Section – 6
ILLUSTRATION OF PULSE IN THE CONTEXT OF TAMIL NADU
PULSE Model Applied to the State of Tamil Nadu, India
The application of the PULSE concept will be illustrated in the context of the state of Tamil Nadu. Although Puducherry and Karaikal form small geographical pockets in the region (as parts of a Union Territory), they will need to be considered in the development plan for Tamil Nadu region.
Tamil Nadu is a reasonably urbanized and well-developed state, and yet the quality of life here needs substantial improvement. Unfortunately, most development has taken place in and around major cities of the state, particularly Chennai. The rural areas have received only less than equitable attention they are badly in need of. It is time that the people realized that non-holistic, uncoordinated development initiatives are not in their long-term interests. A case in point is the largely unplanned, uncoordinated and/or uncontrolled growth of Chennai and this has led to the continuously worsening situation in terms of the traffic, utility services, pollution, etc. That the people of Tamil Nadu are still able to positively contribute to the state's, and indeed the country's progress, unmindful of such inadequacies, is ample testimony to their determination, spirit, enterprise, and resilience. If only these development issues are adequately addressed and resolved, there can be no denying the invigorating effect it will have on all aspects of people's life in the region.
Since the experience of living in this sprawling and almost ugly metropolis (See Fig. 6.1 & 6.2) and the observed and reported plight of the non-city dwellers have led to some of the original ideas in shaping the proposed PULSE model, it is perhaps appropriate to demonstrate how the model can be applied to the context of this region/state and highlight various elements of planning that need to be addressed in order to develop an inclusive development strategy, considering the entire state as one eco-region.
Fig. 6.1: A satellite image of a typical congested middle class locality in Chennai (Madipakkam and Velacheri). The two red lines highlight the only two main access roads to this area. The one on the left is too narrow for such a densely populated area. The water bodies seen in this image do not serve any useful purpose anymore. Lack of proper planning has rendered the drainage course at the center is dysfunctional. No wonder therefore that this area is flood-prone during monsoon seasons. The Pallikarai swamp to the right of the image has been lost for ever because of the thoughtless housing development in the area. Urban middle class certainly deserves better. (Image Courtesy: Google Earth)
Fig. 6.2: While some early developments in Chennai were well planned and well laid out, later developments were not, providing some stark contradictions. The area shown enclosed by red lines is the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, situated in a park reserved for deer. Note the well spread out layout of the human habitat that has coexisted harmoniously with the deer and other animals for over 50 years. Contrast this with the private housing development shown enclosed by blue lines. Area to the right of the yellow line was developed mostly the State Housing Board and the layout is slightly better, but is no comparison to IIT's. Many government facilities including the IT Park (Tidel Park) are located in this area to the left of the yellow line and are generally laid out better. (Image Courtesy: Google Earth)
Confederation of Indian Industries [CII] released the document, "The Vision 2025" for Tamil Nadu, ("CII TN Vision 2025 Aims to Address Six Concerns," 2009) which addresses six areas of concern viz., healthcare, public distribution system, skills and education, industrial development, and spirit of innovation.
Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) CMD, S. Ramasundaram, has pointed out that infrastructure development had no explicit mention in the Vision 2025 document. PULSE, if adapted to Tamil Nadu's conditions, will fill the gap.
The Urgent Economic Necessity
Even from an exclusively economic perspective, planned growth in the state is an urgent necessity and a reference to Table 6.1 of population projections for the state until the year 2026 should make this all too evident.
