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Smart City Mission likely to revive green projects in Jaipur
The Walled City’s proposed eco-friendly and heritage conservation projects which have been lying dumped for the past several years are expected to get a fresh boost under the Smart City Mission.
At the first meeting of the board of directors of Jaipur Smart Mission Limited (JSML), it was decided to initiate the work on ‘public bicycle sharing (PBS) project before June 15. Besides, renovation of facade (heritage wall) would also begin soon.
These projects are need of the hour. The heritage wall needs an urgent repair. The Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) was not able to do this work due to shortage of funds.
Similarly, the public bicycle sharing project is needed as it would reduce pollution and decongest the Walled City area.
Mayor Nirmal Nahata said, “The projects for which detailed project reports (DPRs) have already been prepared will be considered and first-phase work will begin soon. The facade work will also be taken up.”
A senior JDA official said that after the Walled City became the busiest and congested area due to swelling population, the JDA, with assistance from the Central government, had proposed to launch the public bicycle sharing project. The project looked feasible as it was cost-effective and could have become an added attraction for the tourists. The detailed project report (DPR) was also prepared, but nothing happened thereafter.
A JDA engineer said, “The decision to reconsider the PBS project is a good idea.
Pedestrians and cyclists are an ignored lot in the Walled City. Considering this fact, we had drafted a detail project report of the scheme during the previous government. The project was stalled after the change in regime.”
Similarly, the heritage wall will get a new life if the Jaipur Smart Mission Limited takes up the project this year. For the past so many years, the restoration work was ignored due to fund crunch.
An official said that a report prepared by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for restoration of the wall was submitted to the court in July 2014. Today, only 25% of the original wall exists and there is extensive damage to that also. At some places, the wall has made way for newer passages, while at other places it has become the leaning pillar for construction of shops and residences.
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