Latest news with #SchoolofPlanningandArchitecture
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Urban Adda 2025: Aravalli collapse will cripple NCR's climate defences, warn experts
As bulldozers inch deeper into the Aravallis and unchecked urban sprawl carves away its ancient ridgelines, experts at Urban Adda 2025 issued a stark warning — the degradation of the Aravalli ecosystem could upend Delhi-NCR's fight against air pollution, water scarcity, and urban heat. Speaking at a panel co-hosted by GuruJal and the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi, environmentalists called the Aravallis not just a green buffer but the region's last line of defence against environmental disaster. 'Creeks and groundwater recharge zones are vanishing,' said Dr Ranjana Ray Chaudhuri of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). 'This is not just biodiversity loss — it's a suicide pact with climate.' The warning is particularly relevant to Gurugram, where encroachments into the protected Aravalli range have intensified. Despite court orders and safeguards under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), large tracts of forest land have been carved up for illegal farmhouses, luxury villas and wedding venues in areas such as Raisina, Gwal Pahari, Sohna, Ghata, and Basai Mev. Entire hillsides have been flattened to make way for private estates, often registered as agricultural land on paper. Activists said the scale of tree-felling and topsoil stripping has triggered aquifer collapse, desertification, and a dramatic loss of native wildlife. Chetan Agarwal, forest analyst and senior fellow at CEDAR, said Delhi-NCR's next Master Plan must integrate natural conservation zones (NCZs) with legal mandates. 'We can't afford another planning document that ignores the ecological spine of this region. The Aravallis are not empty land for exploitation — they're living infrastructure essential for resilience.' Nidhi Madan of Raahgiri Foundation echoed the urgency, calling the destruction 'an irreversible ecological crime'. 'Cities must adapt to the geography they occupy — not bulldoze it. What's happening in the Aravallis is not growth, it is erasure,' she said. The panel called for an empowered Aravalli Conservation Taskforce to crack down on illegal construction, monitor deforestation, and prosecute offenders. They also pushed for a joint conservation pact between Haryana and Rajasthan, backed by the Supreme Court's central empowered committee (CEC), to conduct updated surveys and rehabilitate degraded zones. As Delhi-NCR grapples with rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and worsening air quality, the message at Urban Adda was unequivocal: saving the Aravallis is no longer optional — it's the survival strategy for the capital.
India Today
a day ago
- Health
- India Today
Light pollution is making you sick, fat. Yet regulatory practices remain scant
Around 80% of the world's population lives under skies classified as "light-polluted," according to the World Atlas of Artificial Sky Luminance (2016).While establishing a direct causal relationship between light pollution and metabolic diseases in India is challenging due to the lack of controlled studies, there is ample global evidence showing that light pollution has severe health impacts, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and even Alzheimer's practice has consistently shown that hormonal imbalances and metabolic dysfunctions, including diabetes, have increased manifold in areas with high exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN). Experts have flagged stress, disrupted sleep, and circadian rhythm imbalances, all of which are exacerbated by light pollution, as major contributors.A team of researchers from the School of Planning and Architecture, in their study "Light Pollution in India: Appraisal of Artificial Night Sky Brightness of Cities", identified Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai as the most light-polluted cities in India. Experts have flagged stress, disrupted sleep, and circadian rhythm imbalances, all of which are exacerbated by light pollution, as major contributors. () advertisementThey classified light pollution as a side effect of rapid urbanisation, and the researchers further highlighted how increased use of outdoor lighting and rising night-sky brightness pose significant threats to both human health and environmental SPIKESA 2024 paper published in the Diabetes & Metabolism Journal described light pollution as an "alarming trend", stating that pervasive use of ALAN is emerging as a disruptor of natural circadian rhythms, potentially leading to unhealthy lifestyle behaviours such as poor sleep and erratic eating patterns. Read the full paperGerman researchers Jorien Laermans and Inge Depoortere, renowned for their work on circadian biology and metabolism, found that urban light pollution is a major circadian disruptor, and an emerging risk factor for artificial light at night is increasing by about 6% annually, and researchers such as Hlker, Fonken, and Nelson have all acknowledged its impact on rising obesity AND CIRCADIAN DISRUPTIONAnd that's just the beginning of the damage.A Spanish study found higher risks of breast and prostate cancer among people exposed to elevated levels of artificial light at night. An Israeli study recorded a 73% increase in breast cancer incidence in areas with high night-time illumination. ALAN is believed to subdue melatonin, an essential hormone for regulating circadian rhythms. Globally, artificial light at night is increasing by about 6% annually. () This influences cancer development either through hormonal disruption, or impaired DNA repair, or even increased cell proliferation, and chronic IN ACTION: REGULATIONStreetlights, illuminated billboards, neon signage, white industrial and office lighting at night, and household lights are known to be major sources of light about 1 crore smart LED streetlights have been installed in Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, HP, Haryana and other states (annual energy savings of 6.71 billion kWh and reduction of GHG emission by 4.63 million tCO2 every year), light pollution itself remains largely so long ago, in April 2025, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that there is no statutory framework in India to regulate light pollution, highlighting a critical policy in December 2024, the Panchtatva Foundation had also filed a case citing ALAN's disastrous impact on human circadian health. The NGT proactively sought responses from relevant ministries but till date no concrete regulatory action has been light at night may be invisible to the eye as a pollutant, but its impact on public health, ecology, and climate is undeniable. It's time policymakers took ALAN seriously before our cities become even brighter, fatter, and Watch
