Tigers, Leopards & Us !

When you drink water, remember where the mountain spring is…Chinese proverb.

Frds,

Recently there was a photograph on Facebook of a leopard beaten by the angry mob & faces in the mob were clearly enjoying beating the trapped animal to death! And many FB users, nature lovers cursed the mob for the act as obiviously the scene was like stab in heart for any wild life lover!

Then there was news in papers about a tigress death near forest research center at Chndrapur district in Maharashtra State. The tigress was with two cubs who become orphan by the death of their mother. One cub was found near the body of the mother & another got lost in forest & as per news the forest officials were searching for the same. Here NGO’s & nature lovers claimed that it was a poacher’s act & the tigress was electrocuted & died out of the electric wire trap laid by poachers. Whereas forest officials didn’t gave any clear statement but quoted vague things like it might have been accident & looking at the injuries the tigress has been hit by some speeding vehicle on road nearby.

And very recently there was news in paper about death of a male tiger again in buffer zone i.e. fringe area outside of Tadoba tiger reserve & the body is found after 7-8 days after the death is what media claimed! This also is said as poachers act but forest department said it’s natural death by aging whereas onlookers & NGO’s said the tiger wasn’t that old to die because of aging!

Well people like us who live in Metro’s i.e. Pune/Mumbai  either mostly ignore such news or post our concern in FB or Twitter & forget about the incidences till again we came across any such news. Even on FB there is usual comment war & blaming & that’s it! Many will say what more we can do & its not our job let the concern people find the solution. I have come across many who even go to argue at such level that what difference it makes if few tigers die or you don’t see sparrows or birds in cities! Aren’t there enough problems we are facing like traffic, water, drainage, home prices! Why to beat our heads over animals & forests which are miles away from the cities & let’s focus on our own problems! I really don’t have proper counter argument when such points are raised except questions like does we as human beings who considers our self as most powerfully developed brains have got no responsibility towards other species that are not developed like us? Isn't being powerful means taking care of others who are weak in comparison to us? And if answer is yes then what are we doing to perform our responsibility towards this cause? Leave apart the platonic ideas like how the world will be without music of birds & fragrance of trees & butterflies etc but shear as our duty towards the weaker ones what are we doing for them?

Some where the answer lays with all of us even those who don’t indulge in such arguments & turns a blind eye on any of the argument. Now here many will say what we as individual can do when there is government for such things? This answer is worst than the people who are enjoying to kill the trapped leopard because what is government but us!

Going case by case yes the faces in the snap killing the leopard may seem to be enjoying the act but then it’s easy to criticize them by sitting in our office space or secured home in city & post of FB. Imagine our self living in hutments in rural areas on fringe of forests where leopards & tigers are roaming around & can lift your kid playing outside of the home or killing your cows which are source of your income which is mere enough to make your family survive.  Then you will understand, this mob considers them as their worst enemy & that’s why if at all you see joy on their faces while killing the entrapped leopards then it’s because they have finally got their enemy! No fault of the poor leopards, I am putting just facts.

Case two & three are bit similar, a tigress with cubs have too many restrictions. She has to protect them from male tiger that can kill them or even smaller predators like wild dogs as well she has to feed them.  And for that she has to roam around to get food for herself as well for the cubs. Similarly tiger leaving nation park & moving in fringe area is not a new thing for the people living around national park as the boundaries are made by human beings & for us to follow & not for the animals.

Exactly this is where the clash of human & animals come. Not only tigers & leopards but the nuisance to the adjoining people’s establishments is from dears, Neel-guy & wild bores too. As their herds can destroy the crops in one night leaving the farmers yearly crop gone for a toss! Naturally you can’t expect these people being friendly all the time with forest or animals. And what they do to protect their assets & life? They destroy the forest i.e. habitats of animals as well they make death traps for the animals killing them by every mean available from electrocuting too crude bombs too poisoning their food as well water! In addition to this when its animal like tiger who’s every part gets sold of there is entity like poachers! These poachers take advantage of knowledge of local people & their hatred for the animals because of nuscence they are causing & use them as assistant for poaching. All this is very logical & known facts! Forests are getting encroached by urban development around them which again is need of time as the ever increasing population needs homes & food & for that land is required.

Here is where the main problem is, whose has first claim on the land, humans or forests? I am saying forest because its not one specie like Tiger or Leopard we are talking about, they are just one link of the entire life cycle but right from the termites too tiger there are thousands of species of other living creature which are associated with the term forest & we have to give them their space. And this is job of human being. As we have different segments of society to whom various responsibilities have been delegated & the incidences mentioned above is indication of failure of the system. For example why the leopards have to come out of forest & hunt easier target like human being? Why the tigress has to move away from the dense forest & come on the road to get hit by speeding vehicle, even if the claim of forest department is accepted that it was an accident? Why the tiger deaths couldn’t notice till 7-8 days when there is full fledged forest department staff deputed over there?