Table 6.1: Projected Tamil Nadu's population
Out of the projected total population for 2026, 55.543 million are expected to be more than 18 years old and 12.277 million more than 60 years old. So the working population can be expected to be 55.543 minus 12.777 million, i. e., 43.266 million people in the employable age-group of 18-60 years. About 40% of this working population will be assumed to gain employment in agriculture, animal husbandry, dairies, fisheries, etc. as well as the public sector (the government and the government undertakings). The remaining workers will need to be employed in the private manufacturing and service sectors. This will also consider the more than likely scenario in 2026 of having to provide reasonable opportunities for gainful employment to both men and women of the state with relatively high skills and increasing education standards. The state needs to create the right industrial climate that will encourage private sector players to set up manufacturing and service facilities in the state so that 26 million jobs will be on offer by 2026, both old and new jobs. Even if more accurate estimates can be made in the future, these numbers are bound to be formidable. In 2008, the number of jobs in the public sector was only 1.5 million (Government of Tamil Nadu, 2009) and the government cannot be expected to increase this number many-fold by 2026. So, most new jobs are to be created in the private sector. Besides, if the new jobs are sought to be created in major cities that are already bursting on their seams, only urban and social chaos will result. It is time therefore that not just the right industrial climate is created in the state but also equitable distribution of growth potential across the state is ensured.
GRITAM
Distribution of opportunity-creation-possibilities all across the state needs a firm commitment to immediately initiate an inclusive, planned development process. The PULSE model could be adapted to develop an RDP for Tamil Nadu called GRITAM (Grand Redevelopment of Infrastructure in TAMil Nadu) as discussed below. (The Indian word 'Gritam' means 'Crown'.) The following will only attempt to discuss in very broad terms how this process can be achieved. As discussed earlier, only the people of the region can take on the adaptive challenge and draw up detailed RDP based the current and accurate economic and other data obtained from various sources.
Development Triangulation
The basic design of Development Triangulation involves identifying the nodal hub locations and ensuring their spatial connectivity. This task has been relatively straight-forward in Tamil Nadu. The state already has a number of cities and towns that can serve as nodal hubs. They are located approximately 100 miles from each other in an approximately triangular grid pattern and interlinked by good transportation facilities. This has been a definite advantage in preparing the development triangulation for the state.
Identified Nodal Hubs
Over a period, the following cities/towns have already developed into centers of major economic activity in the state and are proposed to be nodal hubs in the model:
- Chennai
- Vellore
- Hosur
- Salem
- Vilupuram
- Cuddalore
- Nagapatnam (Nagai)
- Tiruchirapalli (Trichy)
- Coimbatore
- Madurai
- Ramanathapuram (Ramnad)
- Tenkasi
- Thirunelveli
- Thoothukudi
- Kanyakumari/ Nagarkoil
Based on the above selection and a study of transportation facilities existing in the state (to be discussed in the next section), Fig. 6.3 provides a modernist diagram of the proposed triangulation (after Harry Beck's geo-schematic map of the London Underground system), in which can easily be identified various strategic development triangles and the primary logistic corridors.
Fig. 6.3: Proposed Development Triangulation of the state of Tamil Nadu
The corridors shown in blue have both major roadways and railways running alongside each other and hence it would be ideal to locate major industries along these corridors, provided that industrial services available along these corridors are upgraded to the desired quality.
The physical layout of the triangulation is also presented in Fig. 6.4 and details of some of the development triangles are shown in Fig. 6.5 & 6.5. It may be noted that the proposal fits in well with the current initiatives for road and railway development in the state.
Fig. 6.4: Physical Layout of the proposed triangulation (Scanned Image of an Map of Tamilnadu by Eicher)
Fig. 6.5: Development Triangle with its nodes at Thiruchirapalli, Madurai and Ramanathapuram (An enlarged part of Fig. 6.4)
Fig. 6.6: Two Development Triangle are shown. The first has its nodes at Tenkasi, Kanyakumari & Tirunelveli; and the second has its nodes at Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari & Thoothukudi. Hilly areas on the left are thinly populated and do not have major roads. Such areas are important from bio-diversity considerations besides the wealth of the forest and will receive special attention in the RDP. (An enlarged part of Fig. 6.4)
Tamil Nadu has 6 cities (municipal corporations), 152 major towns (municipalities) and 561 towns (panchayats). Therefore, identification of business centers from among the towns exiting along the primary logistic corridors is not going to be difficult. Nor is the identification of people centers, for the same reason. Although this needs to be taken up as a part of RDP preparation, some obvious choices of people centers and the secondary logistic corridors present themselves as indicated in the diagrams shown. The state has an intricate network of village roads and the tertiary roads can be selected from among these, after the people centers are identified.
