**Bhubaneswar:** The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is taking steps to start sustainable development practices in construction and land development activities within its jurisdiction by establishing an Environmental Cell.
Bhubaneswar’s Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) has proposed environmentally sensitive zones (ESZ) or open space use zones, which are weak and very prone to flood. Development of such land needs careful and equitable approach.
In order to further strengthen the sustainable approach of city planning, the Authority has introduced such provisions in relation to Water Sensitive Urban Design in the BDA (Planning and Building Standards) Regulations, 2018 which were implemented earlier in May this year. In this regulation there are provisions for setting up an Environment Cell in BDA for environmental planning.
In this regard, BDA has issued an advertisement for the recruitment of professionals and experts for establishment of the Environmental Cell. This Cell will be a multidisciplinary cell with experts from different fields and expertise in working as a team towards the environmental improvement of the city. According to BDA’s advertising, the cell shall have three environmental planners, one expert on water conservation and management and an urban design specialist.
If all go on schematically, there will also be a senior level officer to lead the Cell. This cell will work under the administrative head. The attention of the Authority on environmental issues can turn Bhubaneswar into a more sustainable place and can excite the environment lovers.
Due to unwanted urban development in ESZ and with big problems faced in recent times like water logging and urban floods within the BDA jurisdiction the formation of cell is necessary in the city. The proposed step, thus, will tell BDA about the proper planning and method of future, how to go about it and also include the situation in order to manage the urban flood.
According to the Water Sensitive Urban Design in the BDA (Planning and Building Standards) Regulations, 2018 the proposed cell will work and ensure sustainable plan in all ESZ. It may be mentioned here that recently learned in the Nayapalli Haza case, where a large water body was part of the urban ecosystem, the flood occurred because the water body has reduced beyond recognition or left no room for excessive storm water to settle and pass through the adjoining Drainage Channel No. 10.
With the new cell the city will face relief during the rainy months, as ESZ will be equipped to channel storm water through natural water bodies and also help in recharging of ground water. The team will also work on creating beautiful water bodies for recreational facilities.
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