Asking questions is easy but providing solutions & executing them is the main key which all of us forget. Need of the time is define the land use & follow it strictly. Enforce the concern departments to do the job & like in private industry periodical audit of results has to be there & failing in outcome strict & immediate action has to be taken on concerned people, may they be government or private. Even the political interference in such matters has to be stopped & that can happen only by public pressure that is aware for the cause.

There was news about forest department not having even enough cameras because of which the animal census has been getting delayed! Such things have to be planned in financial budgets & given priority. Any land use planning around the forest areas the final say has to be with forest department & not with urban development & the development as well regional plans has to be made jointly by these two departments. Right now no one knows where the boundary of buffer zone meets with boundary of regional plan. Shifting of affected human settlements due to forest has to be enforces & with due compensation & fast as time is the essence in such matters. Same is applicable for the compensation of damage due to animal attack on life or on crops or cattle's. Its not the just amount but the time goes in getting that amount makes people angry with the system & as they cant do any thing to the system that anger triggers on the poor animals or they find easy way to join hands with poachers & get read of the animal. The forest department should have enough funds to have informants like the crime branch of police or RAW of home department has which will make them aware before any killing happens.  Also ensure that the staff working in forest department loves the forest & not just does it for the sake of salary. Like a good teacher & bad teacher, both gets paid for teaching yet it’s the good teacher who makes the difference & converts an average student in to better one, the person who loves forest can do the difference in conservation. There has to be as I mentioned earlier, auditing system with the performance & generous rewards also. At the same time involve the people who are interested in contributing the cause of conservation. What I have observed is forest department's many official's have very closed mind about taking outsiders help or assistance, they may be right with their experience but in Metro’s many NGO’s have worked well with the local bodies & the results are good for the city. Similar things can be implemented at forest for better conservation. As like human population if animal’s population we want to grow then we will need space as well infrastructure for the same & for that we will need expertise also. Try to develop the areas around the forests more sustainable with infrastructure like irrigation, roads & transportation, medical & educational facilities & controlled tourism  which will make the people beneficiary & they will realize it’s because of the forest they are getting benefited & then only they will love the forest & make friends with it. Rather special ECONOMIC packages has to be worked out for people living around forests!

As the proverb says when we enjoy our luxuries we should be responsible enough to know what the source of them is! 

And instead cursing the government don’t forget  each of us has got government in us, we can at least raise our voice & speak what we feel about all such issues as well think what you can do to support the system. Like right from donating many household things to the people residing in or around the forests  to actually go & visit such places & understand the actual facts about them so many things can be done. After all every major change has started from some individual effort & you can be that change, mind it!

--
Sanjay Deshpande

Sanjeevani Dev.

Envo-Power Committee, Credai, Pune

Please do visit my blog to know about our philosophy at Sanjeevani !

http://visonoflife.blogspot.com/

Social Side of Sanjeevani !

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65629150@N06/sets/72157628805700569/

For any of your complaints about city, log in at link below

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New Public Body & Expectations of the City!

Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out...Stephen Covey.

Well by this time the elections would have been over & the scene on the horizon of the city's public body i.e. PMC ruling must be clear, as when I started writing the subject Prachar was in full bloom with every candidate busy in telling how they will bring a smooth, trouble free life for the citizen of this very city. Like every Producer/Director of any new releasing movie always says about his movie that “It's different from other movies”, here also every one is promising about the change they will bring in for the city! Agreed our column isn't for elections poll or opinion or political views but unfortunately this side of the society is not only very much closely associated with the infrastructure as well the growth of the city but with entire character of the city! Now, one will ask what is character of the city? Well it’s the way one look at the city & feel the city. Not many years ago the city is known as "Pensioner's Paradise" so the character was a cool, cozy laid back attitude with very less hustle of traffic & movement on streets, where the shops used to open up at 10 am & get closed for afternoon nap & by 8pm the whole city used to get stand still! Slowly with passing years we changed our character as "Education Capitol" with increasing number of students from all part of the country till recent times where as now we call our self proudly as IT as well Industrial Hub & even with growing number of auto industries  "Detroit of West"!

Remember, no tags come free of cost! And adhering to the same not only the city has changed the character but the needs also have changed & here the election of Public Body comes in picture when related to city growth. Home is the very basic & primary need of any citizen & as the city is getting the tag which is related to giving employment to many new comers naturally this very need of homes is also on constant increase is a fact. Question is not about how is Real Estate segment doing question is, are we in position to provide the homes to thousands of needy ones? And sadly the answer is no! Here again many will say its greed of the Real Estate Developers which is not allowing to make the home prices in budget of needy ones! Partly yes but in any failure it’s never a single point reason especially when the subject is as complex as Home front. After all a city is not ruled by just developers but by the people & the public body they vote & the policies this public body makes! Here is where we have to look for fulfillment of our expectation. As these are the people to whom we have voted are going to make the policies which will be giving this city strength to stand for the character it has got!

