POTENTIAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN EMERGING INDIA

How should a 'Smart City' be defined?

People migrate to cities primarily for employment. To support their happy and comfortable living, they also need
good quality housing cost efficient physical and social infrastructure such as water, sanitation, electricity, clean
air, education, health care, security, entertainment etc. Industries also locate in cities because there are
agglomeration economies that provide easy access to labour and other factors of production. In this context,
Smart Cities are those that are able to attract investments. Good infrastructure, simple and transparent online
processes that make it easy to establish an enterprise and run it efficiently are important features of an investor
friendly city. Without this, a city loses attraction as an investment destination. An investor is considered as
someone who helps a city rather than someone who only profits from it.
While there are many definitions, the key features of a Smart City, as it emerges from the variety of definitions,
seem to be as
1. Quality of Life
2. Employment
3. Investment Opportunities
Smart Cities are those which have smart (intelligent) physical, social, institutional and economic infrastructure. It
is expected that such a Smart City will generate options for a common man to pursue his/her livelihood and
interests meaningfully. In this context:
Competitiveness refers to a citys ability to create employment opportunities, attract investments and
people. The ease of being able to do business and the quality of life it offers determines its
competitiveness.
Sustainability includes social sustainability, environmental sustainability and financial sustainability.
Quality of Life includes safety and security, inclusiveness, entertainment, ease of seeking and obtaining
public services, cost efficient healthcare, quality education, and opportunities for participation in
governance.

Pillars of a Smart City

Institutional Infrastructure, Physical Infrastructure and Social Infrastructure constitute the three pillars on
which a city is built. While building a Smart City it is ensured that the best is made available to the people,
regardless of social status, age, income levels, gender, etc.

Institutional Infrastructure - The set of activities that relate to the planning and management systems in a
city and making it efficient and transparent. It is encapsulated with the systems of governance, safety and
security, opportunities for entertainment and sports, and the open spaces and parks.

This is very well known that the current governance structures in most States require little involvement of
citizens at decision making. Procedures are cumbersome and citizens often find it difficult to secure the proper
services they seek. Further, responsibilities for different services are fragmented across multiple institutions,
making the situation even more complex for any citizen. Besides, many of these institutions report to different
departments of the State government and local bodies have little influence on them. For example, even within
the transport system, metro rail, buses, roads, parking, traffic lights, street lights, etc. are dealt with by different
institutions.
Reforms in how our cities are governed is necessary as high quality governance, with a strong local say in
decision making, is critical for Smart Cities. Typically, the principle to be followed is Governance by Incentives
rather than Governance by Enforcement. This would imply that people do the right things because there are
incentives to do so and not due to the fear of penal action. However, a greater sense of respect for civic
discipline needs to be brought in through deterrents to civic indiscipline. Also, decisions will need to be taken

POTENTIAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN EMERGING INDIA

at the local level and with well-established processes through which citizens can actively participate in such
decision making.
In this context, it also needs to be recognized that cities comprise multiple systems, all of which are closely
connected in meeting human needs. A Smart City is one where each of these systems works in harmony and
reinforces the usefulness of the other. Therefore, a comprehensive approach to the development of a city is
essential. This requires that the current practice of working in silos needs to be broken down with greater
institutional integration, at least in planning and oversight. People are attracted to cities that provide all
services well. While developing smart cities, it is important to adopt a holistic approach rather than a sectoral
approach.
More specifically, Smart Cities would have municipal offices fully automated so that citizens have the ability to
seek and the municipal offices the ability to deliver services in real time, through IT based facilities. Public
participation in governance should be made possible through the social media and by making all information
available in the public domain.

Physical Infrastructure refers to its stock of physical infrastructure such as the urban mobility system, the
housing stock, the energy system, the water supply system, sewerage system, sanitation facilities, solid
waste management system, drainage system, etc. which are all integrated through the use of technology.

Mobility
Our cities are faced with rapid motorization. This has led to severe congestion, deteriorating air quality,
increasing incidence of road accidents and a rapidly increasing energy bill. Walking and cycling have been
rendered unsafe due to poor infrastructure and public transport has been inadequate.
If cities are to be efficient engines of economic growth, it is important that goods are able to move from
production centers to consumption centers at low cost and high speed. Therefore, a good freight movement
system acquires importance. Hence, improved mobility will involve a three pronged approach whereby there are:
1. Improvements in public transport metro rail, BRT, LRT, Monorail, etc

POTENTIAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN EMERGING INDIA

2. Improvements in infrastructure of other motor vehicles ring roads, bypasses, elevated roads, improvements
in the existing road ways
3. Improvements in infrastructure for walking, cycling and waterways

