33 0-changing cities building opportunities

Buildings Practice Facilities Plants/PetrochemicalsChapter 33

Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development1 Following part on this chapter is related to habitation requirement in Bharat/India in

particular, since more than 50 million houses, people of this nation have been waiting for decades, but all policies & planning have resulted only to smaller success

2 Following contents give a text of speech delivered by me during World Habitat Day function at IEI Faridabad Local centre & YMCA University of Science & Technology, joint celebration venue.

3 Speech is too small, for it was required to be covered between 12/15 minutes only4 Yet, an attempt was made to reflect exactly, what habitation has been working for

Indian/Bharat

Text of speech starts 1 World being a global village requires consideration of uniform development, so that its

citizens should avail justified facilities, which expectation should be realized, but it is virtually not feasible.

2 True that UNWHD charters/outlines requirements of changing cities philosophies, which looks fine at first glance, but its basic application is far from realization

3 Humanity demands justification to avail natural facilities to an equal opportunity basis, but that is merely acceptable within political statement/approach only

4 All nations are not economically equal, which impacts on propositions regarding quality of life that may be availed by its subjects consequently, citizens from one nation to other, have been deprived to avail indicative standard quality of life

5 Habitation is very significant requirement for a person, after food & clothing are made available, which should extend opportunity to all sections of society for concrete fact that about 50 to 70% expenditure goes to construction sector

6 But, what does habitation mean herein?7 Habitation varies from creating an ordinary hutment, through various classes of houses

low or high rise & destined to high profile palaces delivery8 Generally, no country had been well planned, while even so called advanced economies,

suffer on account of existing virtual slum clusters, though not so designated as such9 Bharat is a society of varying classes of people, varying classes of cultures & varying

classes of communities, all dealing with different sets of problems10 Bharat as a nation is rich, but majority of its subjects do not enjoy richness/haves11 This is true for ours, but it equally applies to many advanced economies, whose subjects

are not rich in person to own permanent habitation satisfactorily12 For national development, a right to shelter is a must, but every must cannot be met13 Bharat cannot be solely, defined as cities areas only, since as a nation it resides in villages14 It is unfortunate, that our polity has not been consistent enough, since beginning to help

all subjects avail habitation by support of state or society.15 Simply, contemplating on cities & towns’ development, part of a nation can prosper, but

not society as a whole and until, society as a whole is developed, nation cannot develop.16 Plans should be charted out in such a way that first basic requirements of a city or a town

& villages must be met, while other facts state that millions of subjects in our economy, do not even have drinking water, do not have good food, do not have sanitation, do not have adequate health support facilities & do not have electricity.

17 It is senseless to talk of housing them all, promising them habitation, which is not going to be availed, even in forthcoming decades.

of 19 2012 Int. P Eng Suraj Singh


Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development18 Simultaneously, it should also, be remembered that population explosion shall not assist

positively, to provide habitation to hundreds millions persons, until intensive family planning is achieved, which virtually does not look to be effected due to whatsoever reasons could be, political or otherwise

19 Yes, we feel pride for having developed many cities, many metros, many high rise buildings, but at what cost

20 We have been allowing diminishing agricultural lands & allowed land availability losses21 We have been allowing squeezing future sustainability by spoiling agricultural land22 We have failed in national efforts to get water for irrigation as still, we bank upon rain &

feel threatened, when it is either flood or drought in some parts23 We failed in preserving redundant storm waters during monsoon that goes waste due to

fact that no river netting could be achieved during last 60 long years24 What does it indicate? 25 Do we consider these facts seriously? Or we leave it to polity to decide26 Yes, cities have been developed nicely for example 27 Delhi has got many flyovers, but water logging could not be managed till day. Why?28 Why did engineers allow such designs in first place? 29 Why designers cannot think & resolve to drain out such water accumulations during rain?30 Why not such sudden logging could be contained by harvesting/by draining out down to

deep into ground strata as water return back to natural reservoir? 31 Whole city is brought to on hold/traffic jams during, even after 30 minutes heavy rain. 32 Where do we stand? 33 Is this engineering development or we just intend to show ourselves as international,

without being professional makers34 Is it an engineering & development objective to attain by adding a modern flyover not

resolving jams, but adding to water logging? Where has engineering gone to?35 Many cities do have added to respective geography, so called modern advanced housing

complexes in high rise columns as buildings naming them as world class apartments.36 What is world class within such apartments is out of common understanding?37 Inclusions of swimming pools, inclusion of certain shopping centre/s, inclusion of certain

security arrangements, inclusion of Jacuzzi, inclusions of certain high speed lifts may be referred to, for designating such buildings as modern, but is it fine?

38 Are these buildings having loss prevention provisions? Fire suppression provisions? Evacuation of occupants immediately?

39 Are these buildings having fire safety arrangements? 40 Are these buildings having seismic resistance provisions? 41 Are these buildings having adequate parking facilities? 42 Are these complexes having 60 % to 75 % green areas on ground for respiration non

polluted air? 43 Are these buildings having adequate electric supply & water distribution provisions based

on least energy consumption?44 Are these accommodations allowed adequate ventilation, so that at least during day time,

it should not require electric supply for reading?45 Are these buildings so designed that air conditioning should be used to a minimum

requirement?46 Are these buildings supplied water by pumping or by gravity?



