Sites selected for India water resilience 'living laboratory'

Sites selected for India water resilience 'living laboratory'

Sites selected for India water resilience 'living laboratory' News / Project Milestone / 10.10.2022

The Australia-India Water Security Initiative’s Community Demonstration Project (AIWASI CDP) component has progressed following the selection of two communities, Mubarakpur Dabas and Bakkarwala Resettlement Colony, chosen to pilot the water resilience project.

Meeting a series of criteria resultant from extensive GIS and environmental mapping, the two communities will demonstrate the implementation of water-sensitive urban design and nature-based solutions to create more climate adaptive and water resilient communities worldwide.

“Water, and the equitable access to it, is fundamental to the health and liveability of all communities,” said McGregor Coxall Associate Director and environmental engineer, Joel Dalberger.

“To date the consortium team, in coordination with key stakeholders, have screened and selected the two community demonstration project sites, completed in-person site visits, undertaken community engagement and survey activities, and have produced visioning exercises for both landscape and water in response to key problem statements derived for each community.”

In conjunction with deliver benefits and outcomes at the local scale, the project is aimed at strengthening city-level water governance with direct investment in Blue-Green ‘Living’ Infrastructure that address climate change-related challenges, urban heat, water security, flooding, and environmental pollution.

Interventions aim to improve water security and liveability conditions in line with Water Sensitive City (WSC) and Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles. The pilot projects will support steps towards transitioning to a water sensitive city and will serve as a living laboratory for communities and cities facing similar challenges.

“Regenerated urban environments for Mubarakpur Dabas and Bakkarwala Resettlement Colony, through applications of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), will continue to drive New Delhi and other communities in need towards a more resilient future,” said Dalberger.

Supported by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the four-year design and implementation project is being delivered by consortium partners World Resources Institute (WRI) India, Mahila Housing SEWA Trust (MHT), National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), McGregor Coxall, INDE (Integrated Design), and Sycom Projects Consultants Private Limited.

McGregor Coxall’s Environment discipline comprising engineers, environmental scientists and ecologists are leading the technical team featuring India-based partners INDE (Landscape Architects & Urban Planners) and Sycom Projects Consultants Private Limited (Engineers).

Community engagement, site investigations and development of masterplans through participatory design approaches is currently being undertaken. Detailed design and construction at the sites proceed following masterplan completion in 2023.

For details about the project and latest updates, visit https://aiwasi-cdp.wricitiesindia.org/.

Pictured: the site at Mubarakpur Dabas


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