Constants of Sustainability

PART I

Article Our Common Future, From One Earth to One World defines sustainability as ‘a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development, and institutional change are made consistent with future as well as present needs.’ (UN)

Right to development should not only be in terms of technological and economical aspect, but also include environmental factors to it. Environmental issues arise as result of irrational development plans.

Historically occupations were related to environmental systems. So eventually, environmental issues have a direct link to economic development. As example mentioned in this article due to overexploitation of resources dry lands become dessert and eventually causes shift or displacement in mass population as there is no occupation. Investments and policies should be designed to preserve economic stability through retaining environmental balance. Policies should be designed in a way they ensure equal access to resources and should provide facilities and right to choose for them. Policies and government should become a platform that creates equity in terms of opportunities and resources by imparting essential knowledge than becoming a punitive measure.

Technology can be our modern day tool, where we can acquire same results from less consumption of resources.

There should be attempts to establish global economical equity. Working of Multinational companies be a good way of stabilization, provided they can strengthen the economies of the host nation/city. Manmade calamities like wars require ample amount of funds which can be diverted to reduce economical imbalance in the society.

The Hannover Principle defines sustainability as the concept of combine concern for the well-being of the planet with continued growth and human development. (Partners)

Essential aspects that form system of sustainable development also include spiritual and design aspect along with material and ecological factors. Environment should be treated as part of the system and a positive clue-deriving factor rather than being treated as constrains. These systems can be designed on the principles of the business model of sustainability where the amount of degradation allowed should equal to the amount this system can restore without relying on different systems. Smooth functioning of these systems is hindered when their size, followed by complexity level is raised. Existence of smaller systems combining to become a larger structure proves most efficient.

Traditional systems should be studied in terms of their overall development techniques. At present we are far away to go back to the traditional ways of sustainability, instead we can pick positive attributes from the traditional methods and combine them with the advances and technology available today.

PART 2

Articles ‘The hannover principals-design for sustainability and ‘Our common future from one earth to one world’though from 1980’s and early 1990’s have a clear vision regarding the issues prevalent in today’s world and have chalked out certain solutions for sustainable development (UNEP).It’s somewhat very disturbing to learn that human being’s understanding regarding overall development has been on lines of sustainable and overall development since 1990s, but even in 20s we are unable to implement it and these solutions have only existed in words or maybe the measures implemented are so little compared to the situation that it hardly matters now.

Cities in developing countries are till date following hazardous and unsustainable ways of development. In order to explain this statement in greater depth and place it in right context I would like to share some interesting facts from my city called Mumbai. Mumbai is the most populous city in India and is considered the economical capital of India. So in a way it’s taken for granted that since the city is economically strong it can exploit it’s not only its own environment but un stabilize surrounding country side by drawing out resources from there.

Urban Water Crises:

According to the survey conducted by an organization called INDIA WATER PORTAL with help of NEERI, currently city draws its drinking water from following sources and this map specifies how water from sources reaches individual houses. (Thompson) I would like to

add a layer of distance the water travels from resource has three rivers originating and flowing through its land it draws water from this far distance as those rivers are extremely populated thanks to rapid urbanization.

Rivers in Mumbai.

Mumbai has three rivers, namely Dahisar river ,Oshiwara river and Mithi river originating in Forest called Sanjay Gandhi national park. (R. B. Bhagat1)

This is the current situation of these rivers. There are multiple factors like untreated industrial water is disposed off in the river etc for contamination of rivers.

Figure 3:Oshiwara river (http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/dec/Oshiwara-river-2.jpg) (Jadhav)

Figure 4:Oshiwara river(Wikipedia.org) (wikipedia)

High levels of contamination have rendered these rivers futile for water supply Instead they were responsible for Flash floods in Mumbai in year 2016.In Addition to this they have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and end up providing unhygienic conditions. This is classic example of how when available resources are environmentally exploited can incur monetary loss which Mumbai pays to get its water transported all the way from Vaitarna.

Unfair distribution

Now, I would like to divert reader’s attention to the conditions of river Vaitarna. Drawing water from 90 miles away is unsustainable in innumerable ways. At present Mumbai’s daily water requirement is about 4200mld and it continues to draw water from resources because of which the river is unable to supply water to the drought prone areas like Nashik, which are in its vicinity. So we can observe the pattern of how people from the resource origin are deprived froms the benefits as they are not economically strong enough to fight this political situation.

Government now is unable to put up with the water needs of this huge population in Mumbai. Even if the daily requirement is of 4200mld the government (BMC-Brahan Mumbai Municipal Corporation) it is able to supply 3400mld of water (TNN). This water is distributed unequally, areas where industries, commercial areas and plush areas of city are located get irregular water supply .Whereas suburbs often experience water shortage and water cuts for hours and sometimes even for a day. Due to these water cuts they have to arrange for expensive water tankers .Water tankers draw water from bore wells, thus excessive use of water tanks can result into ground water depletion. This water is not treated in appropriate ways and so cannot be used for human consumption. In overall view, the economically weaker section of the city has to pay more for its water which is not even potable.

Consumptive tendencies

Recently I had the opportunity to work for middle class house interiors in suburbs of Mumbai, where my role was to work out water requirements, inlets, outlets and fittings required for a 4bhk apartment in new constructed building. In spite of the water cuts prevalent in that area, clients demanded for head shower and body showers which required high consumption of water and replaced water efficient low power bath fitting provided to them. As the water pressure available in the building was not enough to supply water to high end showers extra power pumps had to be attached to the fittings so that they function. These individual consumptive tendencies are extremely harmful for an overll sustainable development.

In order to sum up the situation I would state that individual willingness for sustainable development is as important as the overall development national and international themes. Individuals should be made aware of their environmental responsibilities, which can then mould their lifestyle and choices in favor of sustainable systems.

Jadhav, Ranjit. “officials turn blind eye to encroachments claim oshiwara residents.” mid day 09 2014.

Partners, William McDonough &. “The Hannover Principles.” 1992.

R. B. Bhagat1, Mohua Guha2 and Aparajita Chattopadhyay3. Mumbai after 26/7 Deluge: Issues and Concerns in Urban Planning. Mumbai: RESEARCH GATE, 2006.

Thompson, Nisha. India water portal. 07 04 2014. 30 08 2016 <http://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/mapping-mumbais-water-supply>.

TNN. “Mumbai’s water woes to continue till 2016.” Times of India 25 08 2011.

UN. “Our Common Future, From One Earth to One World.” n.d.

UNEP. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. 06 1992. 28 08 2016 <http://www.unep.org/documents.multilingual/default.asp?documentid=78&articleid=1163>.

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