By Aristotle Lyngdoh
The only information that people have about smart cities when they read that Shillong is not on the list and has missed the bus again and again and this is the last thing people ought to know. No one is content about such outcomes because it conveys to the people that this region is less significant. But to some it may be different because a great deal of business transactions are not viable. In contrast, however, Mawlynnong village has earned the reputation as one of Bharat’s pride as the cleanest village (History channel, TV 18). What makes the community of poor villagers to draw the attention of the world is indeed a matter that those sitting at the helm of affairs in the state should learn a great lesson from. If a village like Mawlynnong without funds and infrastructure in comparison to the state government could project itself as a destination for people’s aspiration and perhaps future investment, then why not our city or state?
It is interesting to know how West Bengal Government under Mamata Banerjee has rejected Smart City project of the Centre but instead decided to develop its own Green City project on the suburbs of Kolkata like Rajarhat that had once qualified for Smart City Challenge Competition. If such determination is there in people to recreate and bring changes in any manner, I should also suggest that Mawlynnong village and its adjoining areas should be planned and developed into an Eco-Friendly Town of inclusive biodiversities. Projects such as these are very much viable in places like Mawlynnong primarily because the attitude and mindset of the people are no longer a cause of concern.
The attempt by the state government to secure its place in this multi- crore project has resulted into various interpretations and speculations. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that triggered the reshuffling of the state cabinet. Fielding a fresher minister (scam free) to head the Urban Affairs Department is another strategy to project the clean image of the government. But to put blame on the Centre and the Prime Minister for the failure to qualify is a neither wise nor mature because in this competitive age to run the government and country is not like handling a village or panchayat or of managing a family and providing for the dependant’s demands. In the present progressive society, democracy is not orchestrated by a number or relationships (meaning same party at centre and state) but should be calculative and objectives oriented. Democratic actions should measure justifiably all relevant components inclusively and avoid wastage of time and resources.
According to Wikipedia (internet encyclopedia), Smart city is an urban development that integrates multiple information and communication technology (ICT) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in a secure fashion to manage the city’s assets which include but are not limited to local departments information system, schools, libraries, transportation systems, hospitals, power plants, water supply networks, waste management, law enforcement and other community services. The goal of building a smart city is to improve quality of life by using urban informatics and technology to improve the efficiency of services. According to Forbes, top five smart cities of the world are Barcelona, New York city, London, Nice & Singapore.
A green city is designed with consideration of environmental impacts, and inhabited by people dedicated to minimization of required inputs of energy, water and food, and waste output of heat, air pollution, methane and water pollution. According to Eco-watch, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Stockholm & Vancouver top the list. Eco-friendly city on the other hand, is a city built from the principles of living within environment means. The aim of eco-friendly city is to eliminate carbon waste or to turn it into a zero-carbon city; to produce energy entirely through renewable resources and merging the city harmoniously with the natural environment. However, eco-cities also have the intention to stimulate economic growth, poverty alleviation, using higher population densities and therefore obtaining higher efficiency and improving health care. Existing eco-cities are Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Berlin, Portland & San Francisco. Be it Green city or Eco-city, dissemination and execution of information is very essential and indispensable because in the present era, in the advancement of Information Technology (IT) or digital age, we cannot exclude smart concept from being part and element of any strategic plan as a support for efficiency of delivery.
It is high time therefore for the government to clear the hurdles that keep funding and investment under apprehension and doubt. This should also include comprehensive policies and legislations that facilitate a favorable environment from reducing crimes, good connectivity roads and accessibility of essential services making people participatory in every project and programme. But what we saw in these five years is confrontations and conflict of interests. We cannot deny the fact that numerous developments are taking place daily in and around us in every area of life and one thing we should ask ourselves is, ‘what on earth are we doing here?’ As a point of discussion, is Meghalaya worse than Jammu & Kashmir or any Middle East country to have a Residents Safety Act burdening the police stations and outposts with unnecessary records? I am afraid this may divert the function of our police department from their primary role. Is not an electoral officer sufficient to handle registration matters? If this is the level of our law makers then we cannot expect that concepts like smart cities and others will ever take place in the present situation.
People in Delhi are not fools and ignorant about what happens in every state. Prime Minister Modi is also an intelligent salesman. He perfectly knows what happens in every state government including the background and credentials of every MP & MLA. Who knows the frequent trips by senior bureaucrats from the centre to the state they have once served, has a specific confidential mission at PMO’s behest. Meghalaya has a known history of diverting central funds and allocation according to the convenience of those at the seat of power. So what do we expect from another centrally sponsored project? Instead of rushing with a begging bowl to secure such projects, the government should in fact align the existing infrastructures, policies and legislations suitable and conducive for such development to take place. Pulling up the municipality for more pro-active action to make Shillong clean and green should be the primary focus and ongoing efforts that in due course of time upgradation may take place.
As of now no one knows or could visualize what type of city Shillong will become in the near future. Even the most expected New Shillong Township will emerge unplanned and without notice. Looking at the trend and pace of growth of new structures and subways, it exactly points to the fact that by the time the project starts, issues of dismantling and reconstructing new plans will erupt and create unnecessary confrontation. It is up to our elected representatives now who are on the ruling side how to make Shillong the city for everyone’s dreams and expectation.