New Capital for Chattisgarh:Letter to Architect A.P. Kanvinde
Prakash M. Apte Mumbai
13th Sept.2002

Dear Shri Kanvinde,

The contents of your letter of 2nd (received on 11th ) did not surprise me. I had feared all along that your international reputation as an Architect and a man of integrity could be greatly harmed by your involvement as a Jury member in this competition, which, from its very beginning, did not follow an honest procedure. Had it been a fair process, we (myself and C.Benninger) would certainly have been short listed.

All the same, my great regard for you and faith in your sagely character has only been further strengthened by your letter. There may be other great Architects but there just cannot be another like you with the courage of his conviction to hold the integrity of his profession above pecuniary gains. Believe me sir, there never was one like you nor will there be another. Earlier also, in my letter to the journal of IIA I had paid tributes to you not merely as an Architect but more as a great human being.

When I was vociferously protesting against the building of 55 flyovers in Mambai at an estimated cost of Rs. 4000 cores, to facilitate only the cars, which according to MMRDA account for only 4.8% of the daily trips (67% by local trains and 23% by buses), a wise man had to enlighten me that I was blind to the minimum Rs 1400 crores (35% of the expenditure) that would ultimately line the pockets of the bureaucrats and the politicians!

The building of the new capital is currently estimated to cost Rs. 5000 crores. Does a poor state like Chattisgarh need to build a new capital city? Even if so, do we need to design it as a totally new city in the age old mould of new capitals of the world? What is essential is an administrative center with facilities for WORK, why shift the WORKFORCE with families, supporting population and create BRAND NEW PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE that would cost Rs. 5000 crores? Only to satisfy the ego of a city planner? Why not follow a multi nucleated approach , develop existing smaller settlements around the WORK CENTRE to a minimum standard and spend more on a RAPID TRANSIT BUS NETWORK connecting these settlements to the WORK CENTRE for journey to work? This approach may require hardly 10% of the estimated cost of 5000 crores and achieve the same purpose. But, as I said in my letter to the Indian Express, how will then the Consultants and the Bureaucrats get their kickbacks?

A very small nation-Bhutan-probably just as big in size as Chattisgarh, with great pride in its culture and aware of the perils that Urbanization and urbanism has brought in its wake in India and other developing countries, accepted our suggestion not to expand its capital Thimphu and make it just another capital city. Instead the wise King and his Ministers accepted our ideas of developing "Urban villages" around Thimphu and let people live in their traditional way, habitat and culture, only journeying to Thimphu for work or business by a rapid transit bus route, thus reducing by 75% the costs that would be incurred for laying a mammoth infrastructure of services to expand Thimphu.

Chattisgarh has a very ancient history. When the kingdom was divided between two princes, there were a total of 36 forts (Chattis Gadh) in the kingdom. The two capitals were Ratanpur and Raipur. Ratanpur is located just north of Bilaspur east of Kota on the railway line. In the belief that I, with my background of having planned Gandhinagar, the new capital of Gujarat and Benninger with his experience of having planned 4 towns in Shrilanka and our joint work on Thimphu in Bhutan would be a sure choice, at least for short listing for planning Chattisgarh new capital, I had made a very detailed study and research for the location of the new capital.

This site just west of an ancient lake north of Bilaspur is ideally suited for the new administrative center for Chattisgarh. The work force can stay in the smaller settlements of Sakri, Bilaspur,Kota etc. around this proposed site for the work center and all the infrastructural requirements for them could be provided at a marginal cost and funds available from the central Govt. schemes for development of small and medium towns without any burden on the state finances whatsoever! This would only require a competition for design of a Capitol comprising of the Legislative assembly building and offices for the different ministries and may be some residences for essential staff and hostel for legislators and guest houses for the ministers. But such ‘low cost' solutions do not "suite" our decision makers of today!

You have made a courageous gesture by walking out of the jury and refusing the very large amount being offered as an honorarium(?). Have you ever had an experience of such a large amount offered as an honorarium to an Indian Jury in an Indian competition? Do you think there was more to it than what appeared on the face of it? I had mentioned about one of the Jury members in my first letter. Do you know that the second "god fearing" one works in Bangalore as a Consultant?