The city needs good home & a good home is not only judged on the basis of cost or amenities or how much it will appreciate in future but a good home is the quality of life it's surrounding offers to the person living in it. And quality doesn't mean Italian Marble flooring or Luxurious Bath room Fittings , that any one can have as per his spending capacity. Quality of surrounding is to be felt by moving on the streets of the city, it has to be seen on the faces of the citizen & shared in their talks. Today we keep on reading about the expectations about the city from the citizens on all forums right from media to talk shows. Again agreed no one can fulfill all the expectations of the society but can at least try for it & the problem is people feel no one is even trying to fulfill their expectations! And what are the expectations? Surely no body is asking for the ride to moon but very basics like proper water, good public transport, clean roads, encroachment free foot paths & cycle tracks, affordable education & medical facilities are few of them. This no one can buy individually but it’s the outcome of the policies the rulers of the public body will decide & execute up on the same. This is the responsibility elected members will be carrying & to whom if not them the common man should look for? The people have voted for the expectations & these expectations will decide the faith of the character of the city in coming years.

Again not going in to politics yet can’t resist to mention that in the campaign there was a common tone by many that if they get single handed majority then they can make the difference! Here the common man may think how can doing good be a different agenda for different parties? Does the definition of a good city differs from person to person? At some extent it may, like going for Metro under the ground or over the ground but what about strengthening the existing public transport & making the road net work fast? Why the DP of the city has been kept at hold for so long & when passed yet issue which is of grave importance to the reducing Biodiversity within & around the city has been kept hanging? There are many vacant pockets in the newly (now even this term has become old)  acquired villages, so why the lands reserved for various purposes are not being acquired fast enough & developed for the purposes it has been reserved? How there can be difference in opinions for such cause? Why all the elected members can’t come together for fulfilling the expectations for what they have been elected? Here why can’t we forget the boundaries of the party & let subject of city development rules over their flags? Many may laugh at the innocence of this thought but these are the questions a common man keeps fighting as he knows their only lays the way to getting his dream fulfilled of having a small home with good surrounding & proper infrastructure that too at price affordable to his pocket! I think we all have that much right to ask such questions to those whom we have voted & elected!

I think the new body has a great responsibility as the city is undergoing lots of changes& coming years will be deciding what character we will have or go characterless? As it’s shocking that 40% of the population resides in slum which some 30 years back was unheard of in this city!  Also it doesn't mean that the lucky 60% who resides in proper form of home are happy with the infrastructure outside their home & have no complaints about the city. One can buy best furniture in his house by spending money but can’t get even a foot length drainage line outside of his building or get the piece of public road paved properly is a fact. That's job of public body & it’s a big responsibility as these millions of voters need roads & drainage & things like that & for that they will held the elected members only responsible! As making these policies fast & implement them is sure way to make the need of home for every citizen gets fulfilled. It may not be the only way but the more & more vacant land comes under proper purpose for which it has been reserved with evenly distributed infrastructure all around the city will surely help in balancing the home prices evenly. Or else the current situation is where all infrastructure is there the prices are way above budget because of the limitation of such lands & where prices are in budget there is no basic infrastructure like water & drainage leave apart social things like schools & medical facilities, so there no one can live happily. And in all such situation those who have home are facing problems like poor public transport, water shortage & many more are continuing to face the life cursing the city itself! Surely this is not the sign of a good city & if not acted immediately the picture is going to get deteriorated fast is writing on the wall! Hope our new rulers are able to read it! After all it's not just the people in the city individually but the expectations of the city in itself, is what matters! This is what the elected members have to realize while taking the charge of the city.

Agreed the situation isn't going to change in one night but remember this one night is made up of five years & its our job doesn't end by just voting once in five years! Like the quote says the job of making our leaders realize about the first things will be on ever, then only we can expect of materializing them in existence!

--
Sanjay Deshpande

Sanjeevani Dev.

Envo-Power Committee, Credai, Pune

Please do visit my blog to know about our philosophy at Sanjeevani !

http://visonoflife.blogspot.com/

Social Side of Sanjeevani !

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65629150@N06/sets/72157628805700569/

For any of your complaints about city, log in at link below

http://www.punecorporation.org/GRS/Complaint/LaunchComplaintCitizen.aspx

Think Green, Think Life

www.sanjeevanideve.com

Conserving Biodiversity in Urban Life!

It is that range of biodiversity that we must care for - the whole thing - rather than just one or two stars of ratings... David Attenborough.

