for healthy living,” he noted.
Besides, the cities should reflect their basic culture; he said and pointed out that Hyderabad city, which is now hosting the prestigious world conference, reflects the glory of the integrated culture. Hyderabad has accumulations of various cultures and this should be preserved while planning the future satellite townships.
Recalling his last week experience when he visited the planned city of Chandigarh, the former President of India said Chandigarh was built by a Swiss architect and an expert urban planner. There are several points that can be learnt from Chandigarh. He fondly hoped that the ongoing conference will mainly focus on finding solutions for the future challenges the urban areas are likely to face.
Dr Kalam quoted the example of Naggarapatta, a town in Maharashtra near Pune, where 126 farmers have pooled 400 acres of land and developed residential and commercial projects by forming a private company to yield the benefits. People across the globe should emulate them, he added.
Professor of MIT, Boston, Carlo Ratti gave a power point presentation on senseable city while Mayor Johannesburg Parks Tau focused on initiatives taken up by Johannesburg municipality. Dr Saraswat acted as a moderator while Ahmed Babu, GHMC Special Commissioner, GHMC, proposed a vote of thanks. GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar also participated in the proceedings. (INN)