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development47 Housing should be such that habitant has to pay a minimum affordable price48 Housing should be within reach of everybody49 When we see per sq foot covered area price from rupees 2500 to 5000, it is surprising.50 Can we imagine that a person earning even 50000 rupees monthly, maybe able to buy

such house?51 Just depending on loans is not a right approach & even, if loan is availed, it is severe head

ache for occupant to continue for decades due to high interest rates charges involved52 Habitation has been thrown in to hands of promoters, who have made unlimited profits

out of such projects, while consumers have to wait for years for occupations53 Prices of lands & accommodations, both have skyrocketed54 A land in Faridabad in 1989 rated say rupees 500 per sq yard, has gone to possibly rupees

100,000 to 150,000 55 Is it progressive habitation development or barring habitation of cities?56 Is it a solution for providing habitation to normal citizen or just habitation got a right only

for affluent/haves?57 We should not think that even high profile professional working on accounted money

only, can avail at least a good suitable house in Bharat 58 Apart from costing so high, quality & durability of structures do not meet

specifications/requirements in general, which consideration is very serious59 Quality responsibility must be owned by engineering community as a whole &

specifically, by civil engineers & architects60 Civil engineers are not legally protected under statute, while architects play respective

role under ambit of Architects Act 1972, wherein architects are covered professionally61 Every person can assume as an engineer whether or not, one is adequately qualified in

eyes of law, while fact remains that no such engineer title mandate exists 62 We can see growth of some mason as builder, some carpenter as builder, a layman as a

promoter, while engineer begs job from an architect, not from a client63 Those engineers, who are state employees, do not face such problems, but practicing

engineers do face in reality & of course, state employees from JE to CE job title, all consider themselves as engineers, while factually, a person responsible in all professional respects, can be designated as engineer & others as resident engineers

64 Engineer in practice howsoever long experience one would have, has to depend on others for job hunting

65 Those who work in whatever organisation, do not practice engineering owning responsibility, but assisting responsible engineer

66 Chartered engineer title exists on national basis under IEI authority, but it is not mandatorily, applicable for public safety by operation of law

67 Authorities have legislated on an arbitrary basis, local body’s registrations for civil engineers, which is not inline to schedule 12 provisions of COI-municipal authorities

68 Chartered engineers are not well aware of their charted rights to contest with authorities, when such CE certification is condoned & departmental registration is demanded

69 Until, adequately qualified engineers involve directly for supervision & prosecution of such structures pertinent all habitation classes, no suitable quality based habitation promotion can be achieved, keeping public safety at risk

70 Objective of habitation should not be appointed for money making by delivering substandard housing units, but for welfare of society including all classes of people



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development71 Let us consider an example of Delhi Metro air port tunnel, whereupon 150 houses en

route, developed cracks on structures caused by vibrations transfers impacts from tube’s operations, which shows that no proper soil investigation & stress calculations were conducted prior to finalizing designs

72 Many structures failed on other routes as well, while even in Bombay, accidents resulted73 Failure reports about other buildings under construction whether legally or illegally, were

received from all over Bharat, which status does not indicate good engineering74 Despite ours being called a knowledge economy giving us pride, but should we consider

it a pride or should we feel ashamed of?75 What are reasons that we cannot professionalize engineers for industry to care about cost,

quality & time of delivery, which are management requirements in all economies?76 Have been witnessed many failures in other economies as well, but we are concerned

about ours, since we have a large pool of educated engineers at all levels, varying from bachelor to professional & international

77 Apart from all factors, while carrying out development & construction, significant safety factors have been generally, neglected

78 An attempt to talk safety issues to many people reveals, as if a joke is made since HSES can only, be implemented overseas, not in Bharat

79 Safety first criteria with certain exceptions has been practically, unknown to engineers in Bharat unfortunately

80 I do not find difference within school of thoughts, between some Arabs & our citizens to this requirement

81 Should we not care about human life, what is meaning of physical development?82 Should we not care of poor & lower middle class, what is meaning of development?83 It is no use see a nation in hands of only rich & affluent, who enjoy all benefits84 Should we develop cities & towns, we should include all sections of society otherwise,

habitation contemplation is based on inconsistent theory, leading to incomplete development

85 True that engineers on their own are unable to realize as such, but at least quality & safety can be managed by resorting to rigidity during supervision, which does not happen in field is really an unfortunate state

86 As a person, I shall not like to be happy should a building housing thousands occupants, provided with all modern & ultra modern facilities, but found on accidental deaths of workers, who deliver building through promoter to occupants

87 Sin to construct such buildings for habitation, while society as a whole should be responsible for such bad construction

88 Development should go hand in hand with development of poor & needy.89 Generally, while noticing construction activities in cities, rusted steel reinforcing bars are

included on structures & further moisture allowed on90 Straight reinforcing bars delivered to various areas are bent to avoid trailer transport cost91 Construction workers & supervisors are not well trained on concrete technology92 Concrete Ready Mix Plants in general are not professionally, managed93 Engineers & supervisors do not bother about concrete parameters during delivery &

pouring, while concrete curing is not applied meeting specification requirements94 Defects are repaired to choice of laymen builders & sometimes not even noticed95 Professionalism on construction procedures look to be lacking qualitatively



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development96 Civil structural engineers confine to designing sphere only, sitting on computers in AC

rooms, without caring for field non compliance to construction procedures97 Many structural engineers do not release professionally based design working drawings

& relevant details, leaving site actions on reliability respecting ill trained personnel, for whom design got no concern, leading to waste of designer’s attempts, howsoever good design calculations could be

98 Certainly require professionally trained, traditionally trained personnel to chart out habitation to our cities & villages

99 Require such leaders, who are visionaries & care about masses rather than about certain few elites in society

100 Habitation is a gigantic process for Bharat due to a fact that there is no end to it101 Infrastructure requires development & augmentation to cater for current & future

needs102 Have to move long distance, probably many decades to achieve ‘habitation for

all’ objective for us 103 Engineers oblige a responsibility to learn first buildings qualities & then teach

others, who would construct such housing104 Architects should attempt to understand buildings from non aesthetic perspective,

which involves structures as well105 Engineers, architects & buildings services engineers should team up for delivering

a better product, without conflicting with interactive professional statutory functions106 An unfortunate development has effected by certain states authorities namely, one

being HUDA, which requires masters in structural engineering for issuing stability certification as a sole criterion

107 I do not consider & many of my fellow colleagues shall agree with it that more than bare qualification certificate, practical hands on experience, requires attainment.