Before these Jury members and the promoters have an opportunity to spread false reports, DON'T YOU THINK YOU SHOULD WRITE TO THE PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS AND THE PRESIDENTS OF THE IIA AND ITPI AND NARRATE YOUR EXPERIENCE? You owe it to your conscience and your profession to let the world know the facts. In your position, one could even write an open letter to the Chief Minister of the State and publish it in the leading English dailies.

You are an internationally acclaimed and revered Architect with an impeachable record and reputation, having lived a full and professionally glorious life. You cannot be cowed down and made to stoop to the level of a Ribeiro or Gurumukhi. In anyr action you may take purely in the interest of ensuring ethics and morality in the profession and the country, all honest professionals will support it and be ever grateful to you.

With regards and Sashtang Namaskar to a Rushi among Architects,

Sincerely ,

P.M.Apte

India more equal than others?
To,
The Editor,
Times of India,
Mumbai.

5th June 2007

The article "By global standards, India more equal than others" by Subodh Varma, appearing in TOI 3rd June 2007 is brazenly misleading and confusing to say the least!. The author has conveniently failed to point out that,
1)The comparison between various countries may not be accurate as the data comes from surveys covering different years and using different methodologies.
2)The data has been cleverly manipulated to misrepresent the current economic condition in India and does not corroborate his statements... "India is a land of contrasts: how extreme wealth exists cheek by jowl with shocking poverty. We see these contrasts everyday." and "Over 70% of the population has a monthly per capita expenditure below the national average of Rs. 555. This indicates the low levels of income prevalent in the country ..."
3)The author fails to recognize that the disparity metric by itself is not an indicator of well being of a people, as the author wants us to believe. Though the disparity ratio is stated to be higher in the US as compared to India, most of the lowest 10% in the US have all their basic needs (food, shelter and clothing) satisfied while 70% of the total populace in India are below the poverty line!
4) The data used in the article is a consumption data which indicates lower levels of inequality between the poor and rich.

Without understanding the statistical significance or the applicable relevance of the data, the author seems to have "cut and pasted" it from the Human Development report (http://hdr.undp.org) and cobbled together a confusing article. The author's conclusion of "prosperity meaning unequal distribution of wealth and incomes" has been pulled out of thin air. It would appear that the article is more of a sponsored advertisement (India Shining!) than a reflection of the truth!

Prakash M Apte

Heal Thyself Mr. Prime Minister
Editor,
Times of India,
Mumbai.

Sir,

Your Editorial ‘Heal Thyself' is bold and forthright. The Prime Minister "loosing his sleep at the trauma of the relations of a person detained for terrorist acts" could perhaps be understandable as his personal feeling in the context of unbridled Sikh bashing that his own party men and leaders indulged into after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, but its public expression by the Prime Minister of a country is almost anti national. It is definitely disturbing for its blatant and unabashed pandering to the Muslim community for political reasons. Such abetment of terrorism just because it is perpetrated by a minority religious community on whose electoral votes his party has an eye on, is nothing short of treason.

Your question is really the crux of the issue. Why are so many terrorists Muslims? Has Islam as a religion strayed from its original teachings of love, brotherhood and compassion to become an intolerant doctrine? The thinkers of Islam must have a serious introspection to urgently bring its followers back to the real teachings of the prophet.

Prakash M Apte

Dilli to Daulatabad: Mumbai to Navi Mumbai?
Dilli to Daulatabad: Mumbai to Navi Mumbai?

'Dilli' to Daulatabad was a venture of the 'mad 'Tughlak. Though the 'sane' rulers in Mumbai seem as adamant as him in their determination NOT to shift to Navi Mumbai

The British were wise enough to comprehend the geographical and political advantages of shifting the capital from Calcutta -'Kolkata'- of today, to Delhi. ( incidentally the change of name from Calcutta to "Kolkata" is no better than Dilli to Daulatabad! Chennai is the ancient name of Madras, Mumbai is the historical name of Bombay but Kolkata is just the typical Bengali "rounded" pronounciation without any historical justification!

Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar was the result of bifurcation of earstwhile Bombay state leaving Gujarat without a capital. Divided Punjab afetr the partition of the country also had no capital hence Chandigarh.

If in 1970 the GOM-CIDCO brochure declared shifting of offices from Island city to Navi Mumbai as one of the key objectives aimed at decongesting Mumbai, it was perhaps more to humour the beraucrat-technocrat combine (Rajwade, Modak, C.Correa, Shireesh Patel, Praveena Mehta) than a serious political statement. Unfortunately we in the Planning community still continue to believe that the political leadership is amenable to rational arguments in favour of shifting government offices to Navi mumbai to decongest mumbai. But before we put the onus on the politicians for not shifting offices to Navi Mumbai as the solution for decongesting mumbai, let us first stop our own co professionals from continuing to argue that the purpose can be served by developing BKC like centres, multistory car parkings in the island city, "cluster' model redevelopment (a la Dharavi), flyovers, overhead Metros, Bandra-worli sea links and trans harbour rail/road bridge to the main land!
The BMRDA in its incarnation as MMRDA is responsible for eagerly embracing these ideas that suited the intentions of the politicians of not shifting the offices to Navi Mumbai. It has worked zelously to promote BKC and Oshivara district centres, built multi story carparking in the island city, encouraged redevelopmen of Dharavi ( proposing in the process to congest Mumbai further) built fly overs, started building the Metro links, completed bandra worli sea link and started on the transharbour bridge. Each one of these projects will congest Mumbai further than ever before . The last straw on the camel's back will be the increase in FSI (already done covertly for SRA schemes) from the current levels to more than 4 in near future!
Having thus congested Mumbai with active help from the "Planners" the Politicians have now come up with a spacious argument that the shifting of offices to Navi mumbai can now be of only marginal help in decongesting mumbai!! So it is desirable to redevelop the entire Mantralaya area including various state and central government offices. The Municipal corporation despite being ruled by a different political party than the one at the state level has also contributed its bit by awarding an underground parking contract for Rs.440 crores in the island city to a real son- in- law of the one time chief minister!
Jai Maharashtra!
Prakash M Apte

Unified Transport body for Mumbai
Unified Transport Body for Mumbai
Prakash M Apte
Urban Development Consultant

This has reference to ‘No unified transport body, projects suffer' (TOI 14 Jan.). After 60 years of legislating and creating new Authorities, why do we still believe in them as the Panacea for all ills? When will it occur to us that the fault lies with the tardy or non implementation of plans, policies and programs and not with the structure of Authorities?

Why a unified Authority for Transport only? Why not for Housing ( SRA, MHADA, Shivashahi Punarvasan, Police housing corporation etc.), for Energy (REL. Tata, Best) for water resources and waste management (MCGM, MMRDA, Mithi river Authority)? If such single function super Authorities are to be created why have MMRDA ?

I quote from the BMRDA Act 1974, "...object of the Authority shall be to secure the development of the Bombay Metropolitan Region according to the Regional Plan...." Having prepared the regional plan, of which traffic and transportation forms a very important and integral part, and got it sanctioned by the state government, why is MMRDA not able to ensure that all transportation authorities work towards it? Why is it getting bogged down in implementing petty projects like skywalks, flyovers? Answer is simple. Planning and coordination does not bring glory or money! A new Authority means a Chairman., MD, office building, cars and one more organization at the command of the administrators and Politicians, large investments, appointment of Transport Consultants and the kickbacks!

