The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has shelved its plans to concretise four Aravalli creeks lying upstream of Golf Course Road (GCR)

The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has shelved its plans to concretise four Aravalli creeks lying upstream of Golf Course Road (GCR). Spillover from the creeks was identified as one of the major reasons for the unprecedented waterlogging on Golf Course Road last year. The plan to shelve the concretisation was taken at the recommendation of experts from the TERI School of Advanced Studies, who recently conducted a hydrogeological study of the area at the behest of the city-based NGO, IAmGurgaon.

VS Kundu, CEO, GMDA, said, ‘We met with TERI last week and took their recommendation to retain these creeks as kachha (natural) drains. As per our detailed project report for drainage in Gurugram, which is still being executed, these channels were to be concretised as box drains. But since they are natural waterways that can aid in recharging groundwater, they will be left as is and cleaned thoroughly before the next monsoon. This will mitigate the risk of flooding on GCR.”

An interim report produced by TERI in November last year recommended a range of sustainable solutions to conserve rainwater and prevent urban flooding of GCR and neighbouring localities. The measures include building recharge wells along the length of the Wazirabad bundh, establishing green corridors along existing drainage channels and reviving naturally existing catchment areas to hold run-off water during monsoon. TERI’s study, titled Blue Green Interventions for Addressing Flooding Along Golf Course Road and Neighbouring Sectors in Gurugram, was undertaken in the wake of unprecedented waterlogging in Gurugram on August 19, during which GCR was among the worst-affected areas.

A central part of TERI’s study was the assessment of four drainage channels that originate in the Aravallis just above the GCR, and traverse its carriageway before draining into a water body that collects along the nearby Chakkarpur-Wazirabad bundh. The first of these natural creeks, which is also the lowest lying, runs through Sector 26, while the other three are located in sectors 42, 54 and 56. These are classified as creeks 1-4, respectively.

As per the GMDA’s detailed project report for drainage, these creeks were to be concretised and covered. However, in its final report presented to the GMDA last week, researchers at TERI wrote, “It is to be noted that creating box drain drastically reduces the cross section and carrying capacity of the erstwhile channels, and also prevents groundwater recharge. This also adversely affects the natural greenery and biodiversity in the surrounding area of the channels.”

Fauzia Tarannum, of the School of Regional Water Studies, TERI-SAS, said, “Leaving the drains as earthen structures is definitely a sensible step to take. Once cleaned up, they can play a significant role in mitigating flood risks and conserving rainwater in the project area. A large amount of waste and construction debris has been dumped in these creeks, and some restoration work has already begun. It will be important to ensure no further dumping of waste is allowed to take place there.”

TERI’s final report also calls for increased protection of the Aravalli hills located upstream of the GCR. “Gurgaon is highly concretised. This is especially true along the GC Road, where the green belts have been sacrificed for road expansion and the projects along the GC Road have a high level of paved areas which generate higher levels of run-off,” the report states, adding that the Aravalli hills above the GCR are an important groundwater recharge area and a green zone for the city.

“These should be earmarked as a forest and recharge zone where no construction is allowed, as any further construction and concretisation in the Aravallis upstream will increase the storm water run-off and increase the flood risk downstream,” researchers have noted.

New Delhi [India], December 8 (ANI/NewsVoir): TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS), New Delhi, a deemed to be University, held its 13th Convocation on 8th December 2020.

Dr Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, Recipient of Padma Vibhushan in 2014 and Former Director-General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was the Chief Guest for the occasion.

Dr Mashelkar is known for his contributions to India's National Chemical Laboratory and Council of ScientificIndustrial Research, chairing multiple high-powered committees appointed by the Government of India on diverse issues, and a successful campaign against foreign patents on Indian traditional knowledge.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic and the protocols implemented by the government, this year's Convocation ceremony was held online including an FB live.

In this year's Convocation ceremony, a total of 18 PhDs and 216 Master's degrees were awarded to the students.

On the occasion, the Chief Guest, Dr Mashelkar said, "It is a great honour and a privilege to deliver the 13th Convocation of TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS). Its mother institution The Energy Research Institute (TERI), had distinguished itself globally through its pathbreaking contributions. I am delighted to see that TERI SAS itself is creating its own distinctive imprint in the area of sustainable development."Dr Shailesh Nayak, Chancellor, TERI SAS also expressed his view on the occasion and said, "TERI SAS has been a unique institute for building capacity to address issues related to sustainability and balancing agenda of protection of environment and inclusive development, and building a new kind of leadership. A structured process of learning of inclusive education as advocated by TERI SAS, is an essential requirement of creating a sustainable society. The New Education Policy of India has recognised this fact and provided impetus to address sustainability as a part of education."Prof Manipadma Datta, Vice-Chancellor, TERI SAS also congratulated the outgoing students and said, "We at TERI SAS are proudly striving to reach this goal! This august institution was established with this holistic vision only! If we are no good students, we can't become good teachers! Real learning is never domain specific! That's why we have been championing the cause of interdisciplinarity since the beginning and happy to find that the New Education Policy document to a great extent reflects the core, we are nurturing all these days! Our vision gets honourably vindicated! We can echo Benjamin Disraeli with confidence: A University should be a place of Light, of Liberty, and of Learning! Tamoso Maa Jyotirgamaya! We can strongly hope, our education system will continue to transcend to a more holistic learning system!"TERI SAS (earlier TERI University) is one of the eminent institutes in the country in the field of Sustainability Education. It was conceived to disseminate the knowledgebase created by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). In 1999, the Institute was granted the 'Deemed to be University' status by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and notified vide the Ministry of Human Resources Development.

TERI SAS is deemed to be a university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, Government of India, committed to "Knowledge for Sustainable Development".

It offers 14 masters programmes and an interdisciplinary PhD programme in seven thematic areas in its campus in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. It has awarded more than 130 PhDs and more than 2300 Master's degrees so far.

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