Eco-City SMK

The Eco-City Program has been envisaged in two distinct phases - 'planning' and 'implementation'. The Eco-City Action Plan is the product of the first phase.

The EMS and participatory approach have been adopted and modified to develop a unique hybrid process to prepare the Action Plan. It involves identification of key stakeholders, opening dialogue between different stakeholders and evolving an environmental policy in the form of a Charter.

Situation analysis has been conducted. Ten themes have been identified to address the environmental concerns within the region. Actions in the form of projects, programs, plans and policies have been evolved to address the gaps and opportunities within each theme. The framework to evolve actions accounted for the goals set in the Charter. Key elements of the project cycle have been considered for each action.

Awareness and training activities are closely linked to every component of the action plan. Each awareness program provides information which will be useful in the implementation of the activities. The awareness activities will create necessary dialogue during implementation of the Eco-City Action Plan and update stakeholders about their role.

49 actions and 52 awareness programs have been conceptualized and detailed as part of the Action Plan. Highlights of the actions and awareness programs explain the distribution of actions based on themes and the type of interventions.

Actions have been prioritized to aid implementation without compromising on the needs or relevance. Institutional and financial frameworks are proposed.

The Eco-City Action Plan is distributed over three volumes-

• Volume I – Introduction to eco-cities, methodology used to prepare Eco-City Action Plan for SMK, eco-city charter, situation analysis, evolution of action plan, action prioritization, institutional arrangements, financing and next steps

• Volume II – Rationale for actions under each theme, details of each action

• Volume III – Calendar of awareness programs, details of each awareness program

The Eco-City program will lead to social, environmental and economic benefits to its stakeholders. Such programs are fundamentally sustainable if conceived and implemented in this perspective. Its economic advantage should comfort the investor and the administrator, and its environmental and social dimension should enthuse the citizens, professionals and service providers towards active participation.

It would not be an exaggeration to call the Eco-City Action Plan for Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad ambitious. However, given SMKMC’s resolve and professed commitment towards its vision of sustainable development for SMK, there is every hope that the proposed Action Plan will be executed successfully and will serve as a model for other cities to emulate