108 Keeping all such facts in view, all drawbacks should be corrected reforming to an opportunity for evolving habitation, not only improving habitation standards, but also, by virtue of added training to production of large pool of real professionals & technicians

109 Nation can be built only, by habitation, should it be extended to all subjects for Bharat has got all indifferent problems/issues, incomparable to other nations

Text of speech ends Other related issues

This part on this chapter deals with added issues on foregoing speech, which were intended to be included, but due to short slot, could not be made as such1 Foregoing points were spoken during a speech delivered on world habitat day 1 st October

2012 @ Faridabad located IEI local centre/YMCA university of science & technology & later, posting was made on structural engineering form of India SEFI

2 Some very senior colleague Indian structural engineer Vikram Jeet read posting on SEFI portal with replies to posting, requiring additional issues to be included for labour & workers’ plight in construction field all over country

3 I was impressed by whatever comments, this gentle man delivered, pertinent to plight of construction workers, who in reality, own responsibility, to deliver all buildings & structures to society & world

4 Comments forced me to include facts of life, respecting all such poor members of community, cared by neither state, nor government, nor promoters, nor by professionals,



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable developmentbut have been continuously, being abused/misused & exploited by industrialists/business typhoons & others, in all forms against humanity, as they are not even treated as good humans.

5 Without concrete & reliable contribution by them about & from their hard work, when working in sun, working in rain & working in storm, being regularly, fed with lowest class food are unable to rise in life progressively, since they are paid very low wages.

6 These workers may be not educated in English language or Mathematics or in Sciences, but they are responsible to help all professionals, from all engineering & science disciplines, by extending respective services supports, so that all peoples’ dreams come true to reality

7 But, such efforts applied by them are not remunerated adequately, which speaks volumes pertinent their plight, while they are unable to raise voice due to involved with unorganized sector.

8 Our nation considers all such workers as labours, while these people are called coolies in Arabian world & particularly, from Asian countries, like Bharat/Pakistan etc. if they emigrate from

9 In eyes of an engineer, such persons should be designated as artisans, but are entitled as simply, trade workers, leaving respective considerations for crafting skills, attained by all such personnel

10 I use term personnel to give them regard, but all others give then labour title11 I agree with Structural Eng Vikram Jeet that without credit being extended to workers, in

preference to professionals, professionals got no right to award credit by themselves.12 These personnel in fact sacrifice a lot, when they lay their lives for sake of unsafe

construction work on all sites all over world13 Many projects failed or resulted into serious fatal accidents, killing hundreds of workers

on those locations, which incidents are not, even covered by news agencies’ broadcast in required details

14 Let me talk about civil engineer professional field work, while for time being, I keep off design section

15 My simple question is about skill or craft knowhow, attained by engineers & architects16 Carpentry, steel bars fixing, temporary works & so many other activities are not clear to

even, so many experienced engineers17 Problem erupts at start of certain new project, that requires kick off idea, which is not

adequately, conceived by an incoming fresh engineer18 Even myself, when I started my field work, I was not clear, after working for many years,

but with local authorities belonging to state, where one had to supervise works carried out by contractor

19 I still remember my knowledge’s negative status, when appeared in an interview for Iraq, as invited by a construction company Continental constructions at Nehru place in 1981

20 I was surprised to see myself, not even in a comfortable position to respond to more than 50% of practical questions, raised by interview committee & was made a ridicule stock by committee members

21 I was even asked to tell about my contribution to collapse, pertinent an over head water tank of RCC in Delhi, as I belonged to that department/local body

22 I just left with full degree of embarrassment asking self, what I had learned after 6 years of working under state services



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development23 Once, I was moved to Iraq, I could not understand for many months, what I was required

to do for company employing me, since my background had been from supervision position only & not experience to deliver projects

24 Then, I started keeping my close concentration to skilled workers & others, who used to carry out activities, so that at least, I could have certain working grip about minor & major methods regarding, whatever activities being performed

25 Later, I got work knowledge, started as self motivator & teaching my junior/equal colleagues due to my having plus point about writing & speaking skills in English

26 Even, being a professional on senior level, I usually involve with those personnel, who often work on activities practically, so that my instruction go clear to them

27 What I understand that projects are realized by firm support received from all working personnel, who should be considered as respected community equivalent to lead hands

