BREAKING NEWS
Genesis of City Beautiful Movement
The City Beautiful movement had its genesis and emerged in America consequent to the sudden sprout in urban population which started to outnumber the rural people around end of the 19th century. During this time cities in U.S.A. grew at an increasingly accelerated pace, boosted primarily by influx of immigrants. Cities were perceived by city dwellers as turning ugly with congestion, filth, poor safety, weak transportation system, inadequate service/amenities and usurped public spaces. In addition, the chaotic approach to sanitation, pollution, and civic life prevailed in most of the big American cities, affecting lives of everyone alike making city livings a worrisome issue for all. It had perceptible impact on urban life which was often equated to “civilized life” got overwhelmed by urban crisis consisting of crime, poverty, urban blight, poor sanitation and civic gullibility. There were public furors for deplorable conditions of the cities, by one and all especially by the reformers, echoing and showing concern at various fora’s. The activism, appeal for justice, future reforms, public conscience, social upheavals, and people participation, all culminated into “city beautiful movement” which paved way for systemic urban planning and city beautiful competitions in the country which transformed urban landscape, as it exists today into a viable, orderly, beautiful, and sustainable urban development process with inviting city centers, landmarks, and natural areas.
City Beauty Competition-India
In India, urbanization has been a massive phenomenon and growing at a brisk pace, adding to the population and number of town and cities. It has brought with it multitude of taxing urban issues for the citizens, urban administrators, governments, policy makers and planners.. Since the beginning of the 21st century a thought process has started where in concern is being shown and expressed about poor state of urbanization, conditions of cities and towns in the country. As a consequence, to achieve clean living in cities along with ensuring a greater global reach, clean city and start up ranking was advocated and held in India for checking the endeavors made by the respective urban local bodies and Governments all over the country. Since then competition on wide range of urban issues/indicators has become a routine affair and every year cities are ranked. In January 2018 government brought to the forefront the mission of ensuring clean living environment in cities and launched and institutionalized with more vigour and fervor, the ranking mechanism for cities to pave way for garbage free status besides motivating cities to achieve higher degree of cleanliness and quality of life. It signified the importance of appropriate sanitation mechanism and sustainable solid waste management through healthy competition among the cities assessing the performance and commitments of each urban local self-agency in the country. Since start of ranking mechanism, themes have been changed as per the requirement and urbanization policy directives at National level. More or less ranking has been focused on quality of urban living. Primarily these ranking have been meant to initiate a process of urban transformation in our cities and towns and to understand weakness and strengths of each city to use it as a base for strategic policy decision making. It is also bound to help in profiling of the urban development pattern as demonstrated by the specific conditions and details of various towns and cities. In the process of facilitating fixation of benchmarking, the competition would rekindle and reinforce development strategies, flagships for city marketing and branding and investment decisions for future city developments. Though the steps taken are almost a century after USA, nevertheless, if the process evolved and initiated is implemented in an earnest manner, it is going to elicit a mechanism for better urban planning, appropriate implementation development plans, effective urban governance, adoption of appropriate planning ideology, ensure fiscal viability of ULBs with a number of civic and global benefits for the cities and urbanites.
City Beauty Competition Theme -2023
The theme of 2023 ranking of cities has been chosen as “City Beauty Competition” and Smart city Awards for eight different awards has become a year affair by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for the ULBs with soul objective to encourage and recognize the endeavors of each ULB for creating beautiful, innovative and inclusive public spaces along with efforts made for bringing transformation of cities and towns at various levels. Under this theme wards and public spaces in cities and towns, would be identified and evaluated on basis of parameters of ecology, accessibility, amenities, aesthetics and activities and acknowledged and awarded at town, city and state level. However, for National level award cities would be examined under four categories i.e. waterfronts, Green spaces, tourist/heritage spaces and market/commercial places. These will be felicitated at state level in the initial stage, thereafter shortlisted entries would be recommended for consideration at National level. The competition has been thrown up on 26Th of April 2023 and participation has to be ensured before 16th of July 2023.
Standing of Cities and Towns- J&K
Similar to the National Level, urbanization scenario is no different in J&K. It also recorded rapid urban growth over last four decades. The speedy urbanization has generated a number of urban malaises resulting into frequent compromises in development, provision and maintenance of urban places in almost all the towns and cities so much so it has exceedingly declined the quality of life and environment. In view of the trends of urbanization till date and its ill-effects on urban living, there is an urgent need to develop, redevelop and revitalize urban areas and public spaces in J&K to bestow a semblance of planned look and achieve targeted sustainability.
Category Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3
National Smart CITY Award Indore Surat Agra
State Award Madhya Pradesh Tamil Nadu Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh
Built Environment Coimbatore Indore New Town Kolkata
Culture Ahmedabad Bhopal Thanjavur
Economy Jabalpur Indore Lucknow
Governance Pimpri Chinchwad Jabalpur Udaipur
Mobility Chandigarh New Town Kolkata Sagar (MP)
Sanitation Indore Kakinada Ahmedabad
In the contest of Indian Smart Cities conducted by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs ,Govt of India for National Smart City Awards Indore, Surat and Agra were the first three ranking exemplary performance cities among 100 smart cities in August 2022. Among the ranking of cities under various categories e.g. National Smart City award, State Award ,Built Environment ,Culture, Economy, Governance, Mobility and Sanitation Jammu and Srinagar cities did emerge under any of the category despite great impetus to the development of Srinagar due G20 Summit S.
