A 'Bottom-Up' and 'Climate-Aware' Model for Urban Planning
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance (Urban Local Governance - 74th CAA, Finance Commissions); Environment (Climate Change Adaptation); Indian Economy (Municipal Bonds); Government Policies & Schemes.
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Society/Geography): Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
General Studies Paper 2 (Polity & Governance): Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein; Important aspects of governance; Role of civil society.
General Studies Paper 3 (Environment & Disaster Management): Conservation; Disaster and disaster management.
Key Highlights from the News
To address rapid urbanization and climate threats, Kerala became the first Indian state to form a State-level urban commission - Kerala Urban Policy Commission (KUPC).
Unlike centralized, project-based urban planning models, the commission adopted a bottom-up approach based on local realities.
Key Recommendations:
Climate and risk-aware zoning considering hazard mapping.
Establish a digital data observatory (real-time data monitoring center).
Help urban local bodies find their own income through Municipal bonds and green fees.
Form city cabinets led by elected mayors, instead of bureaucratic administration.
Promote each city's unique economic character (Place-based economic revival).
The biggest feature of this report is that it formulated policies with public participation, by combining scientific data and the experiences of ordinary people (fusion of local narratives and data systems).
The article states that this "Kerala Model" is a guide for other states in urban planning.
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