28 Unfortunately, treatment towards such community, is unbecoming & intolerable29 One can see all over around various nations, where such workers carryout good jobs, but

they are not treated to an extent, their respective contributions deserve30 In India & elsewhere in gulf, they are not treated like human beings, forget about

extending to them, quality standard of living31 In Bharat/India, they are not even given all required safety equipment to allow safe

working, which unsafe working conditions, always keep them susceptible to accidents32 They are not given good/healthy food for feeding to generate energy to work more33 They are not given good accommodation/s, where certain human may stay34 Requirements of good living as I included in speech, which are food, clothing &

residence, often miss them due to their earning very low wages35 One can look at these workers, when to kill their hunger consume gutka, a narcotic, as

they hardly eat little good food, keeping abreast high cost of food36 They drink ordinary water, which can transmit disease to each worker, since distilled or

mineral water is out of worker’s reach37 They smoke bidis/tree leave tobacco foils to keep off tension for time being, by blowing

tension given stress into smoke to keep on moving for life goes on moving38 It is strange that, when we talk of habitation for nation & world, but we never care for

poor & needy, who shall in fact support nation to facilitate habitation & development39 We care for middle class & high ups people, who do not have any major problems to

encounter in life, but to enjoy life to individual liking successfully40 Question come up about, who can think for such community? Whether I, you or all? 41 There may be regulations for set industrial workers, but construction workers have been

neglected fully in Bharat/India at least, since independence42 Promoters & contractors do not at all care for their workers’ welfare, but keep on

exploiting them. 43 In fact, lesser amount spent on workers, assists contractors to submit low price bids to

win a job, since workforce coefficient or element on certain project, varies between 15 to 35% on cost of project, depending on nature of project, which means that works are won on sweat & blood of workers

44 Do we agree that persons living in unhygienic conditioned huts, can work with sound health & live good life? Only, certain unsound mind may reply in affirmative.

45 Do we think that they can send their children to schools for educations, within little income they earn?



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development46 Those workers, who find destination to overseas jobs, too spend considerable sum to

reach there & after reaching, find something else, as not promised by recruiting agent as well as, by employer, making all such emigrants depressed/feel cheated

47 I have even seen many workers in gulf, who could not clear off respective loans or money, spent to get jobs after regularly, working for 3 years

48 They keep living in stress & work under as such stressful conditions, but they have no other choice or option

49 Food they eat is low category, for salary is not high to afford good nutrient food50 Accommodation is shared in two tier beds, in a room, wherein about 20/30 workers can

be accommodated. 51 No use to discuss about clothing, sine hardly they are lucky to afford well dressed

clothing. 52 Situation is no different either in India or overseas for Indian workers53 Government has not established any set policy about such workers, due to which, lot

suffering occurs to this part of population54 Buildings, flyover & all other man made creations, speak a lot about their achievement,

but their life surviving plight also, speaks a lot about an overall mismanagement & no good governance by nation

55 Professionals may not think about these people, due to having no political powers, but at least can think regarding their plight, so that issues can be raised/forwarded

56 Industrials & promoters would not care about their social welfare, but only think of making more profit because of them/their hard work efforts

57 Who shall care for their welfare then? Only, persons utilizing their services. But when?58 Can people of Bharat/India & other nations, think to develop habitation, without first

habiting this community in life59 Indeed, world people are excellent at exploiting all these poor guys, but very few activists

work there, who may even think of such workers to care for them60 All persons know that Bharat/India is well advanced in housing & habitation if compared

number wise & not percentage wise, with other countries state of habitation61 Millions of shelters in form of palaces, bungalows, villas, plotted houses, individual old

type houses, high rise towers & multistory apartments etc. are available 62 Assessment requires around 50 million more, such shelters pertinent all categories63 Our personnel are good at work, irrespective of belonging to, whatever state within

India/Bharat64 We can have good opportunity & capacity to utilize this part of population to resolve

habitation issue in coming decades, but why shall they/haves not do, so much favour to us, who have already, been haves

65 Suffering construction workers do have natural as well as, traditional rights to lead if not excellent, at least a good/normal standard living

66 Should parliament not think of charting out certain national level laws in this regard, so that industrials, promoters & contractors can be forced to accommodate, extend good facilities & right to all such workers

67 Such amenities if provided to all such workers, shall of course, add to building cost, which may still be affordable within same price, a prospective owner pays to buy a house currently



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development68 Cost of housing has been rocketed too high to imagine in recent decade, ranging from

2500 to 10000 rupees or even more, per square foot covered area, which range is quiet good to permit provision of all required facilities be included/extended

69 Only, National Will can help enactment of such legislation & relevant follow up implementation

70 One can see that these workers lead life as better than beggars only & that too, when one has regular job, since jobs are not regular in construction sector

71 Has been noticed that many such workers not having good diet, are prone to disease like Tuberculosis, kidney, liver etc.

72 Certain steps can be taken to uplift their livings, by at least extending comfortable accommodations during project tenure, provision of good messing, so that they can eat good & sleep sound, which all provisions should be incorporated into contractor’s & promoter’s responsibility.

73 On top of such requirements, engineers, who are responsible to deliver all projects, should be cared about properly, as it is unfortunate that even after 60 years of independence, people are still not very clear about engineers role involved in national development, which includes industrialization as well as, socialization

74 Unfortunately, engineers are known for bad quality with linked corruption & not for, whatever services, engineer do for society

75 Engineers expect that they should be recognized on statute, on similar patterns, as other educated persons & professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, chartered accountants, companies secretaries & IAS etc. enjoy, why not then engineers?

