Navya Ayodhya Ramayana’s essence in a futuristic township | India News
While the makeover of Ayodhya has enamoured people from all over the world with its vibrance and grace, its extension as Navya Ayodhya is also attracting attention with its vision that has integrated modern living with wisdom from the Ramayana, reports Shailvee Sharda
The compendium of shlokas compiled in sarga-5 of the Valmiki Ramayana’s Bal Kand gives a glimpse of the city of Ayodhya, as described by King Dashrath.
“A deeper look and contemplation of that chapter compels one to conclude that modern day benchmarks of quality of life and sustainable co-existential living were a reality of the city. One can also gather that the ecosystem of Ayodhyapuri must have served as the basis for evolution of what the world knows as ‘Ram Rajya’,” remarks Ranvir Prasad, secretary, UP housing and urban planning department, while setting the context of Navya Ayodhya – the name given to Ayodhya’s Green Field Township (GFT).
Stating that Navya Ayodhya is emerging as a natural extension of the original town in letter and spirit, Prasad says: “Once in place, Navya Ayodhya would serve as a reference point for those willing to achieve the benchmark of sustainable living.” TOI delves deeper into the defining thought:
Balancing elements of nature: Descriptions in the Ramayana indicate that a fine balance of all the five elements of life existed in Ayodhya. Embracing the thought as a guiding principle, the brains behind Navya Ayodhya decided to strike a balance between earth, air, water, fire, and space elements.
For instance, greenery has been given significant importance while conceptualizing the design. About 24% of the area in the city has been set aside for green and blue infrastructure which is to be achieved by development of natural water bodies, orchards and parks, landscaping, and so on. Notably, several incidents in the Ramayana are set in forests. It has a rich description of different types of forests – alpine, deciduous, tropical, semitropical, rain forest, and evergreen forest.
To achieve climate resilience, an elaborate waste management strategy is being rolled out along with the integration of ‘sponge city principle’ – a term for harnessing nature (or using nature-based solutions) to tackle climate shocks (such as flood, erratic weather pattern) – has become common in recent years. This will also serve as a flood resilience measure.
By embracing these principles, UP govt has also capped the proportion of grey (read concrete) structures within the city. To achieve this, the planners have decided to develop GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) compliant buildings. Effort is on to ensure that 50% of the buildings in the township use rooftop solar energy system which will also be connected to the grid. According to estimates, it can generate 3,39,800 KWh of electrical energy per day.
Experts opine that this will make Navya Ayodhya cooler than many other places. By ensuring green and blue infrastructure in Navya Ayodhya, the city would naturally provide a home to birds, fish, and animals – something that Lord Ram has shown in action (as cited in the story of Lord Ram extending love to a small squirrel and how Lord Ram expressed grief at the demise of the bird Jatayu).
Planners have also proposed to tackle water and waste management responsibly. Govt has taken on board the Indian Institute of TechnologyRoorkee and the National Institute of Hydrology to ensure that 84% of water generated in the city is recycled and used to meet 48% of water demand of the township.
Likewise, systems to convert 16,380 tonnes of wet waste generated here are converted into compost (about 4095 tonnes) that would eventually be used to nourish the green section.
Greenery in Navya Ayodhya through planned plantations would also help in reducing carbon emission from the city. The idea is to cut down on carbon emission by 18356 kgs daily which adds up to 670 tonnes in a year. Further decline in carbon emission would be achieved through promotion of electric vehicles. EV buses could reduce CO2 emission by 10600 kg daily as compared to ICE buses.
Creating an inclusive society
One of the biggest takeaways from the Ramayana is mutual coexistence of human and divine beings from various walks of life, be it ‘rishis’, ‘gandharvas’, ‘devtas’, ‘apsaras’, kinnars or tribals. Land allocation in Navya Ayodhya has taken this thought into consideration. The primary aim of the township is to provide housing and employment opportunities for all, and arrange for vending zones, skill centres and mixed income housing to meet socio-economic needs of all sections of the society.
This goes hand in hand with the commitment to create infrastructure for vulnerable groups like people with disability, elderly, and women and children. This would reflect in WASH facilities, safety, surveillance, mobility and infrastructure.
Planners have made ample provision for development of economic drivers. Identifying tourism as the main driving force of the economy, 26% of total area has been set aside for tourism-related infrastructure. Land has been reserved for international and state bhavans (4.27%), mutts and ashrams (3.91%), commercial and cottage category (9.14%), and institutes (11.6%). Almost an equal area has been set aside for tourism support activities.
