Sustainable urban development and its role in combating climate change took the spotlight in the latest episode of the What India Needs! podcast. Hosted by media entrepreneur and author Shutapa Paul, the episode featured Dr. TV Ramachandra, an environmental scientist at the Indian Institute of Science, who shared his insights on industrialisation, urban planning, and resource sustainability.
India’s rapid industrialisation, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure projects have significantly impacted its green cover, with forested areas decreasing by nearly a third between 1930 and 2013, according to data from the National Remote Sensing Centre and ISRO. Addressing this alarming trend, Dr. Ramachandra underscored the importance of preserving natural resources while pursuing economic growth. “They are increasing industrialisation to support the gross domestic product (GDP), but GDP at what cost? If you have money but no water and no air to breathe, what is the point of GDP? What you need is a sustainable solution. You need to sustain the natural resources, and at the same time, plan the city,” he said.
The podcast shed light on India’s water crisis, with nearly 600 million people facing high to extreme water scarcity and 70% of water unfit for consumption, as reported by NITI Aayog. Paul suggested that easing the strain on major metros could be achieved by creating employment hubs in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. “Making tier 2 and tier 3 towns hubs of jobs would be good for all, but we see few companies doing that. Tier 2 and tier 3 have so much consumer demand, but there are very few who are actually setting up businesses here,” she remarked.
Dr. Ramachandra proposed a cluster-based development model to address these urban challenges. He advocated for industries to be located based on regional resources, reducing illogical urbanisation and fostering sustainable growth. “We need to plan industries based on the resources available in a region. For instance, steel industries should be located where there is an abundance of iron ore rather than spreading them throughout the country,” he explained.
Highlighting the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in accelerating infrastructure projects, Dr. Ramachandra noted that tasks previously taking years can now be completed within months. Research by PwC UK suggests that AI applications in agriculture, water, energy, and transport could contribute up to $5.2 trillion to the global economy by 2030, offering significant scope for sustainable development.
Watch the full podcast here:
The discussion also touched upon the role of initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which aims to add 30 GW of solar capacity through residential rooftop installations, potentially reducing 720 million tonnes of CO2 emissions over 25 years.
Dr. Ramachandra emphasised integrating green belts and urban forests into city planning to mitigate the environmental impacts of urbanisation. Leveraging advanced technologies for resource monitoring, he outlined a vision for resilient, sustainable cities that balance ecological health and economic growth.
The episode served as a comprehensive blueprint for addressing India’s urban challenges, combining insights from environmental science and actionable strategies for sustainable development. By delving into industrialisation’s effects, the need for balanced urban planning, and climate resilience, What India Needs! offered listeners an engaging and hopeful perspective on shaping a greener future for India.
Dr. TV Ramachandra is a distinguished researcher and academician with a Ph.D. in Ecology and Energy from the Indian Institute of Science. He is the Coordinator of the Energy and Wetlands Research Group and Convener of the Environmental Information System at the Centre for Ecological Sciences.
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