DC Debate: Skyscrapers near water bodies have their own challenges

In Hyderabad, the major casualty has been the environment, particularly the water bodies, including the Musi river. They have either become concrete jungles or are now cesspools. In the MCH area of the city, the population density has crossed 30,000 persons per sq.km mark. The area under roads is less than 6 per cent though the vehicle density per sq. km is more than 3,000.

We don’t have even the basic infrastructure like fire-fighting equipment for 10-storied buildings. In 2003, the Supreme Court identified Hyderabad as one of the 13 highly air-polluted cities in India. Yet the Telangana government proposes to build 60 to 100-storied skyscrapers around Hussainsagar.

Vertical cities are power intensive. They put more pressure on civic facilities such as the garbage clearance and drainage systems. In Hyderabad, these systems are already under severe stress due to apathy of the civic body. If the government’s proposal is implemented, it will lead to a major environmental disaster. Moreover, the cost of the project runs into crores, but it will benefit only a few ultra-rich people. The environmental disasters include loss of available lung space; rising flood risk; creation of a severe urban-heat-island effect etc.

There always have been regulatory issues when building along water bodies. Nothing in our track record indicates that we will stick to the regulations. We will most likely end up killing the water bodies.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister proposes to build the new capital along Krishna river. He proposed tentatively an area within the ring road of 75 km, and beyond it two more ring roads in the future. Vijayawada is on the other side of river Krishna and it will come inside the outer ring roads. This area was left out from the first ring road to facilitate the ruling party’s real estate business. Here the land development is put into the hands of politicians who acquired thousands of acres.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Vijayawada is already the third most polluted region with poor drainage system and narrow roads. The major casualties will be water bodies and agriculture. Thus with the proposed new capital, not only the Krishna river, but the fate of all other rivulets and water bodies will be the same as of those in Hyderabad. Krishna will become another Musi.

The proposed capital city of Andhra Pradesh should be an administrative capital on few thousand acres far away from the water resources. This should be an environment-friendly smart or green city like Canberra in Australia or Brasilia in Brazil or Putrajaya in Malaysia, through decentralising different activities.

Ramudu Veepanagandla, Additional chief city planner, Telangana

These tall towers should be designed to be sustainable, taking advantage of mass construction techniques, planning principles that take advantage of wind and solar energies. In some cases, there are central systems to collect waste for conversion to energy.

This proposed added density in the heart of the city is advantageous due to its strategic location. It is near the meeting point of NH-7 and NH-9, MMTS station of Lakdikapul, Khairatabad, Necklace Road, Begumpet, James Street etc. Also the three proposed Metro corridors will be passing by Husainsagar.

The skyscrapers being contemplated by the TS government are up to 200-300 metres in height. The structures can be used as residential, commercial as well as institutional complexes.

In the available space around Hussainsagar, about 20 towers may be planned. The towers should be green skyscrapers with energy-efficient and eco-friendly systems. They should have efficient water recycling units, quality indoor air and load analysis must be done carefully. Wind and seismic forces need to be calculated carefully too. Orientation of the buildings should be such that the beautiful view of lake is made available to all.

In any of the world’s biggest commercial cities, one can see a cluster of tall buildings in the heart of the city. Shanghai has 133 skyscrapers, Dubai 60 and London 21. Increased commercial density in the right locations can have positive economic impact.

There are 233 towers in India of 30 floors or more, and 50 per cent of the towers are located in Mumbai. There are only two buildings in that category in Hyderabad. In spite of the global recession, skyscraper construction activity has increased throughout the world in the last decade. Careful consideration of location is vital for tall buildings. However, tall is not the complete answer for our future, nor is low density environment. Society needs to find a balance between the two.

World population has reached 710 crore and is growing at 1.16 per cent per year. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand why tall buildings are the need of the hour.

Without big dreams, there would be no tall buildings. Conceiving, financing, designing and constructing a skyscraper is no simple feat. Many projects have had long gestation periods; many more have failed to start or have been cancelled. Thus, before taking a final decision, all legal aspects must be examined. If required, relevant rules must be modified. A technical committee comprising urban planners, architects, environmentalists, engineers, builders should examine and make preliminary suggestions on the proposal.