We all have a terrace or balcony now a days to our flats, some more luckier have got garden also to their homes or flats! It's important how we utilize the space. Many a times its saddening to see that the terrace place is being used for dumping the surplus items in the house where as we can use the same place for some planters as not only they give a nice look but they can give shelter to many a species around. With increasing urbanization around which is a fact we are forgetting a major aspect & that is reducing habitat ie space for other species. Not many years ago the city has sighting of many birds right from "Bhardwaj" to "Bamni maina"  & even Bats at late evening time & now days we don't get to see even common Sparrow leave apart Bhardwaj! All we can see but pigeons that too pet types by few of the street people having them. The reason behind this phenomenon is trees are giving away for buildings & though there is new plantation it will take time tow grow at it fullest & not many trees planted newly are fit to accommodate the bird species around. Like a Chafa tree may look very nice & flowering but because of its leaf & branches arrangement no bird makes its nest on Chafa tree! New building does have trees planted but till the time those trees grows a life cycle got disturbed & broke. It will take many years to restore the same & see the birds back in city & this will need a combined effort from all segments of the society. Local body's like PMC are doing there bit by making gardens & builders have been mandatory to plant one big tree per 80 sq m of plot area but then what is an individuals role in this? We  all must try to promote the plantation in whichever way & conserve the biodiversity is one sure way we can do.

Recently I had been to Singapore & as I have always mentioned the city never stops in trying hard to conserve the nature. In one such effort they have made a largest confined bird park naming Jurong Bird Park. Here they have made special bird feeder trays so as the birds can drink water & eat their food  from visitors making the common man expose to various species & creating a sense of belonging towards the birds over there. I have seen similar trays in many of the Singapore residences in their balconies amongst planters. Important is they understand the need of conserving biodiversity in concrete jungle & are doing their bit & that's why in cities like Singapore you never feel getting lost in gray shade of buildings but both i.e  trees giving shelter to birds & buildings sheltering human beings survives together!

After coming back from my trip the first thing I did was called my fabricator & got a bird feeder designed which will have a water bowl & grain bowl & got it fixed at my office terrace & amazing results its giving! With numbers of birds coming to feed as well bath also as have got some bathing bowls at terrace for birds! What one has to take care is have planters in the terrace so as the birds will be at ease while coming to the feeder. I have came across many a people who does try on their own things like keeping water bowls or container with grains in their terrace but the birds don't visit is their complaint! Well we need to understand that species like birds are very careful while visiting any new place as they have to ensure their privacy as well safety first! If we keep it in too open then they might not come also as I mentioned have some planters first so the greenery will make them at their comfort & then they will start visiting slowly.

In city like Pune there are many stories of individual’s efforts about tress & birds conservation with number of citizens trying their share on the front. Need is to understand the concept of conservation & then act. Many a feel what’s so fuss about it? What’s big deal if we don't see some sparrows or crows regularly? Are not there are enough gardens as well trees for them? Then why one has to do it by individual & waste the place like terrace or balcony when the prices of homes are so high? Well remember when on any vacant land there isn't any building then the piece of land is shelter for many species right from termite to rats to ants & obviously some birds who can wander there undisturbed. But once a building comes up there the whole life cycle gets disturbed & the species get dispersed from the land for making human homes. And this damage can’t be balanced by making some gardens rather creating a small piece of biodiversity in each of home is proper way to doing it.
 
Reducing biodiversity is cause of concern in urban development & as adhering to Attenborough's quote its not just to show or for some rating but its for the true cause we all should work on this front. And trust me it's a great relaxation also to watch those birds come & chirp around your little terrace. Then you will realize what you were missing in your city life & give you satisfaction of having the full value for the money you paid for your home!

Plz contact us for any assistance at...

sales@sanjeevanideve.com / technicals@sanjeevanideve.com

Cell no of atul ( fabricator)  -9422031832

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/65629150@N06/sets/72157629212383505/


Sanjay Deshpande

Sanjeevani Dev.

Envo-Power Committee, Credai, Pune

Please do visit my blog to know about our philosophy at Sanjeevani !

http://visonoflife.blogspot.com/

Social Side of Sanjeevani !

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65629150@N06/sets/72157628805700569/

For any of your complaints about city, log in at link below

http://www.punecorporation.org/GRS/Complaint/LaunchComplaintCitizen.aspx

Think Green, Think Life

www.sanjeevanideve.com

Seeing the Forests!

If you cut down a forest, it doesn't matter how many sawmills you have if there are no more trees. Susan George.

How perfectly put & yet we ignore the importance of forests even when we visit them!
 

Winter has its own charm in Knaha ! And I agree to it fullest ,though was a bit scary about the temperature which drop to sub zero at a times. Yet to visit Kanha is such a desire that it overcomes the fear of the cold & ultimately the wish to be in forest wins as usual! However chill the winter cold may be yet the forest never stops amazing you by the constant action happening within provided you should have an eye for it! And the fact that Kanha is a Sal tree forest mostly so the temperature is further down because its always green in compare to other forests where winter makes trees shade the leafs!

