Smart cities to be green urban areas

MYSURU: ‘Smart cities' well could turn out to be verdant urban precincts as Indian plant biologists are set to present a plan to the government on tree-lined boulevards, and various types of aromatic and medicinal trees to be planted in lung spaces, and atop buildings.

A couple of varieties of Neem are certainly going to line streets in smart cities as these experts are keen to encourage the use of Neem products to combat Malaria and thus reduce the use of DDT, according to Dr Sudershan Kumar, Head, Bioinformatics & ICT, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow. A portal would be launched within a couple of months to help planners on selection of trees and plants ideal for each smart city as a new initiative to support these urban precincts.

“CSIR will inform the government how to implement our plan in two years. All details on advantages of each type of plants and scientific details in simple terms will be presented online to each district magistrate,” he added. He said traditional knowledge like use of Neem products to control Malaria would be integrated with planning of Smart cities.