The canvas includes cottage industries for production of puja material, handicraft and souvenirs, and warehouse-cum-storage facilities through a plug and play infrastructure development.
The compendium of shlokas compiled in sarga-5 of the Valmiki Ramayana’s Bal Kand gives a glimpse of the city of Ayodhya, as described by King Dashrath.
“A deeper look and contemplation of that chapter compels one to conclude that modern day benchmarks of quality of life and sustainable co-existential living were a reality of the city. One can also gather that the ecosystem of Ayodhyapuri must have served as the basis for evolution of what the world knows as ‘Ram Rajya’,” remarks Ranvir Prasad, secretary, UP housing and urban planning department, while setting the context of Navya Ayodhya – the name given to Ayodhya’s Green Field Township (GFT).
Stating that Navya Ayodhya is emerging as a natural extension of the original town in letter and spirit, Prasad says: “Once in place, Navya Ayodhya would serve as a reference point for those willing to achieve the benchmark of sustainable living.” TOI delves deeper into the defining thought:
Balancing elements of nature: Descriptions in the Ramayana indicate that a fine balance of all the five elements of life existed in Ayodhya. Embracing the thought as a guiding principle, the brains behind Navya Ayodhya decided to strike a balance between earth, air, water, fire, and space elements.
For instance, greenery has been given significant importance while conceptualizing the design. About 24% of the area in the city has been set aside for green and blue infrastructure which is to be achieved by development of natural water bodies, orchards and parks, landscaping, and so on. Notably, several incidents in the Ramayana are set in forests. It has a rich description of different types of forests – alpine, deciduous, tropical, semitropical, rain forest, and evergreen forest.
To achieve climate resilience, an elaborate waste management strategy is being rolled out along with the integration of ‘sponge city principle’ – a term for harnessing nature (or using nature-based solutions) to tackle climate shocks (such as flood, erratic weather pattern) – has become common in recent years. This will also serve as a flood resilience measure.
By embracing these principles, UP govt has also capped the proportion of grey (read concrete) structures within the city. To achieve this, the planners have decided to develop GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) compliant buildings. Effort is on to ensure that 50% of the buildings in the township use rooftop solar energy system which will also be connected to the grid. According to estimates, it can generate 3,39,800 KWh of electrical energy per day.
Experts opine that this will make Navya Ayodhya cooler than many other places. By ensuring green and blue infrastructure in Navya Ayodhya, the city would naturally provide a home to birds, fish, and animals – something that Lord Ram has shown in action (as cited in the story of Lord Ram extending love to a small squirrel and how Lord Ram expressed grief at the demise of the bird Jatayu).
Planners have also proposed to tackle water and waste management responsibly. Govt has taken on board the Indian Institute of TechnologyRoorkee and the National Institute of Hydrology to ensure that 84% of water generated in the city is recycled and used to meet 48% of water demand of the township.
Likewise, systems to convert 16,380 tonnes of wet waste generated here are converted into compost (about 4095 tonnes) that would eventually be used to nourish the green section.
Greenery in Navya Ayodhya through planned plantations would also help in reducing carbon emission from the city. The idea is to cut down on carbon emission by 18356 kgs daily which adds up to 670 tonnes in a year. Further decline in carbon emission would be achieved through promotion of electric vehicles. EV buses could reduce CO2 emission by 10600 kg daily as compared to ICE buses.
Creating an inclusive society
One of the biggest takeaways from the Ramayana is mutual coexistence of human and divine beings from various walks of life, be it ‘rishis’, ‘gandharvas’, ‘devtas’, ‘apsaras’, kinnars or tribals. Land allocation in Navya Ayodhya has taken this thought into consideration. The primary aim of the township is to provide housing and employment opportunities for all, and arrange for vending zones, skill centres and mixed income housing to meet socio-economic needs of all sections of the society.
This goes hand in hand with the commitment to create infrastructure for vulnerable groups like people with disability, elderly, and women and children. This would reflect in WASH facilities, safety, surveillance, mobility and infrastructure.
Planners have made ample provision for development of economic drivers. Identifying tourism as the main driving force of the economy, 26% of total area has been set aside for tourism-related infrastructure. Land has been reserved for international and state bhavans (4.27%), mutts and ashrams (3.91%), commercial and cottage category (9.14%), and institutes (11.6%). Almost an equal area has been set aside for tourism support activities.
The canvas includes cottage industries for production of puja material, handicraft and souvenirs, and warehouse-cum-storage facilities through a plug and play infrastructure development.