Ranking Performance of Cities/Towns -J&K
Jammu and Kashmir till date does not have good experience with respect ranking of cities and towns which is a testimony of it poor handling and management of urban development, service delivery, amenities and urban planning and dismal implementation of development plans. Two principal cities Jammu and Srinagar have often got a quite depressing score and ranking with respect to cleanliness and sanitation. In 2018 Jammu and Srinagar were 95th and 100th worst livable cities among the 111 cities besides being ranked as 10th and 15th most polluted city. Two cities time and again ranked poorly at national level. Ranking of other towns and cities was also not encouraging, clearly reflected compliancy in dealing with issues of important urban development sector so much so that urban areas of J&K seem to be urbanely inurbane.
Are we Ready for the Gala?
Since the previous record of the cities and towns of the J&K till 2022 has not been encouraging despite natures bounties bestowed to each town and city. Though efforts at various levels are in progress to transform the urban landscape and urban living especially in two main cities -Srinagar and Jammu through implementation of smart city project. However, presently domain of these projects being confined predominantly in and around the city center would definitely improve its image and improve its vibrancy but the woes of the other parts of these two city may still remain as a sprawling improvisation of deepening urban crisis. In addition to this, galaxy of small and medium towns in J&K are yet to receive a much needed booster of urban planning and development intervention to shape, reshape, revitalize and rejuvenate these as vibrant urban entities to inspire their citizens and ULBs. As most these are in search of bettering the urban living, a lot needs to done to ensures smooth and safe mobility, availability of services, recreation, affordable housing, planned development, sports facilities, eco-safety, mitigation of natural hazards, amenities/facilities at local level and implementation of development plans along with responsive urban governance. A going-over of level of services and amenities from the point of view of the guidelines(URDPFI) issued by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs testifies that “there is a yawning gap between what is presently available in our towns and cities and what has to be made available actually”. In the face of all this, there is not much expectation from towns and cities of J&K to improve their rankings, however, the contest and competition is going to throw up uncounted opportunities for all, to upscale their civic virtues and urban development goals for the future.
Email:--------------------------hamwani24@gmail.com
Genesis of City Beautiful Movement
The City Beautiful movement had its genesis and emerged in America consequent to the sudden sprout in urban population which started to outnumber the rural people around end of the 19th century. During this time cities in U.S.A. grew at an increasingly accelerated pace, boosted primarily by influx of immigrants. Cities were perceived by city dwellers as turning ugly with congestion, filth, poor safety, weak transportation system, inadequate service/amenities and usurped public spaces. In addition, the chaotic approach to sanitation, pollution, and civic life prevailed in most of the big American cities, affecting lives of everyone alike making city livings a worrisome issue for all. It had perceptible impact on urban life which was often equated to “civilized life” got overwhelmed by urban crisis consisting of crime, poverty, urban blight, poor sanitation and civic gullibility. There were public furors for deplorable conditions of the cities, by one and all especially by the reformers, echoing and showing concern at various fora’s. The activism, appeal for justice, future reforms, public conscience, social upheavals, and people participation, all culminated into “city beautiful movement” which paved way for systemic urban planning and city beautiful competitions in the country which transformed urban landscape, as it exists today into a viable, orderly, beautiful, and sustainable urban development process with inviting city centers, landmarks, and natural areas.
City Beauty Competition-India
In India, urbanization has been a massive phenomenon and growing at a brisk pace, adding to the population and number of town and cities. It has brought with it multitude of taxing urban issues for the citizens, urban administrators, governments, policy makers and planners.. Since the beginning of the 21st century a thought process has started where in concern is being shown and expressed about poor state of urbanization, conditions of cities and towns in the country. As a consequence, to achieve clean living in cities along with ensuring a greater global reach, clean city and start up ranking was advocated and held in India for checking the endeavors made by the respective urban local bodies and Governments all over the country. Since then competition on wide range of urban issues/indicators has become a routine affair and every year cities are ranked. In January 2018 government brought to the forefront the mission of ensuring clean living environment in cities and launched and institutionalized with more vigour and fervor, the ranking mechanism for cities to pave way for garbage free status besides motivating cities to achieve higher degree of cleanliness and quality of life. It signified the importance of appropriate sanitation mechanism and sustainable solid waste management through healthy competition among the cities assessing the performance and commitments of each urban local self-agency in the country. Since start of ranking mechanism, themes have been changed as per the requirement and urbanization policy directives at National level. More or less ranking has been focused on quality of urban living. Primarily these ranking have been meant to initiate a process of urban transformation in our cities and towns and to understand weakness and strengths of each city to use it as a base for strategic policy decision making. It is also bound to help in profiling of the urban development pattern as demonstrated by the specific conditions and details of various towns and cities. In the process of facilitating fixation of benchmarking, the competition would rekindle and reinforce development strategies, flagships for city marketing and branding and investment decisions for future city developments. Though the steps taken are almost a century after USA, nevertheless, if the process evolved and initiated is implemented in an earnest manner, it is going to elicit a mechanism for better urban planning, appropriate implementation development plans, effective urban governance, adoption of appropriate planning ideology, ensure fiscal viability of ULBs with a number of civic and global benefits for the cities and urbanites.
