On Sunday, 23 October, Dr. K.R.S. Krishnan, Senior Vice President, HLL Lifecare Limited (HLL), spoke at the GEP Public Talk Series. Dr. M.R. Thampan, Secretary of the GEP and Director of the State Institute of Languages gave the Welcome Address. H.H. Swami Isa, Founder of the GEP, led a discussion on energy.

A national expert in urban renewal and planning, Dr. Krishnan presented the good practices related to the management of public health, environment and livelihood as India develops its older cities. 

By 2030, India will have 5 times the wealth it does now. 40% of the Indian population (590 million people) will be living in cities and 70% of the employment will be going to cities. "Therefore, cities are not something that can be wished away," said Dr. Krishnan. 

We require a concentrated, deliberate effort to develop our cities in a way that will be positive for humanity as well as the environment. "Why do we need urban renewal?" asked Dr. Krishnan. "For a better quality of life."

‘Urban renewal’ is the process of reviving aging or decaying cities through public efforts. The term covers all types of interventions ranging from minor modifications to mass upheavals in areas such as slum resettlement, road and rail networks, transportation, habitat, educational facilities, storm drainage, sewage network, solid waste management as well as recreational facilities.  "In the Indian context," said Dr. Krishnan, "this would mean providing amenities that cater to large populations from different social and economic background."

H.H. Swami Isa, spoke about the need for city planning.  With appropriate planning, facilities can be developed well to allow all types of people to live together in a city--without misusing space or resources.  

Swami Isa called for 200-year planning for cities to replace the current practice of 10 or 20 years now seen in India. He also spoke about the consideration of human needs in the process.

All development is essentially for human benefit.  "When you develop a good city, but people can't live in it with peace of mind, then all the resources, money and human effort are a mere waste," he said.

It is important to analyze the energies involved, to find a balance.  "Then it is real development," Swami said.

More Talks in the Series