INFRASTRUCTURE IS PRE REQUISITE FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT – GURGAON MODEL

INTRODUCTION:

It is a well known fact that Gurgaon is an excellent example of NCRTownship in Haryana, wherein Haryana Government’s leading pragmatic step of involving private sector in its development has been very successful. Other States are adopting Haryana model of Housing development, which does not cost a penny to the exchequer. The experiment is leading to transforming Gurgaon’s urban landscape of international appeal. Gurgaon with a present population of 4 lacs is being planned for a population of 16 lacs in the year 2011.

However, availability of adequate Water Supply, Wide Roads/Flyovers, Central Sewerage Disposal system, Uninterrupted Electricity, CommunityBuildings and proper Drainage system are as important for a developing Township, as its connectivity and public Transport system, to attract housing and their faster habitation. We shall discuss them item-wise briefly in respect of Gurgaon case, in public interest.

  1. ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY:

Government authorities deserve praise for arranging Canal Water Supply by constructing 70 Km. long Canal from Basaii/Sonepat for city’s Water Supply, because neither under ground water supply through tube-wells could suffice/survive, nor complete Underground Water belt of Gurgaon was having sweet water (e.g. oldest Sector developed by HUDA i.e Sector 4 etc. in Gurgaon had brackish water).

The canal was constructed to bring 75 cusecs of water needed for 2001Master Plan population, but we have been given to understand that hardly 35% of the same is reaching the head work site, because of pilfridges on the way as well as water vapourizing in transit. The result is that various colonies under development since early eighties are yet to receive adequate Canal Water Supply. Obviously, the situation will go totally beyond control when optimum designed population/housing comes up. The solution lies in initiating/arranging additional box drain canal to carry around 100 cusecs of water for the purpose.

  1. WIDE ROADS/FLYOVERS:

The Road net work planned in the Gurgaon Development Plan is generally very nice, but is needs to be implemented and supplemented with greater speed. The metalled road widths wheresoever constructed over a decade back need to be widened and strengthened in view of the increasing traffic density and habitation growth in colonies/sectors. Heavy traffic jams on the National Highway as well as Mehrauli-Gurgaon road need serious tackling for immediate Flyovers, additional roads and road widenings/strenthenings. It is imperative to note that housing in Trans-yamuna colonies including Noida (another NCR township in UP) picked up after additional Bridges were constructed over Yamuna and wide roads provided in Noida.

  1. CENTRAL SEWERAGAE DISPOSAL SYSTEM:

It has already been taken around twenty years for the Central Sewerage Treatment Plant to became functional for some of the new colonies, but there are still many new colonies whose sewerage system has yet to be connected or made functional, to attract faster growth of housing habitaiton. HUDA has laid around 30 Kms. of trunk sewers and laying of approx. 73 Kms. trunk sewers is in progress. Only 32 mld. treatment plant has been completed recently and 68 mld. plant is under construction. Faster development to ensure making all laid sewers of various colonies and sectors is need of the hour.

  1. UNINTERUPATED ELECTRICITY:

There is no independent source of generation exclusively for Gurgaon. Five Power lines are being fed from Haryana and two from Delhi feeder lines. Transmission and distribution losses are 20 to 30%. Uninterrupted power supply is still a dream for the Gurgaon residents and industries. Lot of Power cuts and Electricity disruptions stand in the way of faster growth of housing/habitation as well as industries in the region. As rightly brought out in the Haryana Government Gazette dated 21.5.2002, there is an urgent need to review and revise the power planning and concept of design of transmission lines and the substations lest the city should soon land up in chaos and wasted investments. Demand has overtaken supply because the average rate of increase rate of 5 – 7%. This certainly needs urgent attention to reverse the trend. The present demand with restrictions on release and running of load is 300 MVA which is expected to swell to 1000 MVA by 2010. Need of the hour is immediate control over theft losses which are to the tune of around 30% and bifurcation of over loaded 11 KVA transformers; specially when State Electricity Board has since come out of red and is reportedly making profits of over 1000 crores.

  1. PROPER DRAINAGE SYSTEM:

Construction of master drains along Sector Roads has received very little attention of authorities. The Drainage system of the city is yet to be connected to Najafgarh Drain. This was planned over twenty years back, but construction of pucca drains upto Najafgarh Drain is still to be completed. Several colonies/sectors developed 15 – 18 years back do not have drains along sector roads. Faster completion of all external drains along all sector roads besides rain water harvesting pits/systems wherever feasible, is important and should receive proper attention of authorities.

  1. COMMUNITY BUILDINGS/FACILITIES:

Large number of sites for community buildings like schools, dispensaries, community centres, clubs etc. have been carved out and are under construction in various sectors and colonies. However, provision of city level facilities of University, Govt. General Hospitals, Snarker system for high rise buildings fire fighting, garbage dumping grounds, larger parking spaces for Buses etc. and upgraded Railway Station/Rail halts with sufficient parking spaces needed for and along with M.R.T.S do need immediate attention of authorities.

Also a proper solid waste treatment sytem for around 100 tons of the solid wastes generated daily needs urgent attention because of ever increasing habitation creating proper system of composting and anaerobic digestion treatment after proper segregation of waste at source must receive urgent attention of authorities. This 100 tons of solid waste is capable of generating 7000 M3 biogas which is equivalent to 8 MW of Power. Also this will generate 30 tons of organic manure daily.

  1. PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM:

To ensure mass housing and habitation and growth of industries, an efficient public Transport system is a must. On one hand, it reduces fuel consumption, which is a scarce commodity and on the other hand, it reduces pollution in the environment, besides its direct effect on faster growth of housing/habitation and industries.

When compared to Noida, Gurgaon has been lacking in providing free flow of Transport between Delhi-Gurgaon, whereas Noida, which is also a NCR Town enjoys totally free flow of Transport between Delhi and Noida.

Besides ensuring free flow of Public Transport system i.e Buses, Three wheelers, Taxies between Delhi-Gurgaon, it is imperative to link all the Delhi Metro/MRTS with Gurgaon (and better upto Manesar), so that people are attracted to develop more housing, habitation and industries in and around Gurgaon. Haryana Government is requested to take connectivity of Gurgaon with Delhi seriously and arrange faster progress in the matter.

CONCLUSION:

We are sure, the above suggestions, if implemented seriously, will ensure Gurgaon to come and stay on the International Map as has been the partially cherished dream of Haryana Government. Haryana Government has already earned the well deserved appreciation of achieving private participation in development works and we pray for State’s further and faster prosperity, in the near future.