For this planning process to become complete and holistic, two other vital growth stimulators viz., water and energy need utmost attention. These sustain not just the businesses but also the people of the region.
Logistic Infrastructure Network
Tamil Nadu has a good network of roads which are being continually upgraded. The existing network and the state's road development plans are shown in Fig. 6.7.
Fig. 6.7: Tamil Nadu has good road network that is being continually upgraded (Image Courtesy: www.tn.nic.gov)
The East Coast Road (now in various stages of development to connect Chennai with Kanyakumari via the coastal towns of Cuddalore, Nagapatnam, Ramnad and Tuticorin) will also serve as a vital industrial corridor besides being of strategic importance for the coastal security. Many big industries can effectively leverage the proximity of many possible sea ports along this corridor. The availability of sea water also makes this corridor appropriate for locating many industries such as power plants. There is already a nuclear power plant at Kudangulam on this corridor (besides the one near Chennai) and private sector mega-power projects are being planned with imported coal. Cue may be taken from the Chinese experience with the development of its coastal areas and the workers' migration to these areas.
The state government already has a Road Sector Project in place. Some of the recent initiatives have vastly improved the quality of some of the roads in the state. The emphasis should be on quality and not widening to handle more and more traffic, especially due to private vehicles, since the PULSE model aims for minimizing the energy spent on transportation, an important sustainability requirement, besides making economic prudence in a country that imports much of its oil requirements.
The state also has a good railway system as shown in Fig. 6.8.
Fig. 6.8: Tamil Nadu is well served by a good network of railways. A few improvements will make the system much better in the future. The meter gauge tracks (shown in blue) have mostly been converted to broad gauge like the rest of the network (shown in red). Dashed lines indicate gauge conversion work in progress. A new rail link between Kanniyakumari and Karaikudi via Tiruchendur, Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram will complete the East Coast Railway. (Image Courtesy: Railway Ministry, Govt of India)
The 'Project Unigauge' has almost completely phased out non- broad gauge tracks. There is a proposal to lay a new east coast line between Chennai and Cuddalore via Puducheri. In addition, the recently completed direct link between Karur and Salem will open up an inland railway corridor connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Tamil Nadu with its vast coast-line of 1000 KMs. has three Major Ports at Chennai, Ennore and Thoothukudi. A Major Port is sought to be set up at Colachel. Government of Tamil Nadu (2009) has adopted a policy for the development of many minor ports. Tamil Nadu Maritime Board (TNMB) is responsible for its implementation by inviting private sector participation by licensing captive and commercial ports at Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Rameswaram, Pamban, Valinokkam, Kanyakumari, Colachel, Kattuppalli, Ennore, Cheyyur, Thiruchopuram, Silambimangalam Shipyard, Tirukkadaiyur, Thirukuvalai, Punnakkayal, Manappad, and any other port to be identified by TNMB. The results of all the studies undertaken by TNMB will be considered in the proposed GRITAM, with further fresh inputs.
The state has operating airports at Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Madurai. Besides, per OurAirports(2009), a community airport web site, there are old disused airstrips at Ramnad, Chettinad, Kovilpatti, Kayattar, Thoothukudi, Hosur, Salem, Vellore and Neyveli.
Fig. 6.9: Airports and airstrips in the state, both operating and disused. (Image Courtesy: www.OurAirports.com)
It would be strategically important to upgrade Thoothukudi airport to serve the southern districts. If the problems in developing Pudhucheri airport continue, the nearby Neyveli airstrip may be considered for development. Similarly, the airstrips at Vellore and Ramanathapuram may be rehabilitated/upgraded. In addition, a new airport may be planned near Nagapatnam to accelerate the growth of the area.