76 Now, after deliberating at length, certain conclusion must arrive, so as to make use of what has been contemplated

77 It is a fact that India/Bharat public requires about 50 million houses in coming decades78 It is also, a fact that by 2025, vision to develop nation is of prime significance79 It is also, true that sustainable development shall be required to be given preference, over

all other considerations, based to national economical destiny80 When, sustainable development question arises to a sound mind, automatically, enters an

idea that natural resources’ survivability, is a must at all costs, since future generations, should be provided with natural requirements, come what may

81 What natural requirements could be? Very simple answer goes to all natural materials or supports or sources/resources, mother Nature Bharat Mata has blessed public of Bharat/India as well as, to other economies

82 When we talk of habitation for all people of Bharat/India, to provide all them, suitable houses, meeting each family economy affording capacity, to produce & deliver many crore/s house or shelters is no joke in simple terms

83 This mission requires very high degree of seriousness at all levels from village to national parliament

84 Bharat/India has always been a green economy, for centuries based on agricultural production, successfully, fed all its children without any major problem

85 This means that major land in ours, is agricultural, but due to having constructed hundred thousands of houses & apartments, millions of square meters lands area has lost its agricultural status



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development86 It is also, true that national economy could not evolve certain concrete policy, based on

which, continuous use of agriculture, would have been converted into an industry, benefiting farmers & workers

87 Solution to involve lands is a big question mark in Bharat related to all cities & states development, which also, counts on higher degree of consideration

88 Private promoters in connivance with state & government of Bharat/India have haphazardly, acquired millions of square meters of land from agricultural sector, by paying smaller money to farmers, under ambit of land acquisition act that operates, such acquisition to promote construction projects targeted for public use in/for public interest

89 Result has been that states acquire, such agricultural lands at set prices per acre, change land use & allot to licensed city promoters, developers at higher prices to add to revenue of government

90 Question comes to my mind, whether or not, such acquisition at every locations, as decided or opted by promoter or by relevant urban development ministry/planning commission/area boards, is a right step in right direction?

91 Does frame work of sustainable development accept, such division of lands by conversion from agriculture use to cities promotion use throwing away or discarding agricultural sector?

92 Shall such conversion of land use, not effect sustainability development adversely?93 Shall future generation not require dependence on agricultural lands & we would stop

agriculture partly, so that whenever required, to meet deficiency, pertinent food grains, nation may import from other countries by paying higher price in foreign exchange?

94 Should nation accept this imminent risk in future, asking or forcing its subjects for maintaining sustainability, to depend on cities only, to find employment, which certainly would not be available for ever?

95 Why should we not think to chart out certain non fertile /futile land areas to be used for purpose of urbanization, rather than pulling every fertile area into suburban status?

96 Is it not right way to allow development to villages, towns, cities in addition, solely confined to metropolis an exclusively?

97 Very well evident status of capital Delhi at least, which has been exploding its population from 5 million to more than 15 million currently, due to facts that migration from all other states & cities has contributed to this increase of population on explosive scale

98 State of art transport system, flyover & many other facilities, such as malls etc. have attracted non Delhi population, impacting load on available infrastructure, which has collapsed in all respects.

99 Water supply to homes has been affected, while electricity supply has been only, a party success even, after private distribution at higher price

100 Sewage disposal system too has been nearly failure, due to fact that water supply & disposal are related

101 Cleanliness system of city has been located at lowest standards due to many reasons

102 Water logging at all crossings & at flyovers have been state of art achievement, that bring whole city transport to an halt for hours, even after it is a heavy rain for half an hour

103 Hygiene is so poor that every year, epidemics have broken very commonly, giving thousand citizens severe sickness & high tolls pertinent casualties



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development104 Keeping all foregoing causes & state of cities, we with pride designate such cities

as world class is a ridiculous state of hypothecation105 It is unfortunate that even in 2012, we have not been able to keep cities clean, tidy

&healthy, free form bacteria attacks106 No drinking water is available in public, so that a common man need not buy

expensive mineral or distilled water107 Quality of water being supplied by water supply board is well known to all people108 Easy to understand what state of affairs & contemplate about such status in other

cities, when Delhi is showing detrimental achievements, even after spending billions 109 Politicians may claim whatever they wish, but facts cannot be denied by facts110 Nation should have considered into its perspective, 70 % area of lands, for

national agricultural to maintain on top, sustainable development, leaving 30 % areas for cities to develop, which figure is correct one

111 Equilibrium balance is required on natural resources gifted by nature to Bharat & land is one of such resources, while resources make sustainability of every nation, but Bharat has loosening all such natural wealth in name of economical globalization

112 Other resources are metals, minerals & many other wealth stores, such as gas & oil, though we have not led, so far to achieve all those

113 Habitation means everything, not simply having a shelter, but shelter should be connected to all facilities, such as road infrastructure, railways, commercial locations, commercial areas, markets, hospitals, schools, colleges, universities, electrical stations, other supporting infrastructural units, nearest towns & villages uniformly distributed over national geography

114 Such target strongly, requires involvement of pragmatism, pragmatic professionals & administrators, who do not care about earning profits only, but keeping nation at sustainable health

115 Honestly, we should not think in terms of, what other economies have done to develop

116 We have to develop ourselves based on domestic resources & domestic public as well as meeting our requirements, to be based on our society & culture

117 Our problems are not compatible to those nations, with whom, we generally, compare at political or administrative levels

118 Prices of lands & covered areas have skyrocketed to infinite level, that requires to be slumped to a sustainable level, so that sustainable development applies to common man, otherwise, all development would be a nightmare

119 Shall we build a sustainable nation for rich & haves only or for all citizens?120 Currently, habitation or housing has come out of pocket of a common man, who

works hard to make livings & cannot dream of a house during lifetime121 When it is heard that one apartment costs 25 crores, it is astonishing really. Do

you agree with me?122 Solution lies elsewhere, which requires land acquisition only, in areas that are not

fertile123 Habitation should be motivated over such lands & also, over areas that allow local

availability of natural materials, so that unnecessary, mining is avoided for material extraction



