If you have money but no water and no air to breathe, what is the point of GDP?, asks expert

By A Representative 

Sustainable urban development was in focus on the latest episode of the "What India Needs!" podcast. Dr TV Ramachandra, a scientist at the Indian Institute of Science and an authority on environmental sustainability, joined media entrepreneur and author Shutapa Paul to discuss the pressing issues related to industrialisation, its impact on India's green cover, and the urgent need for sustainable urban planning and resilient systems to combat climate change.

Industrial projects, infrastructure development, and agriculture expansion have all taken a toll on India’s green cover. Forest area nationwide has decreased by almost a third between 1930 and 2013, as per data from the  National Remote Sensing Centre and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). There is therefore an urgent need for decisive action to preserve and expand India’s forests.

Speaking with Paul, Dr Ramachandra explained that industrialisation should not compromise natural resources. He said, "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." Today, nearly 600 million people in India experience high to extreme water crises, and almost 70% of water is not fit for consumption,  according to the Water Composite Index report by NITI Aayog. 

With more and more people flocking to urban centres, the pressure on Indian metros is mounting. Paul pointed out that easing pressure on large Indian cities could help. “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 said.

To address these urban challenges and implement balanced growth, Dr Ramachandra proposed a cluster-based development model. He explained, “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. This approach would reduce illogical urbanisation patterns and promote sustainable development.”

He also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in accelerating development projects, as innovations now make it possible for tasks that once took two to three years to be completed in just six months. Research by PwC UK indicates that AI's impact on agriculture, water, energy, and transport could contribute up to US$5.2 trillion to the global economy by 2030. 

Meanwhile, significant changes are on the horizon with initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana scheme, which aims to add 30 GW of solar capacity through residential rooftop installations, reducing 720 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions over 25 years. 

Commenting on the need to incorporate sustainability into urban planning, Dr Ramachandra touched upon how green belts and urban forests counteract the environmental impacts of urbanisation. He also highlighted the importance of advanced technology in monitoring and managing natural resources, aiming to balance development and conservation. His vision involves leveraging smart technologies to build resilient, sustainable cities that promote both ecological health and economic growth.

The conversation between Dr TV Ramachandra and Shutapa Paul on the "What India Needs!" podcast offered a blueprint for sustainable development. Through an insightful discussion addressing the effects of industrialisation, the scope for sustainable urban planning, and the need to build resilient systems for climate change, they shared a vision of a green future for India.