The hilly areas and forest areas along the western ghats will need special attention. Because of the terrain, efficient surface transport to all human settlements scattered over the area will prove almost impossible. These settlements will need to be provided public helicopter services, not just in emergencies but also for improving their normal economic and social activities, to and from strategically located helipads. Identifying suitable Business Centers and how they can be logistically connected with people centers will need special attention, as do communication facilities for the area to thrive.
Coastal area development will essentially be linear. This aspect has been indicated in the figures showing the possible development triangles for the region. Identifying Business Centers in this area will also need special attention. Branch roads perpendicular to the coastal corridor will link the many human settlements near the shoreline. Emergency relief centers along the coast also need to be upgraded.
Water Resources
Tamil Nadu has always been a drought-prone state. It relies mainly on rainwater for sustenance, mostly from the North-East monsoon (750-1000mm during October-December) and to a lesser extent on South-West monsoon (250mm during June-August).
To add to Tamil Nadu's hydro-geological disadvantages, it has an ongoing, sensitive dispute with the neighboring Karnataka state with regard to sharing the waters of the river Cauvery which is only major river system in the state. Since Chennai has been allowed to grow to its present size, the water woes of the metropolis was sought to be met by some expensive and controversial Veeranam and Krishna water projects. (It is sad that there are some other Indian states that have also implemented such high-cost, long-haul water conveyance projects to meet the needs of their over-grown cities.)
Fig. 6.10: Tamil Nadu's water resources situation (Image Courtesy: Google Images)
The hydrological characteristic of the Indian monsoon necessitated the creation of storage facilities to hold the rainwater of the monsoon and utilize the same at a later date. With extraordinary engineering, managerial and social skills, an extensive system of rainwater harvesting structures like the traditional tank (Eri) and pond (Oorni) had been built and maintained in Tamil Nadu for centuries. It must be mentioned here that similar ingenious rain water harvesting systems have existed in other Indian states as well, each designed to suit the specific local conditions and customs. (CSE Webnet & CPEERC, 2007)
Nearly 40,000 Eris (besides 61 major reservoirs) are located in hydrologically favorable sites, some of them in sequential chains or cascades, effectively capturing the rainfall and serving multiple uses with irrigation having the major share. (Gomathinayagam & Ratnavel 2007, and Shanmugham & Gurunathan, 2007)
Fig. 6.11: Traditional irrigation tanks of Tamil Nadu that were an excellent example of ancient and ingenious rain water harvesting system of this semi-arid region that depended on monsoon rains for its water resources
Fig. 6.12: Tamil Nadu government is currently implementing a World Bank funded project to revive these tanks. More such initiatives need to be undertaken to meet the growing water demands in the state. (Image Courtesy: Google Images)
Fig. 6.13: A closer look at the clever land use practice in the state that had clearly assigned land for irrigation tanks, feeder canals, cultivated lands between tanks and human settlements (villages), all planned for sustainability. (Image Courtesy: Google Earth)
Eris have played several important roles in maintaining ecological harmony as flood-control systems, preventing soil erosion and wastage of runoff during periods of heavy rainfall, and recharging the groundwater in the surrounding areas. The 'tank' system shows that long before the great dam-building projects of the 20th century, the people of this part of India had a firm grasp of hydraulic engineering. And, unlike many of today's big dams, this system of water management was in harmony with the environment. The tanks also supported bio-diversity and provided a vital habitat for birds such as pelicans, painted storks, and common cranes, and wildlife like spotted deer, wild boar, and occasionally, tigers.
Tank irrigation systems are simple but fragile structures. They have to be constantly maintained, monitored and conserved. But, this age old but ingenious system of water management as the most appropriate for the region has been in a sorry state of neglect, ever since the late 1700s.
The objective of the currently ongoing IAMWARM (Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water-Bodies Restoration and Management) project in Tamil Nadu (The World Bank, 2007) is to increase irrigated agriculture productivity in a sustainable water resources management framework. The main component of the project is the modernization of irrigation systems in a river sub-basin framework with the focus on reviving traditional water bodies (tanks) that are an integral part of most systems networks in the state. Activities under this project will include modernization of control structures such as anicuts (diversion weirs), associated supply channels, cross masonry structures, desilting of tanks, strengthening of tank bunds, flow measurement arrangements, distribution system upgradation, canal access and modernization of sluices and surplusing arrangements.
