WEC-IMC, the Indian Member Committee of the World Energy Council, recently undertook a study titled “Sustainable Development of Energy Sector in Delhi Beyond 2010” to showcase the efforts of City of Delhi to meet the energy needs for economic growth, social development and transportation. The Study was released on August 20, on the occasion of Akshaya Urja Diwas 2010, by Mr. Rakesh Mehta, Chief Secretary, Government of Delhi. Mr. Pradeep Chaturvedi, the Study Chair, discussed the various aspects of the study in an interview with ThinktoSustain.com.
Question: Please provide a brief outline of the study w.r.t. methodology, time-frame, agencies involved, etc.
Answer: The objectives of the study were to:
- Study the status of Energy Supply for economic growth, social development and environmental development.
- Study the development targets of Master Plan of Delhi 2021 and integrated impact of infrastructure creation for Commonwealth Games.
- Identify the policy interventions and actions to hasten the achievement of targets of sustainable development set out in Master Plan of Delhi 2021, especially for inclusive growth opportunities to all economic sections of the society by ensuring sustainable energy supply in environmentally friendly manner.
- Showcase Delhi as a model mega city of sustainable and inclusive growth.
The methodology used was, firstly, to review various reports and materials on development objectives and achievements in all sectors of development in Delhi; and secondly, to conduct brain-storming sessions and thereby identify & collect information on status and future course of action from various agencies working in Delhi.
The time frame for conducting this study was over one year. The task force was set up by the World Energy Council, Indian Member Committee – WEC-IMC – under my Chairmanship. The Study Group as it developed, included experts and officials from BEE, BSES, CPWD, CII, Jal Board, DTC, DMRC, GAIL, GTZ-ASEM, ICF, IOC, IEI, MNRE, TST, NCRPB, NCTB (Departments of Power and Environment, MCD, NDMC and NDPL).
Question: What were the reasons for conducting this study and bringing forth this report?
Answer: The World Energy Council had launched a study – ‘Energy for Mega Cities’ – in 2007, which was presented at the Montreal Congress in September 2010. Case studies from leading cities in the world were also considered for the study. Realizing this as an opportunity, the World Energy Council – Indian Member Committee considered it appropriate to showcase the efforts of city of Delhi to meet the energy needs for economic growth, social development and transportation. The Commonwealth Games had accelerated the process of development and fund support for infrastructure. Therefore, it was considered appropriate to present this unique character of the impact of such strong support and development of energy generation, conversion, supply and use. The report was conceived to reflect the strong possibility of speeding up development process and achieving the targets of Master Plan of Delhi 2010 at an earlier time stage.
Question: According to the study, what would be the major challenges for Delhi w.r.t. natural resource management, reducing carbon emissions, and policy interventions?
Answer: The major challenges for Delhi would be:
- Natural Resource Management: The increasing population which will include larger proportion of unskilled or low-skilled workers – mainly the left-overs of Commonwealth Games construction – will need higher resources of energy, water, etc., for sustenance. This will call for more efficient use of existing infrastructure and introducing urban habitat planning and planned growth of future infrastructure in keeping with the sustainable concept mentioned in Master Plan Delhi of 2021. All efforts are required to introduce efficiencies and conservation aspects into development of the city. Education and awareness are most important issues.
- Reducing Carbon Emissions: Climate change mitigation and adaptation plan has to be implemented in the stricter sense so that 20% curtailment in emission levels by 2021 is achieved even as the population is growing. This requires latest technology interventions in transport, construction and energy sectors.
- Policy Interventions: Energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes have to be introduced much more vigorously than being planned at the moment. The electricity demand in Delhi has been growing at 8% per year and the energy efficiency mission programmes are expected to bring down this increase to about 5%. More intense effort will mean offsetting the increasing electricity demand through energy efficiency measures and renewable energy introduction. The power sector reforms have made their impact but these have to continue much more vigorously.
Question: During the course of this study, your team must have come across some practices that are currently playing a key role in realizing the goals of sustainable development in Delhi. Can you list some of them?
Answer: Few examples could be that:
- Delhi has successfully brought down its ATC losses from 63% to around 20% in 7 years since privatization of distribution network. The Smart Grid Concept has been tested and when fully implemented will further optimize electricity supply.
- Pollution due to commercial vehicles including buses, taxies and auto-rickshaws has come down due to their operation on CNG as per the order of the Supreme Court.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has resulted in avoiding 1 lakh passenger trips of the personal vehicles as studied by Central Road Research Institute. With the introduction of its phase up to Gurgaon, DMRC has reflected that 25,000 private vehicles and taxies will go out of operation. - Flyovers and smoother roads are not sufficient unless they are supported by traffic control and affluent people switching over to public transport system. Such a change over will also call for multi-model transfer facility so that people can travel without any hassle from more mode to another.
- Project management in construction is a critical issue for timely and effective completion of quality work.