Each specie has got its way to tackle with cold but with their natural limitations most prefer to be in huddle & stay close & share the warmth of each others body! The owls are classic example,they will huddle in a hole of a tree & what a sight they make! Even the monkey cubs keep sticking to their mothers to beat the cold. Visiting forest in such extreme seasons shows us so many things & make us think how lucky we are for being human beings as we have so many ways to protect our self from the extreme weather! Though not all are lucky for eg the forest guards who have to patrol on feet or mostly by cycle in the forest exposing not only to the cold but to many a wild animals which can be dangerous if came across at wrong timing! Like you cycling right in the path of a mating couple of Tiger, the animal is very moody at such times & can attack any intruder! Imagine the helplessness of the guard whose only weapons are his two legs & how fast he can run or climb on a near by tree! Visiting forest for fun or for wild life seeing is one thing but living their for your work for life time is different ball game. I have never understood why the govt can provide proper infrastructure like good vehicles or proper attire with equipments to the guards on whom task like protecting the forest is depending! Very basic things like waky-talky or guns also are not with all guards leave apart things like battery operated bikes or vehicles! It always hurt my mind when I see the forest guards with bare minimum equipments or nothing! I With all due respect to forest department we need to improvise a lot on this front is a fact. And we expect the forest to grow & the animals to survive!

Same is with many local people who works in forest as labors for their daily survival. The visitors when they ask each other "sighting hui kya?" A common question exchanged between the roaming tourists, means "have you seen the tiger?" It's unfortunate they unsighted such sights of people working bare foot in forest in cold & think of doing nothing for contributing to improve their condition & the list includes so called many VIP's from govt who can surely make the difference if the see with open eyes the forest & the people working in it! The term sighting is restricted to Tiger rather whenever any one asks me have I had sighting my reply is there is so much to sight that any time you spend in forest is less! The forest is never dead,its always alive with something & this one needs to look for with open eyes. Once you achieve that vision then the sighting is all around you & not restricted for the tiger only!

Another factor which concerned me is at Pench Tiger Project right outside the boundary of the park I saw boards saying many plots are available for sale & resorts are mashrooming around. With growing numbers of tourists at such places its bound to happen but important is we need to keep a buffer zone for expansion of the forests to accommodate species like Tiger. As to my knowledge each tiger has its own territory & if we need to increase numbers of tigers then we need to give the space which they requires! And each tiger territory is in a way life system in itself including plants & the prey animals like dear. When we say to conserve the forest its not just taking care of existing forests but to plan for their expansion also so as more & more land should come under forests! While making future plans of urban growth around the forests this aspect has to be taken in account which seems missing presently.


To achieve that one has to ask himself why are you visiting the forests? Does our trip ends just at the sight of Tiger? Again sadly most of the tourists visits places like Kanha for fun & don't feel any responsibility towards the forest. The laughter & the noise many groups make while moving through the forests is shocking ,as if they are on beach or in some fun fare & the only target for many is to see the tiger that's all! I won't blame the tourists right from the tour operators to guides to Gypsy drivers too even the tourism departments of govt all are busy in luring them on the name of Tiger! Naturally the person visiting is seeing for Tiger other than the sighting any thing in forest! Some where the system related to the forest needs to understand this & change the pattern of adverting forests. "The Land of Tiger" must be advertised as "The Land of Forests", so the visitor will be mentally open what he is going to see & then he can sight what is need of the time & the job of forest department will be much easier!

I think that's real meaning of visiting the forest or else its like visiting any urban shopping center, you go there shop & forget about the place once you are out of it! What we see that only will make us act & for that we have to learn to see the forest as whole & not just one Tiger as we can't save the poor guy individually but only making the entire surrounding survive can help  & that's we need to sight!


--
Sanjay Deshpande
Sanjeevani Dev.

Envo-Power Committee, Credai, Pune

Please do visit my blog to know about our philosophy at Sanjeevani !

http://visonoflife.blogspot.com/

Social Side of Sanjeevani !

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65629150@N06/sets/72157628805700569/

For any of your complaints about city, log in at link below

http://www.punecorporation.org/GRS/Complaint/LaunchComplaintCitizen.aspx
Think Green, Think Life

www.sanjeevanideve.com

Designing a Home!

If we create from the heart nearly everything works; if from head then almost nothing...Anon.

Every time while working on planning of a new complex or building rather home is proper term,  I always wonder to what I should give priority? Is it the Club House or Party lawns or swimming pool or Entrance lobbies which make a complex more salable or valuable or a simple strait user friendly planning of the home they will be buying? What people look in the home they are buying is very complex question! It is as difficult as understanding a woman's mind, which even God's can’t do!

Joke apart you open any news paper & see the advertise of any housing complex, the race is on to give as many amenities like I mentioned above & many more & innovative too like Yoga Room etc! Good for the customer sure but with due respect to all those who advertise such amenities & which too is important in marketing our product, somewhere the main focus is getting shifted from the home to other factors is what I feel! As at the end of the day a person is going to settle down in his four rooms which he call home & not in any such facility of the complex & we need to understand this very fact. A real comfort giving home is the one which makes you feel so, as comfort is something like winter one has to feel & not to be said in words or explain! Yet we can work out the way to have that feeling & that's where the planning of the home comes in picture. One have to understand use of every room of the home & its relation with other rooms as the combine effect is what makes the home good or bad.