Reliable Utility Services

Reliable, adequate and high quality Utility services are critical in a Smart City. Whether it is electricity or
telephony or ICT services, they need to be very reliable and adequate. 24 X 7 services are necessary. For
example, a minimum of 100 Mbps of internet bandwidth and wide availability of wifi will be very important
features. It should be the right of every citizen to get these facilities on demand. Similarly, municipal services
such water supply, drainage, solid waste management need to be of very high quality and available 24 X 7.
Telephone services should be available for every household. A Smart City cannot have only a few hours of
water supply a day or electricity that goes off for several hours or the streets littered with garbage. The general
appearance of the city has to be pleasing and clean. The main utilities that need to be ensured are the following:

Water Supply
Safe and 24 X 7 water supply is a public good as it has very large positive externalities. Access to water supply
is important for all the urban residents and lack of safe water supply can keep the mortality rates high in general
and among the poor in particular. Smart cities should have an availability of 24 X 7 piped water supply, that also
meets benchmarks of water quality, pressure, etc. across the city. Dual water supply systems that serve the
needs of drinking water and other needs would help in recycling water and conserving it.

Sanitation
Sanitation is important for all the urban residents. Lack of sanitation cause outbreaks of epidemics, health
disorders and keep the mortality rates high in general and among the poor in particular. It is essential that cities
should have a city wide sanitation plan and a network of sewerage which connects all parts of the city. Also,
each and every household should have a toilet so that no citizen needs to defecate in the open. Further, all
commercial and other public buildings should have clean and hygienic toilets. There needs to be 100% recycling
in the sanitation system.

Solid Waste Management

Waste management is the generation, prevention, characterization, monitoring, treatment, handling, reuse and
residual disposition of solid wastes. Indian cities are facing many issues with regard to waste management,
which include:
Absence of segregation of waste at source
Lack of technical expertise and appropriate institutional arrangement
Lack of proper collection, segregation, transportation and treatment and disposal system.
Cities which are not clean do not exhibit a smart character. Cities which are clean are perceived to be smart,
providing a healthier environment and a better quality of life. Therefore, they attract people both people who
want to live and work in the city and those who want to invest in the city. The following strategies therefore need
to be adopted:
Segregation of recyclable and non-recyclable waste as well as wet and dry waste at the source so that
there can be 100% recycling of solid waste
Appropriate technology should be adopted for treatment of waste.
Put in place an effective collection and disposal system

Storm Water Drainage

Lack of storm water drainage often exacerbates the sanitation problem in many Indian cities, especially during
the monsoon months. Lack of storm water drains lead to water logging every monsoon and outbreak of vector
diseases such as malaria, dengue and so on. Cities, therefore, need to adopt a storm water management
approach. This would include preserving and maintaining the natural hydrological cycle, groundwater recharge,
natural drainage system, etc. Provisions for storm water to feed lakes and water bodies would enable recycling
of the storm water.

POTENTIAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN EMERGING INDIA

Electricity
As per the Government of India statistics, nearly 94% of the households in urban areas have access to
electricity; however, the availability of the supply remains a concern. Smart cities should have universal access
to electricity 24 X 7. This is not possible with the existing supply and distribution system. The cities should,
therefore, shift towards renewable sources also to meet the demand such as solar and wind energy and the
distribution system must be strengthened. Further, the focus should be on green buildings and green transport
to reduce the need for electricity. There would thus be a need to review the existing state policy and bring in the
necessary changes wherever needed.

Internet and Telephony

A 100 Mbps internet backbone coupled with 100% coverage of the area by cell phone towers and a high level of
telephone penetration will be essential in a Smart City as most services will have to be offered online. Local
service providers should also have multiple service kiosks that can be accessed by people for evaluating public
services and accessing public information. Fiber Optic connectivity to each home, wi-fi in all public places and
educational institutions would be important features of a Smart City.

Social Services relate to those that work towards developing the human and social capital, such as the
educational, healthcare, entertainment, etc systems. These together determine the quality of life of citizens
in a city.

