Should We Compromise On Aesthetics Of Cities To Develop Concrete Jungles?

When the Centre decided to trim the Lutyens' Bungalow Zone (LBZ) — from 28.73 sq km to 23.60 sq km — by dropping nine localities, the move was expected to bring some action back into the stagnant real estate market of central Delhi. The zone, which until now houses only the high and mighty of the country, is being anticipated to be opened to other segments of buyers, too.

However, the conservationists did not see much merit in the move.

“Most areas in Delhi – in the east, west, north or south – have either lost their green cover or are on their way to losing them, thanks to increased construction activities. The LBZ, with its extensive green cover, has been one area balancing things out. Such a decision would not only mean fiddling with the original character of the zone but would also have a far-reaching impact. The whole city might soon turn into a concrete jungle,” Abha Narain Lambah, head of Abha Narain Lambah Associates, had told this writer in an earlier conversation.

On the other hand, one cannot ignore the fact that India is on the “brink of an urban revolution” and the number of people living in cities is estimated to hit 600 million by 2031. To house this huge population and to be able to meet the Central government's Housing For All plan, authorities will have to use every possible inch of urban land and promote vertical growth. As a matter of fact, the government is way ahead in its pursuit to do so. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre has made waves by launching several housing-related schemes.

However, justifying filling urban spaces with concrete jungles would still be difficult. It has to be noted that over 60 per cent of India's population still lives in villages. Would it not make better sense to promote rural living by improving the conditions in villages? Would it not be better to leave some breathing space amid urban jungles in major cities? Would it not be wiser to not spoil the natural beauty and habitat of a particular place?

Delhiites, for instance, love their trips to malls for shopping and recreational purposes. However, most would agree that the joy of taking a stroll around the many circles of Connaught Place (CP), the capital's central business district, is still matchless. A majority of us would like CP to retain its British-era charm rather than having commercial skyscrapers dotting the skyline.

We might still have enough spaces elsewhere to build malls and high-rises.