Redesigning Gram Panchayats: Spatial Development Plans for Uppunda and Shankarnarayana

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India, envisions sustainable transformation of villages and urban peripheries to check rapid emigration of rural youth, prevent sporadic, unplanned and unauthorised development and reduce rural poverty. The need for scientific and orderly disposition of land resource planning is recognised, which in its turn will foster economic development and contribute to the ease of living. With the belief that well-designed rural communities are the backbone of India’s progress, the Ministry is collaborating with specialised agencies, universities and institutes of national repute.

Comprehending the role of universities and the potential of institutional synergies in achieving Sustainable Development Goals targets, 沙巴体育 Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), 沙巴体育, led the project to conceptualise a Spatial Development Plan for two Gram Panchayats in Udupi district: Uppunda and Shankarnarayana. Elemental to the approach is striking a balance between economy, ecology and society, to ensure more opportunities and better facilities, transcending the narrow tunnel of growth to achieving holistic development.

The MAHE team from 沙巴体育 School of Architecture and Planning and Department of Civil Engineering was supported by national partners: Regional Remote Sensing Centre – 沙巴体育 / NRSC / ISRO, Bengaluru, RC-North (New Delhi) Team and RC- Hyderabad Team. They helped by providing inputs on satellite datasets and thematic layers (SIS-DP Phase-I), household survey data and results of run-off estimation. The fieldwork to gather data involved multiple site visits to Uppunda and Shankarnarayana and in-depth interviews with communities and stakeholders. Ecological vulnerabilities, social challenges faced by the communities and areas to address in spatial planning were identified.

Four foundational pillars of sustainability were developed through study of the context. 1. ‘Ksetra’, the first basic, unchanging foundation, based on which further decisions are taken involves the understanding of the natural setting, geography, climate, flora, fauna, geology and hydrology; 2. ‘Loka’, constituting the identity of the place, studies the context’s evolving paradigm of historic events, beliefs, traditions and settlement patterns; 3. ‘Desa’, the dynamics and needs of the settlements, is understood through social and economic status, governance system, political structure, demographic distribution, occupational characteristics etc. 4. ‘Kala’, the final layer, assesses the present resources and facilities available, which is developed through documentation of the physical infrastructure for basic services and social facilities of the settlements.

Drawing from the 11^th UN SDG: Sustainable Cities and Communities, to make the Gram Panchayats inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, the spatial development plan proposes creative, long-term, feasible strategies.?