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
UP signs MoU for ‘sustainable and inclusive urban growth'
The Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Department signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi to ensure sustainable and inclusive urban growth in the state. The agreement, which was formalised at the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies in Lucknow and is supported by Tata Trusts, comes under the Urban Development Department's Akanshi Nagar Yojana and aims to address the challenges faced by smaller urban local bodies in urban planning training and capacity building. The department will run special training programmes for officials of local urban bodies in collaboration with SAP. The initiative will focus on building a strong network of trained urban managers to deal with unique challenges faced by smaller urban local bodies, such as infrastructure development, resource management, and sustainable growth. Amrit Abhijat, Principal Secretary (Urban Development), said no town, big or small, will be left behind in the state's journey of urban development. The partnership will offer training programme, promote collaboration with state and regional institutions, and offer training manuals that reach the grassroots level.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
City Boy Secures AIR 80, Scores 99.9 percentile in JEE Mains Arch
Nagpur: Driven by a deep passion for architecture, city boy Arenjay Das has scored a remarkable 99.9 percentile to achieve AIR 80 in the JEE Mains (Session 2) examination. Arenjay is aiming to get admission at Delhi's School of Planning and Architecture (SPA). Talking to TOI, Arenjay credited a disciplined routine and preparation strategy for his success. "I've been consistently studying for six hours every day for the last two years. My passion for architecture really drives me," said Arenjay, son of Jaydeep and Renuka Das. "I studied for just six to seven hours daily, but with complete focus," he added. The JEE exam, a mix of aptitude, mathematics, drawing, and architecture-specific topics like history, materials, and product studies, requires a balanced approach. "We had logical reasoning, aptitude, math, and a 100-mark drawing section that included memory drawing, 2D and 3D positioning. I started solving questions of my strong areas and left math for the end because I'm slightly weak in it," Arenjay explained. "Instead of guess work, I focused on solving questions I was sure about," he said. Arenjay emphasised the importance of strategic preparation. "I didn't try to solve everything. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo I tried solving what I thoroughly knew," he said. Interestingly, despite the rigorous schedule, Arenjay maintained a healthy study-leisure balance. "Until a week before the exam, I used to regularly play football. I also love wildlife photography. These activities kept me fresh and motivated," he said. Though confident that his second attempt had gone well, Arenjay admitted he didn't expect the result to be this good. With SPA Delhi as his dream college, he is now closer than ever to his goal, proving that consistency, strategy, and passion are the true keys to success. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Hans India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Raj Bhavan celebrates Guj, Maha Formation Day
Vijayawada: Gujarat and Maharashtra Formation Day celebrations were held in Durbar Hall at Raj Bhavan here on Friday in presence of Governor S Abdul Nazeer at the, under 'Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat' programme. Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that the people of Gujarat actively participated in the country's freedom movement and made significant contribution to India's freedom struggle. He said that Maharashtra gave us many prominent freedom fighters and social reformers like Vinoba Bhave, Dr BR Ambedkar, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Nanaji Deshmukh and others. After formation of separate States, both Gujarat and Maharashtra have prospered immensely and achieved tremendous progress, while contributing to the country's economic development to a large extent, said the Governor. He said the 'Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat' programme aims at enhancing interaction and promote mutual understanding between people of different States and Union Territories through the concept of 'One Nation One People.' Earlier, video messages of Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat and Governor of Maharashtra CP Radhakrishnan were played. Dr JM Bhagwat of School of Planning and Architecture, Deepak Desai, president of Sri Vijayawada Gujarati Samaj and N Tanisha of Vijayawada Maratha Mandal spoke on the occasion, followed by a patriotic song sung by Navin Patel and a Garba dance performance by Hansaben Patel and group. Dr M Hari Jawaharlal, Secretary to Governor and officers and staff members of Raj Bhavan, students of Gujarat and Maharashtra studying in various educational institutions in and around Vijayawada were present.