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development124 Housing can be scattered, but localized, in form of integrated planning, rather

than slender structures125 We should remember that respiring is also, required in addition of a modern

shelter126 We should not depend on only, elevators to rise to various floors, but riser of

stairs should be smaller, so that rising/ascending physically is preferred to some levels127 Architectural finishing & outlook is significant, but not more than structural

stability/adequacy of buildings, which is often ignored on sites, for sake of saving expenditure & time

128 Safety cannot be afforded to be ignored, but must be forced to be complied with, so that no workers die during work as well as, no untoward failure of structure mishap occurs, during post construction or during construction

129 Life of every person is valuable, whether or not one is a construction worker or one is a crorpati or multi millionaire

130 Not necessary that habitation promotes housing in high rise sky scrapers/tall buildings only, just to show others that we have advanced so much, but we should contemplate on multi stories buildings, which can be provided with required safety based included facilities

131 Life survival should be considered first point, which must allow emergency exits from buildings to a safer place, during fire or earthquake impacts impositions

132 Should not depend, only on helicopters to come out of buildings through roof terraces

133 Staircase should be used during such urgencies, since electric supply is disconnected during emergency situations dealings

134 Occupants shall not find trouble using staircase, during emergency, since its often use would also, be practiced, which is practically, feasible & sustainable in buildings up to 8 levels

135 High rise buildings may be promoted for certain specific requirements, such as hotels, non residential areas, which often remain unoccupied during night

136 Buildings should be framed well, so that it can resist all forces that would permanently, be imposed upon structures

137 Buildings should be constructed complying with quality standards in spirit of engineering & not to just fulfill documentation/dossiers formalities

138 Buildings should be well included with functional services, in a manner that least energy consumption is demanded for its successful operations & maintenance

139 Buildings elevations or envelop should be competent & consistent enough, to allow passage of sunrays throughout day hours, so as not to depend on electric power, excepting using appliances for cookery

140 Water supply, to building, should not require continuous pumping, but reservoirs should be included possibly, at higher levels for normal distribution, while ground or below basement tanks can be used for, during fire fighting water supply

141 Buildings should be designed in a way that every occupant gets good circulation space around apartment during 24 hours a day for pleasure of convenience

142 Garbage chutes should be provided at all levels, so that waste is collected at one location



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development143 All buildings & complexes should be provided with adequate parking around or a

separate building for car parking to accommodate multi levels 144 Complex should be connected by reliable access roads, without causing

congestion any hours during day & night145 Works of buildings should be carried out by those contractors or builders, who

have good strength of skilled personnel, trained well on construction specialty146 All such personnel including all construction workers of whatever, title, should be

extended all facilities, required by a human, so that one works comfortably, without worries & remains stress free

147 Clause or provision should be included within contract that all workers shall be provided relevant requirement for eating &accommodations in a satisfactory manner, equivalent to what is allowed for an educated personnel

148 Construction personnel of all titles should be considered as skilled craftsmen & not as laymen illiterate, as are often considered for treatment

149 Engineers should care about total quality on buildings, so that reworks are avoided, for it adds to cost & time as well as, adds to wastage of natural resources

150 Adequate safety arrangements should be implemented on all activities, whether temporary, preparatory or permanent, so that all workers do feel safe during work

151 Necessary welfare schemes should also, be allowed to all classes of workers & personnel to keep them all motivated

152 All should be extended equal basis opportunity for further development on occupations or on professions or callings, as case may be

153 Due credit should be given to all workers, so that they continue work on pro action basis, without feeling forced to work, as such undesirably

154 Also, has been noticed that to an extent, construction personnel require continuous training to keep an update about technology development, equally engineers & other executives do require continuous professional development to keep sustainable within profession

155 On job trainings therefore, should be made mandatory for all personnel & managers, which trainings should be charted within all field disciplines such as safety, methodology, planning, quality etc. so that refreshing as well as, newer information keep incoming regularly

156 Failures whatsoever, result in filed should not be hidden, but well circulated & brainstormed so that others know how to prevent such bad incidents

157 Lessons should be learnt from mistakes, so that future projects avoid such mistakes

158 Policy pertinent capping should be charted out for business that promoters & developers may not make excessive profits, more than a set percentage definition, for such excessive profit making attitude leads to generation of corruption & barring workers from availing certain plus benefits

Vision 2025-Engineering for sustainable development & inclusive growth1 Year 2025 is still 13 years away, but humanity requires preparation/home work to face

future challenges that can be forecast based on, whatever information pertinent past & current state of global village



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development2 Natural easement standards have been deteriorated by continuous exploitation of

available resources for sake of economic development & standard of living by all countries

3 In name of development, only growth of economy has been considered significant on top of all other criterion

4 Values which humanity had as a wealth, does not exist in streamline anywhere5 Even in Bharat/India, which used to be a legend of values, have lost its professing status

to those standards that do not match to out occult & spiritual attainments6 Mundane requirement & economical sustainability at cost of maintaining natural

equilibrium has given rise to current destabilization of natural procedures 7 Conduct of human towards nature & god has changed drastically8 Human is a god’s creation, who can progress only, should one live in line to natural

systems compliance & not to go oppose 9 Sustainable existence depends on total equilibrium of nature, humanity & natural

resources, while defect in one, inculcates defect into other one10 No need refer to green house effect, as all you know very well11 Humanity has to survive & to survive, human should train to be moulded to natural forces

pertinent both adverse as well as favourable factors12 Human should be physically & mentally fit, prior to keeping up with development13 Spirituality, physical exertion & balanced vegetarian food can help in this direction, for

which I am sure, this statement shall not be considered related to certain religion14 In 2025, world population many reach more than 8 billion mark, while Bharat/India,

could touch 2 billion mark, a drastic state for us, a point of serious concern15 Engineering may help to provide required infrastructure, habitation, cities growth,

villages’ growth, national growth in terms of industrialization & support to society physically

16 Engineering may provide revolution to standards of livings quality standards, but cannot provide peace of mind & conscience

17 We are not short of natural resources of whatever sort, but we are not well managed as far as policy criterion is related

18 We do not have any concept to combat population explosion that has successfully, worked for many decades, contributing to increase in population for crores of people, who do not have capability to make livings every day to survive

19 Our state also, contributes to degrade them by designating them at level below poverty line

20 Our farmers, who are our spine, our bases are deprived of their agricultural lands, their growing rights due to various economic reasons.