Prakash M Apte
March 2008

Elavated Rail Corridor in Mumbai
Elevated Rail Corridor in Mumbai
Prakash M Apte
Urban Development Consultant

This has reference to "Elevated Rail Corridor Plan..." ( TOI 26th March).
The "unprecedented alacrity" shown by all concerned officials is quite understandable. The cost of such an elevated churchgate-Virar corridor
( excluding the rolling stock) may be in excess of Rs. 6500 crores! The ministry of Railways proposes to appoint consultants to prepare a feasibility report for the elevated rail corridor. Is it possible to include in the Consultant's scope of work, suggesting options to the elevated corridor? For example, as I have been advocating for the last 20 years, it is possible to run double Decker trains on the existing tracks by constructing just an elevated platform over the existing ones to facilitate passengers to board and detrain at the upper level. This will (unfortunately) save the major cost of civil works for the elevated track and laying of another set of tracks and may mean a reduction in the cost of the project by at least 75%.ie. from around Rs. 6500 crores to only Rs.1625 crores. The officials would no doubt consider such a suggestion "Blasphemy"!
Because, lesser the cost, lesser the kick backs for the officials, and the politicians. So why should the Ministry ask for such cost saving options? After all in our country, projects are undertaken for their propensity to generate kickbacks for all concerned and any benefit accruing to general public is incidental and unintended!

Prakash M Apte
March 2008

Elavated Rail Corridor in Mumbai
Elevated Rail Corridor in Mumbai
Prakash M Apte
Urban Development Consultant

This has reference to "Elevated Rail Corridor Plan..." ( TOI 26th March).
The "unprecedented alacrity" shown by all concerned officials is quite understandable. The cost of such an elevated churchgate-Virar corridor
( excluding the rolling stock) may be in excess of Rs. 6500 crores! The ministry of Railways proposes to appoint consultants to prepare a feasibility report for the elevated rail corridor. Is it possible to include in the Consultant's scope of work, suggesting options to the elevated corridor? For example, as I have been advocating for the last 20 years, it is possible to run double Decker trains on the existing tracks by constructing just an elevated platform over the existing ones to facilitate passengers to board and detrain at the upper level. This will (unfortunately) save the major cost of civil works for the elevated track and laying of another set of tracks and may mean a reduction in the cost of the project by at least 75%.ie. from around Rs. 6500 crores to only Rs.1625 crores. The officials would no doubt consider such a suggestion "Blasphemy"!
Because, lesser the cost, lesser the kick backs for the officials, and the politicians. So why should the Ministry ask for such cost saving options? After all in our country, projects are undertaken for their propensity to generate kickbacks for all concerned and any benefit accruing to general public is incidental and unintended!

Prakash M Apte
March 2008

Elavated Rail Corridor in Mumbai
Elevated Rail Corridor in Mumbai
Prakash M Apte
Urban Development Consultant

This has reference to "Elevated Rail Corridor Plan..." ( TOI 26th March).
The "unprecedented alacrity" shown by all concerned officials is quite understandable. The cost of such an elevated churchgate-Virar corridor
( excluding the rolling stock) may be in excess of Rs. 6500 crores! The ministry of Railways proposes to appoint consultants to prepare a feasibility report for the elevated rail corridor. Is it possible to include in the Consultant's scope of work, suggesting options to the elevated corridor? For example, as I have been advocating for the last 20 years, it is possible to run double Decker trains on the existing tracks by constructing just an elevated platform over the existing ones to facilitate passengers to board and detrain at the upper level. This will (unfortunately) save the major cost of civil works for the elevated track and laying of another set of tracks and may mean a reduction in the cost of the project by at least 75%.ie. from around Rs. 6500 crores to only Rs.1625 crores. The officials would no doubt consider such a suggestion "Blasphemy"!
Because, lesser the cost, lesser the kick backs for the officials, and the politicians. So why should the Ministry ask for such cost saving options? After all in our country, projects are undertaken for their propensity to generate kickbacks for all concerned and any benefit accruing to general public is incidental and unintended!

