Chandigarh : The Haryana Government has decided to set up two eco- cities, also called smart communities, in Jhajjar and Manesar towns with active support of the Japanese Government. A feasibility report is ready and will be studied and analysed. Eco-city is an eco-friendly initiative in which citizens, business and the government work, live and interact through delivery of integrated, low-carbon products and services.
This was disclosed here today by the Haryana Industries Minister, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, after a meeting with two Japanese delegations. Comprising representatives of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and leading MNC Toshiba, the delegations made a presentation on the feasibility of the two projects before Mr Surjewala.Expressing his conceptual agreement with the proposal, Mr Surjewala said that the business model of eco-cities should be so designed as to make facilities and services available at rates commensurate with the
market prices to enable people to use them. Once ready, the feasibility report would be studied further and analysed to draw the final roadmap for implementation, he added.
The feasibility study, presented to the minister, covered areas like water, water recycling, power, logistics, solid waste management and transportation. The project has been funded by the Ministry of Economic Trade and Investment, Government of Japan.
Toshiba representatives said that the pilot project, to come up in the Manesar-Bawal Investment region, would be expanded and later extended to other areas. The highly reliable and environment-friendly energy supply system, demand generation and management to reduce the peak load on the main grid, and efficient operation of the supply system are the solutions proposed to bridge the demand-supply gap.
An environment-friendly system of providing energy security with increased overall efficiency, would also be introduced, they added. Similarly, the water pilot plant proposed to treat industrial effluents, will consume less energy than the conventional system. It would supply recycled water to the cogeneration plant.
The eco-city project was conceived during the visit of the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to Japan as a part of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor initiative. An MoU was later signed between the two sides for such projects. Haryana, Maharashtra and Gujarat were identified as the sites for this project. An MoU was later signed among the HSIIDC, DMICDC and a consortium of Japanese companies led by Toshiba, including NEC, Tokyo Gas, Energy Advanced Companies Ltd.
The objective of an eco-city is to build a new industrial community while maximizing welfare of the people and minimizing carbon emission, which will be achieved by integrating technology across water, waste, energy, transportation and safety infrastructure.
Japan has already successfully implemented this concept in Kitakyushu town and developed it as a smart community. It has been globally recognised as a unique model of sustainable industrial development.
Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Industries department, Mr. Y.S. Malik and Managing Director, HSIIDC Mr. Rajeev Arora were also present in the meeting.