21 We know that thousands of farmers have committed suicide, just because survival had been a question mark for them, which they were not successful to respond to resulting non survival of life

22 News come every day that people started committing suicide because of no means to survive, while state is helpless to look after public

23 State’s concentration is only, towards economical reforms, while total reform of society has been forgotten by all

24 Education was a very high profile during middle decades of 20 th century, which has lost its values now.



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development25 One has to spend millions on education to become professional person, which cannot be

responded by future sustainability26 Should we consider a doctor, who spend 50 lakhs to one crore, to get a degree shall

honestly work in profession?27 Engineering can help everybody, but engineering is no magical profession28 Engineering is now, not considered as a profession religiously, but a corridor to make

money, just like medical & other profession, which all have lost religious approach29 Engineering can help not only, sustainability in 2025, but also, it can assist human &

nations develop for ever30 Engineering technologies have been developing & also, have been very well progressing

to further develop to help humanity31 Engineering has diversified to more than 15/20 disciplines, support of which is adequate

to develop country32 Engineering has a capacity to produce national & international infrastructures, which has

been to come extent been successfully conducted33 Engineering & technologies together are capable to extract required natural resources in a

phased manner base on long term planning, which resources may be used for industrialization & infrastructures development

34 It is also, not correct to extract out resources for sake of just selling only or to exporting for earning foreign exchange

35 Industries that produce eco friendly products require, to be promoted extended with all supports

36 Engineering is well developed to carry out such development in national interest, since without industrialization, no development can move or set destiny achieved

37 Industries producing foods, clothes, articles of common use, materials required to be included with further development of infrastructure etc. should be given priority, so that requirement to import such products, be avoided to keep our foreign exchange intact

38 Recent evidence regarding gas based power plants, which have been produced, but are not able to function due to non availability of gas, is not an acceptable part of development process

39 Electric production is of significance so as to get support to run industries all over40 Nuclear based electricity has not so far been successful in Bharat due to unknown reasons41 Moreover, nuclear based energy may be useful for development, but it also, adds to

problems to dispose its waste, which add to environment issues & impact on people in general

42 Example of Bhopal gas leak cannot be forgotten, which reminds its bad effects still 43 Even, cities & urban areas do not have continuous supplies so as to support industries

function, how should we consider that our rural areas shall be able to be provided with electric supplies

44 Without electric supplies, we cannot irrigate farms, while farmers feel helpless45 Unfortunately, rain water is not preserved & no attempt has been made in this direction at

all46 Keeping in view, vast areas over which, rivers travel, engineering planning of netting for

physical connectivity could not be effected due to, whatsoever reason could be political or otherwise, but that is a route to lead us to a positive part to sustainability



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development47 Huge funding shall be required for that to implement, but who cares, while such world

level project may provide jobs to millions for many years, requirement of materials in major quantities, production of multipurpose reservoirs & production of electricity, so that many problems could be taken care of forever or for at least till half life if all such structure is over

48 Pro action had been expected from government for decades, but so far nothing has been achieved in this direction, which clearly indicates no national Will

49 Heard many times during many years that farmers have committed suicide for not being able to clear respective loans, which state of affairs is really astonishing due to fact that those who deliver to us food grains to survive, killed themselves

50 Where are we reaching to, when we find ourselves within such situations, which got no answer from state or people?

51 Why farmers are not supported by state as well as, by society to survive for a good future?

52 On what basis we call ourselves or intend to be called a power. 53 Do farmers die like as it happens in ours?54 What are reasons that farmers are not allowed prices for their products so as to do

agriculture business based on adequate engineering? 55 Agricultural is an engineering industry, without which humanity cannot survive &when

its operators start committing suicide, what should we think of about sustainable development is a question mark?

56 All engineering technologies are available to run agricultural industry efficiently, yet it is not fruitful due to what reasons, should be searched about rising above all politics

57 Life of every citizen is precious & significant then one may be a farmer, whose survival must be located at # 1 at hierarchy, but unfortunately, it does not happen as such & farmer is not considered anywhere

58 Heard that farmers are not even able to get return of earnings, even to salaries paid to peons in government offices, which situation impacts on minds, what is our nation about

59 When we as a nation cannot care about our most significant part in society, how can we expect that we would develop ourselves in all areas?

60 Why are we not able to provide 24 hours electric supplies to farmers, to allow continuous irrigation for growing crops? What should farmers do otherwise?

61 Engineering should be equipment to chart out schedule & implement production of electric powers stations in all those areas, where powers stations are not available, while where already built, should be attempted from all aspects to be commissioned so as to generate power for distribution

62 Privatization of electric production was planned for meeting requirements, but could not lead to a success, reasons could be one & many, but resolution should be charted out for future management

63 Engineering management& policies decisions can boost this sector for many years successfully

64 Nation requires storing arrangement for food grains that are perished during rains, while millions of our population do not have food grains to eat, we permit such wastage, which is a serious issue

65 Reasons are not understood, why silos or other storing arrangement cannot be built to accommodate such materials during rain or for on long term.