Here is where importance of planning the home comes in picture. Each room should serve its purpose to fullest for example a bed room, it should not be too large or too small but it should accommodate the bed of proper size & moving space around the same. Whether to fit in sitting or other utilities comes later & depending up on the class of clientele you are looking for but majority of the people wants bare minimum this much & yes proper natural light & ventilation which is a must in which ever room you move in the home. A little privacy also is a must as we moved from wada's to apartments & obviously we have changed the culture of the community living in a way, so are our needs from the home in which we live in! Our residences are reflection of our culture, as see the old city where togetherness was of prime importance & that's why right from entrance to washing places to the chowks in the central part of wada or chawl, every space is mostly for common use! The days have changed & so as our expectations from the home &  it has to get reflected while planning the present homes. Many a times we advertise terrace flats & mostly all the present flats have a small attached terrace to bedroom or living. It’s a must as some open space adjoining to home from where you can watch your piece of sky is necessary to relax you. But does we see the utility of the same i.e. does it got some privacy or else you are standing in your terrace with cup of tea in morning & entire complex can have a look at you! Can you enjoy such scene? certainly I won’t & here is where planners skill comes in picture as to look for the smallest details like this & placing the orientation of terrace such that it will have some privacy for which it’s use is expected.

Relation of the rooms within the home is another such aspect. Each room has got its privacy as well its easily accessible to other rooms; it’s a tricky situation & there lays the real challenge of planning. As with constantly increasing prices every square inch of the flat is important as someone has to pay his/her fortune for that space & keeping this fact in mind we have to design the hone so we can give value for every single rupee of the buyer spending for the home!  Here an important thing is there is a strong need to educate or make aware the customer about this aspect of home. And for that we as developer have to acknowledge that what we are building the structure which is going to become a home for many! It’s not the amenities or the specifications around which a home is being panned but it’s around the home all the amenities are being created. As a buyer also one should understand that why he/she is looking in the home they are buying, is it amenities or the pure home within which you will be spending most of your time & all this at what cost! The soul of the project should be the home & its internal planning keeping in mind use by the end user & not just the surroundings or the specifications of the home!


Lastly the home should be big enough to accommodate your all needs at the same time it should be small enough for you to maintain as well use it to fullest! And for that as the quote said one should plan it from the heart & not just by head. As this is one product where sentiments are going to be preserved for generations to come & they only can be understood by the heart & acted up on by the brain! That's the job of the developer!

--
Sanjay Deshpande

Sanjeevani Dev.

Envo-Power Committee, Credai, Pune

Please do visit my blog to know about our philosophy at Sanjeevani !

http://visonoflife.blogspot.com/

Social Side of Sanjeevani !

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Development Plan ie DP & Challenges of Future!

I never think of the future - it comes soon enough...Albert Einstein.

This quote is key of the planning especially when we draft development plan of a city like Pune! So fast the days pass & even we have planned for 20 years we never know how the time has tickled down & again its time for new plan! Such must be the feelings with planning team at most of the urban metros & Pune isn’t exception for the same! The new DP i.e. Development Plan has been tabled & is under discussion in the City Improvement Committee. Like a box of Pandora each day we keep on hearing something about it but let’s look at some of the key issues in DP.

Pune being a conglomerate of old i.e. historic as well new development, it’s always a challenge for any planner to balance the both segments  of the city! It is interesting to see how our planners have taken the challenge especially when city needs more space for housing as well other supporting needs for the same. The old wads of Pune has always been pride of the city yet because of the type of construction i.e. clay & wood as basic ingredient over the years many wadas are in structurally critical state & with more number of tenements its impossible to redevelop the same. The new DP has given a special thought for the cause & increased FSI has been given to accommodate the existing occupants as well the new residents in such development. Redevelopment of the old city is very important factor in the growth of our city as unless the old structures don’t come for redevelopment road widening in the central part of the city is impossible increasing the traffic problems & this issue seems to have given importance this time in making DP. Similarly diminishing biodiversity in old city is also an area of concern. This also can be balanced by creating more space in new development as the new structures will have to follow new norm like side margins & open spaces giving more space for plantation which too is a need of time. The old city needs to retain its charm no two minds about it but at the same time it has to change as per the needs of time & for that lots of out of the box thinking is a must.
This DP has sure done some out of the box thinking as for the first time a thought has been given to old establishments in A zone area which is not gaothan. Here for many those who don’t understand the concept right from British raj a city or town has been divided in gaothan & outer area i.e. congested part of town like in our case Peth areas where FSI is 2 & even more. But there are many areas in old city which are not part of gaothan so the fsi has been restricted to 1 only & as these structures are also old needs to be redeveloped. But because of fsi restriction it wasn’t possible now they can avail TDR & redevelopment is possible here too. As earlier TDR was allowed to utilize in B, C & D zones of the city only & now it has been allowed A zone also. Most important factor here is the process as well making TDR available at faster rate as for now unfortunately the process of getting TDR which is a problem, making it impossible for common man to have it! The DP should have some solution for the same.