According to local experts, however, there is no point in reviving a tank if the feeder channel is blocked, which is the case with many tanks. It is said that politically strong people may be encroaching the inlets and nothing is done about them. Besides, as most tanks are inter-linked, encroachment on the feeder channel of one tank affects several others.
Restoring the physical conditions of tanks through rehabilitation and modernization is of course the necessary condition for improving the water resources situation in the state; but equally critical is to find ways and means to keep the modernized tanks in good conditions, on a sustainable basis. Maintenance is the responsibility of both the government and the farmers. Without a well-defined program to ensure this, the huge amount spent on physical rehabilitation will become fruitless after some years. An evaluation of the outcome of tank rehabilitation projects indicates that the importance given to structural improvements overshadows the institutional development. (Sakthivadivel, et. al. 2004)
Fig. 6.14 The major issues with tanks that need to be effectively addressed by the government. All of them need attention in order that the current restoration programs are successful (Image Courtesy: Google Images)
Results of IAMWARM project (in the final stages of implementation) will be eagerly awaited. Hopefully, it will result in institutional development as well. Besides, it will be worthwhile to identify potentially new locations for developing more such water bodies to meet the growing needs of the increasing population. Reddy, Reddy & Soussan (2004) make a special case for building check dams in Indian context. They note that the most important ecological impact of check dams is groundwater recharge and revival of open wells. This is of vital importance in semi-arid regions in Tamil Nadu.
The tanks of Tamil Nadu and the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (UNESCO World Heritage Site: 722, 2009) make an interesting study on the amazing similarity of technological wisdom of two ancient communities living so far away from each other. The Ifugao tribe built the terraces in Cordillera highlands (more than 2000m above sea) and inundated narrow benches on the steep hilly terrain with water to facilitate rice cultivation. This was a terrace farming technique known to other parts of the world as well, but was particularly designed for rice cultivation. Similar system has been in use by the Apatani tribe in Arunachal Pradesh also (CSE Webnet). The Tamils, interestingly, used similar techniques in an almost flat terrain. By building earthen bunds at suitable locations on the gently sloping terrain of Tamil Nadu, they created water storage tanks in which to harvest rain water so they could cultivate most the land downstream outside the water spread the tanks. The underlying common thread of ingenuity was to make effective use of the local contours.
Fig. 6.15: Rice terraces in the Philippines on steep hill slopes. (Image Courtesy: Google Earth)
Fig. 6.16: Tank irrigation system in the gently sloping terrain of Tamil Nadu, with tank area and cultivable land alternating. (Image Courtesy: Google Earth)
Inter-Linking Rivers (ILR) project of India
There seems to be a consensus among various political parties of India that implementation of the proposed project to inter-link rivers in India will facilitate inter-basin water transfers and bring prosperity to the nation. Essentially, the thinking is that the disparities in the different river basins of India call for water transfers from the `surplus' basins to the `deficit' basins. (Government of India, 2003)
Fig. 6.17: Government of India's plans for interlinking of rivers
This has exercised the minds of the Indian water-resource planners for a long time. While the government is committed to implementing the project even in the face of objections from neighboring countries, there have been wide-spread criticisms on the basis of enormous cost, ecological issues, etc. Many critics have suggested Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) as a more appropriate alternative, which, interestingly, was what was practiced in Tamil Nadu through its system of cascading tanks.
Ground water in Tamil Nadu
Central Ground Water Board (Government of India, 2003) made the following comments with regard to Tamil Nadu's groundwater scenario:
Situations of over-check of ground water exist (in a number of areas in the State) and the extraction exceeds annual recharge leading declining ground water levels thereby rendering existing wells out of use and necessitating deepening of existing wells which leads to increased pumping costs and lifts.