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development66 Countries like Iraq & Libya constructed such structures long back to preserve their food

grains, since they valued food grains, while I think, in ours, we do not value such easily available commodity on similar pattern, as we do not value construction workers & other capable personnel, who are easily available at economical price, which state of affairs does not assure that we are able to sustain on a higher profile even after 2025

67 Such structures can be constructed even, in villages on smaller volumes, so that farmers can store grains or even, purchase of grains authorities can arrange for such promotion at smaller scale, but no thought has been given to such perception at cost of spoiling food ingredients

68 Government schemes can help such project or farmers at cooperative level can promotes such arrangements at help of state, which process can at all levels be supported by engineering community in all respects of requirements

69 Every person talks of development of cities & urban areas only, while real development is required & due for many years respecting rural areas all over Bharat, which is real India &not urban cities confinement

70 We have been very successful in transforming all cities so called previously, posh areas to equivalent to slum by allowing hutment clusters due to political reasons only, otherwise, why should high scale migration from all such rural areas to cities should effect?

71 It is because development of cities to attract others, either to find jobs or to reside in developed facilities, but facilities have not been proportionally, augmented to meet additional loads, which results in bad supply of water as well as, deficient electric supply in all seasons.

72 Engineering is well equipped to develop all areas, provided funding is made available, since no issue exists in country regarding engineers or engineering executives as well as related workforce

73 Further linking arrangement from villages to towns to cities, certainly consists of state roads, which are not well developed in remote areas, which should be taken care of in coming years, for a better &efficient traffic movement, which can be implemented by engineering should funds be made available

74 Railways require improvement in an overhaul fashion, due to fact that we have largest network, but performance has been questioned now due to unfortunate accidents during past years.

75 Still expires age bridges are being used, without retrofitting, while no controllers appear to be serious.

76 Most significant part pertinent certain society is matched by standards of education levels in all sectors of requirements.

77 It has been noticed that engineering education levels have slumped in past years. 78 Our engineers used to be on top of world, but recent trends have declined to produce such

confident level engineers, which cause could be open shops/universities admitting students by charging capitation fees, while equipped with no required infrastructures

79 Education has been made an industry without process. 80 How can we expect that education be sold & purchased? 81 Not only, in engineering sector, but it also, applies to medical sector. 82 Society has changed a lot, which considers achievement measurement using scale of

earning capacity.



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development83 Values pertaining to education have dropped in morale, while only aim to obtain degree

is to advance economically or to join West nations. 84 Aim for serving society has been lost in darkness somewhere, which cannot be relocated

to bring back to light85 We are contemplating on sustainable development based on engineering, but keeping in

view such unfavourable social circumstances, it is difficult to accept that we may achieve goals

86 We require either to move comparing with West or to move keeping abreast our own problems that we only can solve.

87 Our problems are very different that all other nations never faced, while they cannot solve as well, since they understand issues with other angles, which we do not consider as such

88 We require education based on our requirement, since our West educated professional could not deliver, what they were expected so to do.

89 Bharat cannot service using West school of thought based contemplation. 90 We have agriculture base, while all population cannot be accommodated in urban areas,

which is an impossible consideration91 Engineering with state & government sources have to move to rural areas to understand

respective issues to find solutions based on national requirements, which engineering community can very well dispose off

92 We require shelters, but not at current costs. 93 We require such houses not at world level development, but meeting our resources &

requirements. 94 We must check about lowest profile people, who are workers & farmers. 95 They do not require sky scrapers or so called world class development. 96 Should we not solve such problems, we may never reach to a status for our future

generations, on sustainable development basis, while we would be cursed by our children rightly, that we failed to deliver to them their rights.

97 Engineering community in particular, budding engineers, require practical training to understand engineering rather than theoretical knowledge, on an exclusive basis.

98 A trend has emerged that after passing first degree, every engineer intends to add more degrees to CV, which may not be a right step all times.

99 Practical professional knowledge is of utmost significance to deliver products, which after having many years of state of art experience, convert practicing professional to field doctor based on achievements & continuous professional development

100 Many practical courses during field based working, have been designed by many countries, which award titles such as doctor of engineering, which can also, be introduced as such to promote practical degrees rather than university based academic degrees

101 A new agreement by alliance of many nations, has allowed now professional to be awarded professional engineer & international professional engineer title on global basis.

102 Such titles global designs are right steps in right direction, since in addition to degree consideration, professional experience is valued on higher consideration, leaving degree behind many years, with certification validity only, for 5 years renewable a number of times, every 5 years based on continuous professional development records & mandatory interviews.



Changing Cities Building Opportunities Sustainable development103 FYI EMF register for India has been authorized to IEI, who represent India

globally.104 Engineers should make use of such certification, which requires multitude of

knowledge, not only in engineering, but also, in other fields such as law, safety, quality, social science, economy etc.

Supplementary Note for general browsing1 Included certain design views pertinent to a small building, executed/delivered in

2008/2010 in NCR Faridabad2 Views include few drawing sketches indicatively pertinent to architectural & structural

disciplines3 Views include few images showing various elevations both external & internal4 Total 38# sides exhibit, what type of windows should be preferred for ventilation &

illumination objective, that whole day long, sunlight remains available5 Also, indicated, adequacy of RCC structures required for such buildings


33 0-changing cities building opportunities

Engineering

Transcript of 33 0-changing cities building opportunities