While I agree with the gist of the post and the need for visionary leadership, Singapore/HK are not really valid comparisons to India, the scale and complexity of the job in a diverse democracy like India is vastly different. We live in an era of the internet now, so what worked for 18th century UK will not work for us. I think a better approach would be to have a grassroots effort that uses the technology available today.

I do not absolve politicians of the responsibility here, but I'm convinced that simply waiting for a politician to do something will yield no results - the leadership needs to come from the people. And a big part of this will be to hold politicians and enforcement accountable to do their jobs.

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Originally posted by elmer fudd

Around Charles Dickens time, London and other European cities used to be horrible places to live in. Filth and squalor everywhere. However, public planning and hygiene, implemented on a war footing helped turned the tide.

Urban infrastructure development is primarily in the realm of public policy and needs the input, management and enforcement of visionaries. It is a top-down issue. Urban networks/settings/clusters are very complex, sophisticated entities and need lots of planning, with technocratic people at helm. Unfortunately in India, elected persons like Municipal Councillors handle such issues.

Just look at Delhi suburbs (spilling over neighbouring states). Haphazard planning, anarchy everywhere and every man to himself. With the advantage of national funding and national attention, NCR should have been a world class urban cluster, but sadly it was not to be.

On the other hand look at east Asian cities like Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul etc. (for similar comparison with India). They were as bad or worse than Calcutta, way back when. Now look at them. Gleaming metropolises. They had visionaries managing their cities. Or look at highway planning in US or autobahns in Germany. They were built during the first quarter of 20th century, but can handle growing population/traffic for another 150+ years.

Meanwhile, our leaders never learn. Here in south, in the state of AP, they are planning a new capital city(Amaravati). And what are they doing about it? They are planning a massive megalopolis of 1.5 crore people, to be designed on the lines of Singapore. Thus, repeating the mistake made with the earstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, ie., putting all the eggs in one basket(Which was Hyderabad). Even the politicians who have some vision in India are consumed by ego, megalomania, corruption and grandeur of power.

Mega cities do not suit India, they tend to turn into sh!tholes. What is needed is even and balanced regional development with smaller towns and district level cities developed as industrial clusters and economic powerhouses with suitable infrastructure planning and development for such clusters.

Regarding individual responsibility, in Singapore people had much more disgusting habits than defecating in the open. They used to pee in elevators. Then, Lee Ken Yew came about. Introduced rattan, which is kind of like south-east Asian lathi. Jab sab ki G ki chamdi utar gayi, public bhi sudhar gayi.

That being said, NYT has a habit of writing hit pieces against India.

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Are you there?

This piece is a counter to Mr. Harris article about how Delhi is special to millions in-spite of everything.

Why I chose to live in Delhi and how I fell in love with it:
http://www.dailyo.in/politics/delhi-us-city-life-9-11-dilliwala-chandni-chowk-cancer-aids-mir-taqi-mir-racism/story/1/4089.html

Enjoy

R.

Agreed this has to be from both ways, visionary leadership and common man.Leadership has to step forward and people to follow later. Motivate people or make some strict laws. You know what happened to Swatch Bharat Abhiyaan,it became a photo session for few politicians and after one week all gone. This has to be done at war level. Eg Make Green India Abhiyan and plant trees, employ manpower,engage common man, engage MCD or other govt organisation,keep separate budget of few thousand crores pan India. Ensure that target set is achieved. I would appreciate govt spending money,time and effort in something like at least for few months.Environment, pollution, water,rivers,air etc is must in India now. But as rightly said visionary leadership is missing. They have their own priorities.


quote]Originally posted by BlueLobster

While I agree with the gist of the post and the need for visionary leadership, Singapore/HK are not really valid comparisons to India, the scale and complexity of the job in a diverse democracy like India is vastly different. We live in an era of the internet now, so what worked for 18th century UK will not work for us. I think a better approach would be to have a grassroots effort that uses the technology available today.

I do not absolve politicians of the responsibility here, but I'm convinced that simply waiting for a politician to do something will yield no results - the leadership needs to come from the people. And a big part of this will be to hold politicians and enforcement accountable to do their jobs.

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DELHI INDIAN

I was under impression that AK would take some serious steps towards pollution, improving air quality, making Delhi greener and cleaner but nothing concrete till now from his or his minister end. They are busy with transfers or postings of officers. Namo and his ministers do not have time to think or work on these issues, they have other big agendas or different ways to bring Acche Din. So, whom to rely upon?

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DELHI INDIAN