In parts of the state, ground water levels have gone down to 40 metres below ground level and over-extraction has caused landward movement of seawater-fresh water interface.
In urban areas, with rapid reduction in open land, natural recharge to ground water has reduced considerably.
Haphazard disposal of untreated industrial wastes leads to seepage of these wastes underground resulting in ground water pollution.
In view of the increasing demand for water and the dwindling availability of fresh ground water resources, it has become imperative to take urgent measures to conserve every drop of water that goes waste.
To arrest or even reverse the declining trends of ground water levels, it is essential to take necessary measures to augment ground water storage by adopting suitable artificial recharge methods.
The surplus runoff generated during monsoons, which flows into the rivers and ultimately to the sea, needs to be harvested and recharged underground to augment ground water storage.
In coastal areas, where problem of seawater ingress has occurred, ground water recharge measures need to be implemented to push back the seawater-fresh water interface.
Hopefully, IAMWARM project will help restore the traditional tanks of Tamil Nadu so they will also help recharge the ground water and fulfill another of the important purposes for which they were originally built, of course, with people living distributed all over the region. This is what PULSE aims to restore by minimizing possible rural-urban migration.
Sanitation
A lot needs to be done to improve sanitation in the state. Even in Chennai, raw sewage is dumped into two rivers running across the city, Coovam and Adyar, and they pose a serious health hazard. Although efforts are being made to clean these rivers, the sources of pollutants also need to be addressed, viz., dumping and the squatter community on their banks so the results of these efforts stay on.
This is where decentralization as envisaged by PULSE would be most effective. Smaller communities can recycle their wastes sustainably through such technologies as bio-digesters.
Solid wastes from big cities need to be managed on more scientific way. Again, decentralized living and working will help find sustainable solutions.
Energy Development
There still is a production shortfall in power generation in the state. Serious power cuts were unpopular and became a political issue. The state has to look further into the future, specifically the energy demands up until at least 2025, and closely examine such related issues as ecological impact of the currently planned fossil-fuel based power systems, eventual change-over to clean energy systems, etc.
The implementation plan developed from this GRITAM model will address economic viability of currently inefficient energy conversion from biomass, untapped solar energy and under-utilized microhydro, LNG and wind energy potential. Tamil Nadu is the state with most wind generating capacity: 4132.72 MW at the end of 2008. Not far from Aralvaimozhi, the Muppandal wind farm which is the largest in Asia is located near the once impoverished village of Muppandal, supplying the villagers with electricity for work. The village had been selected as the showcase for India's $2 billion clean energy program which provides foreign companies with tax breaks for establishing fields of wind turbines in the area.
Further potential is to be exploited. Hopefully, solar power technology is becoming economically more favorable, specially due to government subsidies, so this tropical region can effectively exploit its geographical advantage. This tropical agricultural region will also seriously consider improving its potential for bio-fuel production. Meanwhile though, conventional power projects based on multiple fuel technology may be planned in the coastal areas.
Environment & Ecology
India is ranked by Yale University a disappointing 155th out of 178 countries analyzed in a recently released Environmental Performance Index (EPI). S. Balaji, former Director of Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu, felt that these results highlight how the local situation can affect environmental management. ``In India, the problems of poverty and high population density lead to different priorities for many people. It is difficult to preach to them about the environment when they are struggling for their next meal.'' Perhaps this ranking will spur them to action though. ``Sustainable development is possible if all stakeholders are brought on board,'' he says, citing the fact that 95 per cent of households in Tamil Nadu now have rainwater-harvesting structures in their households/neighborhoods after a successful campaign (Ewing, 2005). Support for such sustainability initiatives may thus be mobilized.
The plan will also look into preserving the natural resources from the hills and forests. The state has lost over a period of time substantial forest cover and reforestation will be an important first step. Hills and forests, besides yielding spices, tea, timber, etc., also support some extraordinary biodiversity. Sustainable economic utilization of such resources and the need to preserve the flora and fauna will need to be carefully balanced. With its long coast line, the state enjoys benefits from vast marine resources and their over-exploitation will need to be planned against.