Similarly will like to see the DP from the eyes of so many citizens who cant buy a home in this city because of ever increasing rate & for that scarcity of the space is the main reason. We need to build more homes which will be dear to the pockets of the common man & in short time, for millions who are constantly migrating in this city & the city needs their services. And for this we need policies which will make it possible as well making the space available for such homes. And the DP is the main source for such planning which is need of not only future but present too!

Another important aspect is for the first time the planning authority has taken in to consideration problems of accommodation for the students or individual accommodation. The city is now educational hub not only country wise but globally & thousands of students come here each year for education. They all need accommodation & at affordable cost! And with the new DP announcing additional FSI for the establishments where hostels will be developed in 200 meter distance fro the educational institutes, more accommodations will be available for the students. Only thing is one should get such open lands near vicinity of educational institute, what I feel is there should not be such distance limit considering the need of the single room accommodation. At the same time we can think of giving such additional FSI to the institutes itself so as encouraging them to build the hostels. Because being an education hub doesn’t mean just to have educational institutes but to have a proper infrastructure for the same.

All the time we keep seeing many of the roads getting dug up even when they have just newly done. The scene is common though my statement will hurt to some but its outcome of poor planning is a fact. And the DP is supposed to avoid such incidences. Here a common man will ask what’s DP’s role in it? Well a well planned DP with deciding all services at one go & execution accordingly will certainly avoid such needs of digging the roads repeatedly.

Another important aspect is conservation of biodiversity in & around the city. With increasing building as well developments around the natural habitats of the birds as well other species are reducing fast & it’s high time the city should have proper places for species other than just human beings. And what better that a properly planned city can have which will balance the living of all species together!

Last but least it will be interesting to see about the provisions for public transport & ambitious projects like Metro as it’s very nice & good to announce such projects, important is to lay a plan to execute the same! And here there will be test of DP making team to make these dreams come true. I am no expert on planning yet what a common man's feel is, it's necessary to know & study the reasons why the previous DP's implementation wasn’t up to mark in the time span for which it has been made. And accordingly take in account those mistakes while presenting this DP!

There are many dimensions to the DP & time & again we will be discussing more about the same but let’s remember DP isn’t job of some single department of PMC but as a citizen we all become part of it & we should understand our responsibility towards the same & execute it, then only it will be a real thing & not just a futuristic planning!

--
Sanjay Deshpande

Sanjeevani Dev.

Envo-Power Committee, Credai, Pune

Please do visit my blog to know about our philosophy at Sanjeevani !

http://visonoflife.blogspot.com/

Social Side of Sanjeevani !

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65629150@N06/sets/72157628805700569/

For any of your complaints about city, log in at link below

http://www.punecorporation.org/GRS/Complaint/LaunchComplaintCitizen.aspx

Think Green, Think Life

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Uniquely Singapore!

My main mission when I became Prime Minister, was to keep Singapore going and Singapore has been kept going. So, I'm happy with what I've done for Singapore..  Goh Chok Chnag.

These are the words I remember during my latest I visit the unique city Singapore! I have already wrote about few of the aspects of the city but every time I visit it I found something new the city has adopted & it don't stop amazing me with what it has adopted! Whenever name of Singapore is mentioned it is mostly in reference with tourism, a great holiday destination for fun, food & shopping but beyond that there is much to see & learn. Like when ever we mention forest it's for seeing the Tiger but we forget Tiger is just a link may be central one in entire chain of biodiversity! Similarly shopping is just one aspect the city has to offer to its residents & visitors amongst the multiple other aspects of living. Shopping is just one of them but because the other aspects are so well balanced we can enjoy the shopping experience in more better way!

Every time on each front there is a change may it be Garbage collection to parking systems or MRT i.e. Metro Rail or SBS ie  Singapore Bus service like the Environmental science is daily evolving the urge of Singapore rulers for making the city better keeps on evolving & so it gets reflected in every aspect of city living. Here I will like to share some of my experiences with you which we will speak in detail later. Scene one : You land on airport & there is a display of Singapore guides in 4 different languages giving detailed information about do's & don't's in city as well places to visit with detailed maps of Public transport including tariffs!  And these all brochures are free of cost! Scenene two : You are moving in heavy traffic of Singapore at peak work hours & yet you don't find any traffic cop on streets to control the traffic & yet no traffic jams of honking of horns are there! Scene three: A Garbage collecting truck crosses your vehicle & the driver is with smiling face & you don't even notice the stingy smell of Garbage truck! Scene four: December  is rainy season here & it rains heavily every day usually late noon. And you don't see water getting clogged any where on road & all roads are clear of water immediately after the rains get stopped!
Scene five: At MRT station your money you put in ticketing machine but you don't get ticket issued, you tell this to the clerk near by at customer service center & smiling she apologizes & give you another ticket without even asking that whether you have put the money in the machine! Scene six: At taxi stand when your number comes for taxi & the taxi driver isn't going in the direction which you want to go he apologizes & leave without taking any traveller ie empty & let the taxi behind him takes you & this continues til you get the taxi to your destination!

