Green-Blue Infrastructure
Prelims:
Indian Geography & Environment
Mains:
GS Paper I – Indian Heritage & Culture, GS Paper III
– Environment, Biodiversity
Current relevance:
The Master Plan for Delhi (MPD) 2047
seeks to guide Delhi’s future development by integrating environmental
restoration, climate resilience and heritage conservation with urban
growth.
Highlights:
1.
Green-Blue
Infrastructure as Core Urban Infrastructure:
i.
Integrated Network:
MPD-2047 envisages a connected green-blue network comprising the Yamuna,
Delhi Ridge, forests, biodiversity parks, water bodies, drains and
neighbourhood parks.
ii.
Climate Resilience:
Rivers, forests, wetlands, lakes and parks are treated as core urban
infrastructure for addressing rising temperatures, extreme rainfall, water
stress, deteriorating air quality and biodiversity loss.
iii.
Urban Forests: Green corridors
and urban forests can filter air, reduce urban heat and provide habitats for
native species.
iv.
Water Security: Restoration of wetlands,
water bodies and floodplains can facilitate groundwater recharge and strengthen
the city's capacity to manage intense rainfall.
v.
People-Centric Planning: Parks,
walking trails and cycling routes are intended to integrate nature with
everyday urban life.
2.
Yamuna Floodplain
Restoration:
i.
Ecological Restoration:
MPD-2047 proposes the protection, conservation and ecological restoration of
nearly 1,700 hectares of the Yamuna floodplain.
ii.
Pollution Control: Drains
entering the Yamuna are proposed to be intercepted and treated through upgraded
sewage infrastructure, constructed wetlands and bioremediation.
iii.
Public Connectivity: A
planned 52-km cycling corridor, accompanied by walking trails, green
stretches and organised recreational spaces, seeks to reconnect citizens with
the river.
iv.
Dual Role: A restored Yamuna
is envisaged as both an ecological lifeline and an accessible public space, without
compromising its ecological functions.
3.
Restoration of the
Delhi Ridge:
i.
The Delhi Ridge is an extension of the
ancient Aravali range.
ii.
MPD-2047 proposes restoration of
approximately 7,784 hectares of the Ridge.
iii.
Restoration would focus on native species
and scientific ecosystem management, rather than merely increasing tree
cover.
iv.
The objective is to develop healthy
ecosystems, conserve local biodiversity and strengthen Delhi's long-term
environmental balance.
4.
Heritage as a Living
Urban Resource:
i.
Around 1,500 heritage assets are
proposed to be brought under Cultural Resource Management Plans.
ii.
This seeks to shift heritage conservation
from isolated interventions to a structured, long-term approach.
iii.
Adaptive reuse would allow
heritage buildings to function as museums, libraries, hotels, offices or
cultural venues while retaining their historical character.
iv.
Planning and financial mechanisms include Transferable
Development Rights (TDR), façade retention and reasonable relaxation of
space standards, subject to fire and life-safety requirements.
5.
Heritage-Led Urban
Economy:
i.
Well-maintained heritage areas can promote tourism,
employment and opportunities for local businesses.
ii.
MPD-2047 proposes heritage, cultural and
festival circuits connecting monuments, historic precincts and public
spaces.
iii.
Improved public spaces and walkable
historic precincts can support local crafts, hospitality and cultural
enterprises.
iv.
The approach seeks to make heritage a functional
and economically viable part of the contemporary city, rather than treating
it as isolated monuments.
6.
Integrated and
Resilient Urban Development:
i.
Ecology and Heritage Integration:
MPD-2047 integrates environmental restoration with heritage conservation,
particularly where historic sites coexist with forests, water bodies, the Ridge
and the Yamuna landscape.
ii.
Integrated Urban Connectivity: Greenways,
cycling routes and restored water systems can connect neighbourhoods with
biodiversity parks, riverfronts and historic precincts.
iii.
Climate-Resilient Urbanisation:
Ecological infrastructure can strengthen urban resilience by supporting heat
mitigation, flood management, groundwater recharge, biodiversity conservation
and public health.
iv.
Balancing Development and Conservation:
MPD-2047 promotes an approach in which urban development and environmental and
heritage conservation complement and reinforce each other.
Source: THE HINDU - https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/green-blue-infrastructure-and-heritage-building-a-resilient-and-timeless-delhi/article71412647.ece