There are many ecosystems in Tamil Nadu that will have to receive due attention in the RDP. The plan will strive to preserve and improve the hill regions, forests, wild life reserves, wetlands, mangroves, coral deposits, etc. These will promote eco-tourism. The state also has wonderful cultural traditions and monuments. Adequate infrastructure development will be planned to promote tourism to these sites and other tourist attractions, with due regard to sustainability. This may be targeted as a major services sector for development.
If plans are drawn to identify projects for development of attractive entertainment and tourist spots in ecologically sensitive areas, they should consider possible environmental effects and their costs.
Full-blown RDP
The fully developed plan will provide detailed development strategy for each triangulation taking specific note of the local conditions and needs. It will also include cost estimates, financing options, technical details of implementation, regulatory/institutional measures and market analysis. It is believed that an integrated plan will receive the necessary financial support, by way of government funding, external assistance, loans, and Public-Private Partnership programs. It will also identify project components that can be developed in the private sector.
Institution Development and strengthening
In order to finalize the detailed plan and its implementation over a long timeline, the state needs to assemble a talent pool with necessary technical experience and management skills. It is probably best to achieve this by creating a new, dedicated Institution made up of talent from among the internal development institutions of the state, modeled perhaps after Economic Development Board of Singapore. This institution may function under the direction of the State Planning Commission that will be charged with implementing the RDP.
The cities in Tamil Nadu are already contributing immensely to the state's current economic and social status. However, it must be appreciated that the state has to economically develop very rapidly so its people's rising aspirations can be met. For this happen, its cities need to be renewed to incorporate all features discussed previously, and considering the goals of the ongoing NURM mission.
In India, redevelopment of existing cities is potentially an emotive issue and will need to be handled with care and tact as a part of the adaptive challenge that development of PULSE is bound to be. But redevelopment of these cities is an urgent need so they can expand their economic potentials. Any initial resistance can be expected to disappear if the positive results of this initiative could be successfully demonstrated by piloting the concept in select areas of many cities, especially government-owned areas.
REFERENCES
CII TN Vision 2025 Aims to Address Six Concerns. (2009, March 4) The Times of India. Last retrieved on January 17, 2014 from http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-04/chennai/28006616_1_cii-study-pds-trichy
CPREEC (2007) Traditional Water Harvesting Systems of India. Last retrieved on January 17, 2014 from http://www.cpreec.org/pubbook-traditional.htm
CSE Webnet (Centre for Science and Environment webnet) A Look at India's Water Harvesting Practices. Last retrieved on January 17, 2014 from http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/Rural/Rural.htm
Ewing, T. (2005, February 4) India ranks 101 on Environmental Sustainability Index - The Hindu. Last retrieved on January 17, 2014 from http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/04/stories/2005020403181200.htm
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Reddy, V. R., Reddy, Y. V. M. & Soussan, J. (2004) Water and Poverty: A case of Watershed Development in Andhra Pradesh, India (Water for All Publication Series No. 5: 2004). Manila, Philippines: Asian Development Bank. Retrieved July 13, 2009, from http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Water_for_All_Series/Water_Poverty_Realities/
Sakthivadivel, R., Gomathinayagam, P., & Shah, T. (2004) Rejuvenating Irrigation Tanks through Local Institutions. Economic and Political Weekly, July 31, 2004 (pp 3521-3526)
Shanmugham, C. R., & Gurunathan, A. (2007) Irrigation Tanks and Their Traditional Local Management : A Remarkable Ancient History of India. In the Proceedings of the International History Seminar on Irrigation and Drainage. (pp. 173-182) Tehran, Iran: Iranian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (IRNCID) and International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID). Last retrieved on January 17, 2014 from http://www.irncid.org/English/PublicationDet.aspx?ID=6&CatId=1
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UNESCO World Heritage Site: 722. (2009). Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras. Last retrieved on January 17, 2014 from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/722
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