Shimla secures 16th place in ‘climate smart city’ ratings

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 27

Shimla and Dharamsala, two smart cities of the state, have secured 16th and 90th positions, respectively, in the Climate Smart City Assessment Framework (CSCAF). As many as 125 cities had participated in the assessment.

Launched recently by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the objective of this initiative is to provide a clear roadmap for cities towards combating climate change while planning and implementing their policies and inculcate a climate-sensitive approach to urban planning and development in the country.

Solan, Palampur laggards

• The Climate Smart City Assessment Framework initiative was recently launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
• Four other cities — Mandi, Hamirpur, Palampur and Solan — also participated in the initiative
• All these finished with the rankings over 100, with Palampur taking the 125th place

While Shimla earned 1,387 points out of the total 2,800 points, Dharamsala finished with 556 points.

Four other cities — Mandi, Hamirpur, Palampur and Solan — had also participated in the initiative. All these finished with the rankings over 100, with Palampur taking the 125th place.

The cities were judged on five parameters — energy and green building, urban planning, green cover and biodiversity, mobility and air quality, water management and waste management.

Shimla earned the best scores in waste management, securing an impressive 510 points and a five-star rating. The facilities considered under this parameter included scientific landfill availability and operations, extent of wet waste processed, extent of dry waste recovered and recycled etc.

“We have developed a robust waste management system, right from collection to disposal. We generate electricity and compost from the collected waste,” said GM, Smart City, Ajit Bhardwaj.

What pulled down Shimla in the rankings was its poor performance in mobility and air quality and water management parameters. Shimla’s scores on these two parameters were below average — 198 and 150, respectively. While the components such as clean air action plan, level of air pollution, availability of public transport, percentage of non-motorised transport network comprised mobility and air quality index, the water management parameters had indicators such as energy-efficient waste water management system, energy-efficient water supply system, flood/water stagnation risk system, waste water recycle, etc.

“We could not perform well in the urban mobility and water management parameters. Besides other things, we lag in non-motorised transport such as cycling tracks and pedestrian paths,” said Bhardwaj. “As for poor scores in water management, we are doing well in water supply, but need to catch up on other indicators such as the use of recycled water, water harvesting, etc.”

5-point criteria

The cities were judged on five parameters Energy and green building; urban planning; green cover and biodiversity; mobility and air quality; water management and waste management

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