So many such scenes are happening in the city at various public places & here lies the success of Singapore as a city & its uniqueness! Many a times while moving through the city & looking around I wonder whether the city has planned & developed at one single time, such is the monolithic development there! Nothing seems out of proportion or getting detached from surrounding & that's the success of the proper planning which is missing from our cities! As to plan is first step & to execute what you have planned is second! They do have the problems just any other developing urban metros are having like population, vehicles, garbage, concretisation causing lesser area available for greenery but important is the way they have balanced all these issues & making policies for the same & adopt them!

Like they have now started keeping four types of Garbage bins at all public places for collecting the garbage in segregated forms & look at the way they are doing it so beautifully! I couldn't stop remembering our garbage bins overflowing with all kind of waste getting dumped in mix form & to segregate the waste in itself is a major job for the public body. Innovation is the key & same thing has been kept in mind even while collecting the garbage. Our containers just stinks & for interest look out for the faces of drivers of our garbage trucks as well the labors working on it, they are grim & never smiling. And you can understand it because of the conditions they have to work in. But reverse was the case here, I could see the smiling face of the garbage truck driver in Singapore as the way capping has been done to the garbage that there was no foul smell in which he has to drive the vehicle!

With all due respect to the best public transport system which includes perfect combination of Metro rail & Bus service yet the number of private vehicles has been increased alarmingly even in Singapore. Yet you don't see a single traffic police on road as each street & chowk is covered by camera surveillance! And do mind fines are heavy! There are parking places created in every new commercial buildings & whats best is the information of parking lots available in adjoining buildings is displayed in every square via digital billboards,making it easier for commuters to find the parking lots without making them wait along the roads & causing traffic jams! 

Making the public transport system better & better seems to be the main goal of the city & in that zest they are innovating like anything! Bus stop at Singapore is a subject of study in itself, every time they keep on modifying the same for the better convenience of commuters. All the bus routes, destinations,timings of buses & fare to each destination is displayed on every bus stop. Not to forget the cleanliness maintained as well the sitting arrangements & commercial aspect for using the billboards for advertising! In Metro ie rail system the signage is such that even a new comer to city can find his destination with minimum guidance. Not only there is a display of stations in each boogie but on which side door will be opening that also is displayed at each station making it easier for the commuters to decent from the train. Reserved seats for elderly people, pregnant women & physically handicap persons are specially made & mentioned in each boogie & they are located near the door for their easy use. Surveillance cameras are at every entrance of the station as well on platforms & they are monitored round the clock. At the same time we have to respect the civic sense of the people as when there is red light & green for pedestrians not as single vehicle crosses over by an inch on the the zebra crossing! Imagine a signle without a policeman in our city & you will know importance of such civic sense!

Reducing greenery with the urbanization is a big threat to biodiversity & hats of,what an effort of making people aware about wild life conservation as well biodiversity! There are centers like Jurong Bird Park where they have merged the same with entertainment & commercialized the concept,making tourists enjoy the entire learning as well seeing all those exotic species who needs attention or else they will extinct soon! At all major cities we should adopt the concept, we have some but the awareness part through various shows they conduct at Jurong Bird park making visitors & birds get together!As such developments only will make common people get exposed to rare species of animals & make them realize what they will be missing if such species get extinct! Will be posting more snaps. each tree is aligned with the big trees on both sides & exotic flower beds aligned all along the road segregating main roads & foot path as well cycle tracks. This scene is common all over the city & even bridges have been landscaped by nice crippers like bougainvillea covering the concrete parts.There are cycle tracks & you can actually drive cycles over them unobstructed!

Terrace farming is anew thing in there. Most of the multi storied buildings terraces have been used for farming & Air conditioning plants recycled water is used for the same. This has been a big solution for reducing land for farming the vegetables which is the main need of the population of the city.

Not stopping at just infrastructural things the govt does take the cognizance of controlling property rates too by making policies so. As the goal is all the needy ones should get the houses in affordable prices & for that they have Housing Development Bord who builds nearly 60% houses in the city & makes them available to the residents in lowest possible pricing.

All in all the experience makes you know why the city has risen to such a popular destination for every body & you cant stop loving it more & more with each passing day you spend in there. But we should not forget its not been achieved in a single day but years of meticulous planning & efforts put in executing the planning which has made it possible. So bringing back just few momentos & shopping items can't be a tribute to the city & its makers , if at all we can bring back from there then we should bring back the attitude of every Singaporean towards his city & try to cultivate here in our town then only our visit to the great city has really paid off!




--
Sanjay Deshpande

Sanjeevani Dev.

Envo-Power Committee, Credai, Pune

Please do visit my blog to know about our philosophy at Sanjeevani !

http://visonoflife.blogspot.com/

Social Side of Sanjeevani !

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65629150@N06/sets/72157627904681345/

For any of your complaints about city, log in at link below

http://www.punecorporation.org/GRS/Complaint/LaunchComplaintCitizen.aspx

Think Green, Think Life

www.sanjeevanideve.com