City Beauty Competition Theme -2023
The theme of 2023 ranking of cities has been chosen as “City Beauty Competition” and Smart city Awards for eight different awards has become a year affair by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for the ULBs with soul objective to encourage and recognize the endeavors of each ULB for creating beautiful, innovative and inclusive public spaces along with efforts made for bringing transformation of cities and towns at various levels. Under this theme wards and public spaces in cities and towns, would be identified and evaluated on basis of parameters of ecology, accessibility, amenities, aesthetics and activities and acknowledged and awarded at town, city and state level. However, for National level award cities would be examined under four categories i.e. waterfronts, Green spaces, tourist/heritage spaces and market/commercial places. These will be felicitated at state level in the initial stage, thereafter shortlisted entries would be recommended for consideration at National level. The competition has been thrown up on 26Th of April 2023 and participation has to be ensured before 16th of July 2023.
Standing of Cities and Towns- J&K
Similar to the National Level, urbanization scenario is no different in J&K. It also recorded rapid urban growth over last four decades. The speedy urbanization has generated a number of urban malaises resulting into frequent compromises in development, provision and maintenance of urban places in almost all the towns and cities so much so it has exceedingly declined the quality of life and environment. In view of the trends of urbanization till date and its ill-effects on urban living, there is an urgent need to develop, redevelop and revitalize urban areas and public spaces in J&K to bestow a semblance of planned look and achieve targeted sustainability.
Category Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3
National Smart CITY Award Indore Surat Agra
State Award Madhya Pradesh Tamil Nadu Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh
Built Environment Coimbatore Indore New Town Kolkata
Culture Ahmedabad Bhopal Thanjavur
Economy Jabalpur Indore Lucknow
Governance Pimpri Chinchwad Jabalpur Udaipur
Mobility Chandigarh New Town Kolkata Sagar (MP)
Sanitation Indore Kakinada Ahmedabad
In the contest of Indian Smart Cities conducted by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs ,Govt of India for National Smart City Awards Indore, Surat and Agra were the first three ranking exemplary performance cities among 100 smart cities in August 2022. Among the ranking of cities under various categories e.g. National Smart City award, State Award ,Built Environment ,Culture, Economy, Governance, Mobility and Sanitation Jammu and Srinagar cities did emerge under any of the category despite great impetus to the development of Srinagar due G20 Summit S.
Ranking Performance of Cities/Towns -J&K
Jammu and Kashmir till date does not have good experience with respect ranking of cities and towns which is a testimony of it poor handling and management of urban development, service delivery, amenities and urban planning and dismal implementation of development plans. Two principal cities Jammu and Srinagar have often got a quite depressing score and ranking with respect to cleanliness and sanitation. In 2018 Jammu and Srinagar were 95th and 100th worst livable cities among the 111 cities besides being ranked as 10th and 15th most polluted city. Two cities time and again ranked poorly at national level. Ranking of other towns and cities was also not encouraging, clearly reflected compliancy in dealing with issues of important urban development sector so much so that urban areas of J&K seem to be urbanely inurbane.
Are we Ready for the Gala?
Since the previous record of the cities and towns of the J&K till 2022 has not been encouraging despite natures bounties bestowed to each town and city. Though efforts at various levels are in progress to transform the urban landscape and urban living especially in two main cities -Srinagar and Jammu through implementation of smart city project. However, presently domain of these projects being confined predominantly in and around the city center would definitely improve its image and improve its vibrancy but the woes of the other parts of these two city may still remain as a sprawling improvisation of deepening urban crisis. In addition to this, galaxy of small and medium towns in J&K are yet to receive a much needed booster of urban planning and development intervention to shape, reshape, revitalize and rejuvenate these as vibrant urban entities to inspire their citizens and ULBs. As most these are in search of bettering the urban living, a lot needs to done to ensures smooth and safe mobility, availability of services, recreation, affordable housing, planned development, sports facilities, eco-safety, mitigation of natural hazards, amenities/facilities at local level and implementation of development plans along with responsive urban governance. A going-over of level of services and amenities from the point of view of the guidelines(URDPFI) issued by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs testifies that “there is a yawning gap between what is presently available in our towns and cities and what has to be made available actually”. In the face of all this, there is not much expectation from towns and cities of J&K to improve their rankings, however, the contest and competition is going to throw up uncounted opportunities for all, to upscale their civic virtues and urban development goals for the future.
Email:--------------------------hamwani24@gmail.com
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