Editor,
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Smart Cities Mission on the 25th of June 2015, he did so with the noble intention of promoting cities that provide core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and give a decent quality of life to citizens of the country through the application of “smart solutions”. However, nine years after the official launch, several gaping holes in this “smart” project were disclosed/exposed after a Shillong-based computer hacker successfully hacked into the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on the June 25, 2024, extracting over 5 gigabytes of data.
Among these documents, is a confidential report titled “Reimagining Streets of Indian Smart Cities” prepared by the Smart Cities Mission — Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) on December of 2023. The compendium which aimed to provide an “extensive database” of street transformations that decision-makers, city engineers, urban practitioners, and academicians involved in street transformation projects could use as advocacy material, unfortunately failed to capture several essential user perspectives about the smart project. The lengthy 174-page report, though elaborate, has failed to analyze core properties of smart city projects, such as (a) interventions on the physical, social, and digital space of cities, (b) the relation to city sectors and ecosystems, (c) engagement of users and stakeholders in decision-making, and (d) impact through optimization and innovation of city processes and routines.
This aside, many here are still hung over the news that Shillong, one of 100 cities identified by the Centre to be developed as a smart city, was among the ten worst performers in terms of implementing smart city projects. This news came as a shock to some people working under the Shillong Smart City Project and the ICCC — a project that prides itself to be “the brain” for city planning and operations handed the lovely task to integrate and streamline various city functions, including surveillance, data processing, emergency response coordination, and the implementation of smart city applications. Yes, the initiative that promises to bring “significant technological advancements” by installing various field devices such as 368 CCTV cameras for surveillance and traffic management, 42 Emergency Call Boxes (ECB), 58 Public Address Systems (PAS), 20 Variable Message Displays (VMDs), 300 streetlights equipped with LED/Smart Lights and Light Point Controllers (LPC), 60 Public Wi-Fi Hotspots, GPS-based vehicle tracking for 50 Solid Waste Management (SWM) vehicles, and 200 Smart Bins was ranked at the lowest 93.
So, what’s the reason behind Shillong’s embarrassing performance? How do we make implementing smart city projects easier? The one factor that would make the biggest difference to the success of smart city programs, in the eyes of the public, is not technology or funding but visionary leadership. At least, that is what executives are crying out for. In the public sector, it is often safer to do today what you did yesterday. Many governments, including Meghalaya have effectively admitted as much by incubating innovation hubs to challenge the status quo. Yet to lead change is to take risks and the desi media’s ruthless scrutiny of the public sector — which, in many states, starts with the assumption that taxpayers’ money is being wasted — hardly encourages bureaucrats or politicians to think outside the box. A leader’s long-term vision needs to be inclusive, encouraging collaboration between agencies and across departments. Top down command and control management will not genuinely unite stakeholders in pursuit of a common goal — nor will it encourage the sharing of knowledge that executives believe will smoothen implementation.
Though the term “smart cities” is somewhat new here, the idea isn’t. Some experts claim ancient India (particularly the Indus Valley) actually used elements of the concept, such as using “technology” to make citizens’ lives easier. The water drainage system is just one way they did that. But what makes a city “smart” in today’s day and age? Is city smartness achieved through automation of city infrastructure? Is a smart city one that uses technology to provide services and solve city problems like improving transportation and accessibility, improving social services, promoting sustainability and giving its citizens a voice? What’s your definition of a smart city?
Yours etc,
Joseph M. Kharkongor
Teacher and Skill Trainer
Shillong – 8
Misuse of government vehicles
Editor,
Driving around the roads of Shillong it appears that the number of Government of Meghalaya vehicles has rapidly increased, whether they be ML 01 vehicles or even private vehicles with the red tag on the number plates. I tried finding out the entitlement rules with regards to vehicle allotment for Government of Meghalaya employees, however there are none available on the internet. And it is not just the number of vehicles, even the type of vehicles is surprising. I have seen Grand Vitaras, Thars and various other expensive vehicles as well. My question is what is the use of such expensive vehicles for office work? I also wonder whether the Government pays for the fuel for the private vehicles with Government tags? Who is entitled to such vehicles? And if they are Government vehicles, why is the number plate not ML 01? As a citizen and knowing the financial status of the State and looking at the number of Government vehicles on the road, if the expenses for all these vehicles are borne by the state then it is sheer waste of public money. Also, one major problem with Government vehicles is that officials use them for private purposes. I’m sure I am not the only one who has seen official vehicles being used for dropping kids to school and official vehicles plying on Saturdays and Sundays which we all know are non-working days. The Government should be clear on the use of official vehicles and the entitlement of officers. If the vehicles are being procured from public funds then we the public have every right to question how public assets are being used or misused, whichever the case may be.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
Penalty for throwing garbage randomly
Editor,
Apropos the news item, “Now, garbage bags must for tourist vehicles entering Sikkim” (ST July 22, 2024), I believe it is high time for our State as well to come up with such needed rules and regulations. As a frequent traveller on the GS road, I have often observed with great concern how passengers in tourist vehicles as well as from private vehicles throw their junk and garbage out of their cars, which is indeed an eyesore. This is degrading and polluting to the environment. Drivers and car owners should be penalized if they cannot control kids or grown-ups from throwing junk on the road. I would urge the concerned authorities, as well as shop vendors dotted all along the roadsides, to put dustbins as far as possible, especially dustbins for non-degradable wastes such as plastic bottles, plastic bags, chips packet, etc. The urgent need of the hour is to put stringent measures in place whereby, the beauty of our roadside and the environment at large, will be safeguarded. It will be great if CCTVs can be installed all along the GS road and roads leading to popular tourist destinations. There should also be stringent penalties or severe fines for anyone caught throwing non-degradable items into drains or rivers, which is a menace to our already polluted rivers and the ecosystem. As concerned citizens, let us work together to preserve the beauty of our State, for which we have always been known.
Yours etc.,
A Wanswett,
Nongpoh