URBAN DEVELOPMENT: ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND INITIATIVES IN AIZAWL

Aizawl is the capital of the state of Mizoram in India. With a population of 293,416, and a density over 650 persons per sq. km. It is the largest city in the state. It is also the centre of administration containing all the important government offices, state assembly house and civil secretariat. At present the city has many issues on urban development which can be categorized into the following:

Urban Infrastructure: A city cannot withstands the growing population unless it is well established in the form of infrastructure, which does not mean huge constructions and introduction of high-tech facilities only. The main motive of urban development policy is to have an access to clean water, proper sewage treatment, power, housing, transportation, communication and livelihood for every urban household.

Urban Sanitation: Increase in population and urbanisation has led to an increase in urban waste. These without proper management and treatment can hamper the urban health and can become an obstacle for the growth of the city. This requires an infrastructure, scientific treatment of waste as well as an awareness among the urbanites as cleanliness can only be achieved through people’s participation and is a contribution everyone has to make. Aizawl is lagging behind here too.

Urban Transport: Another serious issue in Aizawl. There is an increase in business centres, various urban constructions and moveable assets like public and private vehicles to make our living easier. As a result, the city becomes congested without proper planning in urban transport. Urban Housing: In Aizawl Rural-urban immigration is one of the main reasons for the needs of housing in urban areas. People from rural areas migrate to Aizawl region for better and easier access to livelihood. This leads to occurrence of shortage of housing and is a great challenge for urban administration and authorities.

Urban Economy: Urban economy is based on the capacity of cities to mobilize its resources. In urban areas, there is higher mobilization of resources to enhance economy, better resources and opportunities are many. If these opportunities are captured and mobilized systematically, it affects the whole economy of the State as well. However, competition does not only arise among the haves but also among the haves-not too. These vulnerable groups constitute not less than 25 per cent of urban population and their issues should not be neglected in urban planning.

Keeping in mind about the issues in urban administration, Mizoram has taken its initiatives to have smart, clean and flourishing city and urban towns. The UD&PA plays an active role and is gearing all urban development initiatives in Mizoram. Since water is the one of the most important necessity among basic amenities and is the main priority to be taken up under AMRUT project, Aizawl has encountered various challenges to get clean water. Due to its steep terrain, distribution system of drinking water in the city is quite a challenge.

The Department of UD&PA is also giving its effort in Aizawl to have a clean and safe environment, as one of its initiatives Sewerage and Septage Management is executed under AMRUT. With this technology, the existing conventional septic tank will be replaced by introducing bio–digester. It is a technology innovated by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The UD&PD under AMRUT is creating green space and parks at the possible sites in the city for recreational purposes. The department is initiating and promoting Non Motorised Transport in Aizawl for which a transport master plan was designed by iTrans. This became a problem for those who need the land even for construction of shelter. Knowing all these stated facts, the Department of UD&PA, Government of Mizoram has taken initiatives towards Urban Housing Schemes/affordable housing in urban areas since the year 2009. Urban immigration which is the main reason for increase in urbanisation also leads to saturation of carrying capacity of urban areas. Hence, supply of basic needs to citizens becomes a challenge.

Water Shortage: Shortage of water has become a reason for a nightmare to hundreds of villagers across Mizoram. The winter indeed is a nightmare for majority of the Mizos as the state experiences water scarcity problem every year.  In Aizawl, many localities cannot get water supply every week. The state capital is one of the worst affected places since only one single source of supply caters to about five lakh people.

The residents of Mizoram’s capital have a tough task sourcing water. For one, traditional sources have all but dried up. And two, despite the state having one of the most expensive water-lifting schemes in the country, much of the water is wasted. Before Mizos learned to harvest rainwater, they depended on streams and springs. Now, Aizawl’s natural water springs dry up during the dry season, while Tlawng river, the sole source of water supply, is reduced to a stream.

Mizoram had two main reservoirs, one built in 1900 and the other in 1953-54. In 1963, the Aizawl Water Supply Scheme was initiated to lift water from Tlawng, a height of 1,050m in Tuikhutlang reservoir through seven stages of pump-sets. In 1972, the Greater Aizawl Water Supply Scheme was launched to cater to barely 80,000 people. This is one of the most costly water lifting schemes in the country. It’s also extremely wasteful.

Then came the Greater Aizawl Water Supply Scheme Phase-II that has been a non-starter. Work on the Rs 177cr scheme began in 1998, but remained incomplete. “We get water once in three or four days. Sometimes we don’t get even a drop in a week,” laments a resident. Not that Aizawl needs to suffer. A village near the capital, Lungleng, is regarded as India’s model village for its success with rainwater harvesting practices.