Prakash M Apte
March 2008

Implanting Urban Sanitation in Rural India
Implanting Urban 'Sanitation' in our rural areas:

Before embarking upon and going headlong into implanting urban sanitation systems in our rural areas, our decision makers could pause and ponder upon a few facts.
Is there any conclusive evidence to establish a direct cause and effect relationship between the practice of 'defecation' in the open fields and spread of diseases?
What is 'poor sanitation'? Is'nt it a relative concept? for urbanites having water carriage system toilets attached to their bedrooms, even a 'pit privy' located away from the house could be 'poor sanitation'! The proud Haryana farmer who takes his entire family out to field every morning (referred to sarcastically in the article) in his Maruti for their daily ablution is in fact being far more environment friendly, "green" and contributing to cost saving in infrastructure systems than the self proclaimed a environmentalists!
How does 'defecating' in open fields make the village 'aswachha' (unclean)? It in fact returns the nutrients to earth, saves on man made fertilizers, uses the sun's free energy to convert solid waste into manure; all the objectives so vociferously propounded from national and international platforms by the self proclaimed experts!
Alas, had the social mobilization achieved to make the rich Haryanvi villager build a water borne toilet (at a capital cost to him and heavy revenue expenditure to local panchayat, with problems of mass disposal of human excreta,) been directed to educate women against the practice of female infanticide that has put Haryana at the top of the states with lowest female to male child ratio; it would have been a far greater contribution to the health of the state and the nation!
What is the 'indignity' in going to open fields? It is common sight while traveling in Rajasthan to find women with veils over their faces 'defecating' -as we urbanites like to describe the natural act of ablution. But, as one of the women unashamedly explained, "human bodies are same all over the world, till one can attach a face to it!"
Has the media really played a positive role or has inadvertently introduced 'westernized' ideas of what is 'sanitary' into an ongoing, perfectly natural recycling process of human waste conversion into fertilizer at no cost? The real fact is, 'the show must go on, for the misguided environmentalists, officials, builders and material suppliers, politicians, international institutions offering credit lest it is proved some day that the age old wisdom of the populace is superior to that of the 'blinkered' experts!
It is said of US President Lincoln that "by surrounding himself by people who bring different perspectives, he will increase his options, absorb dissenting views...." . One wishes our decision makers have the inclination and the intellect to understand this.
Prakash M Apte
Urban DevelopmentConsultant 16th November 2008

We get the Government & Politicians we deserve

We get the Government and Politicians we deserve:

Sharad Pawar, as a politician, only carried forward the trend established by Indira Gandhi: subversion of the 'Party' & its echelons to achieve power, personal agrandoizement and politics of opportunity!

He is not clueless about the state of affairs in the country; but cunning enough to use the knowledge for personal gains. By his own admissions he does not see either the dire distress of farmers culminating in suicides nor the drought. Because he does not recognize agriculture as the main stay of our economy! He advised farmers not to depend on agriculture but take up different occupations. He even claimed that if converting agricultural lands into Special Economic Zones is a more money making proposition, why worry about agricultural production? With the money made from SEZ We can import grains! So what is the problem?

The man is not out of touch with reality. Far from it. In fact appreciating the reality, he and his clan are busy converting the threats in their respective fields of responsibilities into opportunitis- for personal gains! The credo of our politicians is, if there is no problem, create one so that in seeming to solve it they can not only line their pockets but sew new ones on! Pawar is no more obsessed with cricket than the majority of the people of India. We venerate cricket and the cricketers! So why blame Pawar if he cashes on it? A people do not only get the government they deserve but also the politicians!

And why blame Pawar for failure on the agricultural front? In which field have we not failed? There are scandals galore in the Defense ministry from purchase of guns to coffins! Terrorists have a free run of the country while our Home ministers issue homilies on maintaining peace and harmony with our neighbours! Minister for civil aviation is busy bailing out the perinially inefficient air carriers! Minister for education is more concerned about board examinations than the increasing drop outs from schools! Urban development and poverty alieviation minister is busy bringing more agricultural, saltpan, forest and adivasi lands under "development" to benefit private developers! In foreign affairs after 60 years we are still isolated with only Russia on our side!

We will continue to pay the price for the likes of Sharad Pawar till we keep electing them. Not because we want them but because we have a constitution blindly copied (by the so called foresighted fathers of it!) from the British. We need a constitution that facilitates election of candidates dedicated to serve and not those risen from local mafia to national level that crave for the pay, power, pension and perquisites of an M.P. or M.L.A.

Prakash M Apte. 7638 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara. CA.