Social Infrastructure would include the following:

Education - The city should have good quality educational facilities both for schooling and higher education.
Healthcare - High quality healthcare facilities are important factors in making a city livable and attractive for
people and businesses.
Entertainment - Good entertainment facilities make the people in a city happy. Good sports facilities,
cultural centers, open spaces and plazas allow opportunities for recreation, so important for healthy and
happy living

Cross cutting features

In addition, there are several cross cutting features that characterize a smart city. They cut across the three
pillars of governance, infrastructure and social services. These are:

Minimizing waste
There need to be incentives for curbing waste. Pricing structures should be such that while services are
affordable, waste is discouraged. These can generally be achieved through rate slabs that are low for low levels
of consumption, but rise sharply for increased use. This would offer an inherent incentive for conservation. 100%
metering will be essential so that people pay for what they use and not a flat rate for some infrastructure, such
as number of water taps. Time of day metering for electricity or time of day fare structures for public transport
would also allow a flattening of the load curve and enable use of capacity when it is available and reduced
demand during peak periods. Infact, attaining a 24 X 7 level of service needs to happen to a great extent
through reducing leakages and waste.
Installation of water leakage prevention devices and water rates that rise steeply with consumption will be
essential. Incentives for rain water harvesting, such as discounts in the water bill for rain water harvested will go
a long way in minimizing waste and conserving natural resources. Recycling sewerage water and local STP
based water supply systems could also help reduce waste and conserve water. Educating citizens on the
importance of conserving natural resources will go a long way in furthering a culture of conservation.

Financial sustainability
The services need to be financially sustainable so that there are no financial constraints to delivering quality
services. However in doing so, tariff structures adopted should be such that they are affordable for the poor and
yet recovers costs at higher levels as use. The revenue gaps can be bridged by innovative means to raise and
allocate resources to the service providers. Use of the private sector would be a good way of tapping efficiencies
in delivery to reduce costs.

POTENTIAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN EMERGING INDIA

Energy efficiency
Energy concerns are also a key feature of Smart Cities. Energy efficient practices are adopted in transportation
systems, lighting and all other services that require energy. Tariff structures are such that conservation has
incentives. Awareness programs lead to a culture of conservation. Good areas to focus energy efficiency
measures would be the building material used, the transport system, sewerage and water supply systems, street
lighting, air conditioning systems and energy consumption in buildings.

Demand Management
While enhancing supply to meet the demand is important, Smart Cities would also lay special emphasis on
demand management, by creating incentives for savings and disincentives for excessive consumption. This
could be by way of rate structures that are affordable and low levels of consumption, but increase steeply as
more is consumed. For transport systems the demand management efforts will be such that they promote the
use of non-motorized modes of travel or public transport and discourage personal motor vehicles. They also
promote shorter trip lengths by improved integration of land use and transport plans and mixed use planning,
where residential and commercial areas are well interspersed.

Improved access to information

A very important feature of all smart cities is good citizen access to information. Whether it be regarding city
specific data or the measures being taken by municipal bodies or information relating to various service
providers such as transport and similar information relevant for potential investors has to be conveniently
available. This could be through multiple channels internet, mobile apps, radio, TV, print media, etc.

Instruments that make smart cities possible

There are several instruments that facilitate the development of a Smart City.
These are:

Use of Clean Technologies

As per the WHO report, Indian cities are amongst the most polluted in the world, creating severe health hazards.
The trend needs to be reversed by promoting the use of clean technologies that harness renewable materials
and energy sources and have a lower smaller environmental footprint. In smart cities buildings, transport and
infrastructure should be energy efficient and environmentally benign.

Use of ICT
The extensive use of ICT is a must and only this can ensure information exchange and quick communication.
Most services will need to be ICT enabled, and this often helps reduce the need for travel. The ability to shop
on-line or book tickets online or converse online are very powerful ways of reducing the need for travel, thereby
reducing congestion, pollutants and energy use. An extensive use of ICT enabled services will need a sound
communications backbone. In this context, it is important to note that ICT is not the end but only the means to
an end the end being improved service quality and information availability.

POTENTIAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN EMERGING INDIA

BROAD AREAS OF SMART CITY

Physical
Infrastructure

Social
Infrastructure

Institutional
Infrastructure
Speedy Service Delivery

Power
Education

Enforcement

Water Supply

Security
Solid Waste Management

Healthcare

Sewerage

Multimodal Transport

Institutional Finance/Banking
Entertainment (Parks, Music, Sports,
Tourist spot, Resorts)

Roads, Railways, Airports)

Transparency & Accountability

Skill Development

Cyber Connection
Connectivity

Taxation

Inclusive Planning (SC/ST, backward

incentives)

ICT based service delivery

Citizen Advisory Committee

Housing

Environment Stability
Building Homes

Disaster Management

Participation in decision making

How can we accelerate and achieve 100% energy access (24x7, minimum lifeline energy access) in
India?

Although energy efficiency is the lowest cost energy resource, it has not scaled up to its true potential.
What needs to be done to realise its true potential and what policy frameworks could support this scale
up?

Should India have its own market for environmental credits (GHG, Water, Renewable Energy, Biodiversity etc)? How can a vibrant market for such credits develop?