By
Mr. Kishor Pate, CMD - Amit Enterprises Housing Ltd.
NIMBY
is not a term we often hear in India, though it is quite a popular word (and a
dynamic concept) in the West.
That
said, NIMBY - an acronym for 'Not In My Back Yard - is definitely an unspoken
mind-set when it comes to residential real estate in India.
Nimbyism..!
Basically,
'Nimbys' are residents of a locality of project who are opposed to the
implementation of a certain initiative by the Government, industries or / private
developers/promoters in their neighbourhood.
 |
| Kishor Pate, CMD, Amit Enterprises Housing |
Classic
examples in the Indian context are flyovers, chemical factories, power plants
and in fact any kind of development that could conceivably obstruct the view,
disrupt the peace or / pollute the air.
‘Nimbyism’
does exist in the Indian real estate space, but the choices of opponents to
certain developments within their neighbourhoods is generally quite restricted.
The
Indian real estate space is still largely unorganized, and problems such as
encroachment, unauthorized structures and lack of scientific town planning are
still the order of the day in most of our cities.
The
concepts of regulated real estate development and macro-level town planning are
beginning to take hold and are, in fact, already operational in cities like
Chandigarh, Navi Mumbai and even in Pune.
While
this evolution is happening against a large backdrop of damage that already
been done and is difficult to undo, this does not mean that 'Nimbyism' is a
futile and impotent concept in India.
In
Indian residential real estate, middle-class housing societies – administrative
bodies comprised of residents within a registered housing complex – have the
right to refuse unscheduled construction within the complex premises.
That
said, they have little or no control over what happens beyond the compound
walls. In cities scuh as Mumbai & Delhi, upscale housing complexes continue
to co-exist cheek-to-jowl with slums and slapdash tenements. This is more or
less accepted as a reality of life, since slums are often under the political
protection.
The
ultra-luxury segment presents a rather different picture. Indian cities do have
their elite pockets, likes Lutyens Zone in Delhi, Nariman Point in Mumbai,
Sahakar Nagar in Pune, Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad, and so on. In these areas,
residents have a stronger voice over what happens in their immediate neighbourhoods
– and they do raise them. This level of influence derives from a combination of
factors - including the financial clout of the residents, the fact that the
zones themselves are under the purview of stricter-than-usual zoning
guidelines.
Negative concept?
As
such, Nimbyism is definitely not a negative concept - in fact, cities like Pune
need a larger dose of it. Residents should have a say in what happens in their
neighbourhoods.
This
is especially true if the developments they are opposing are taking place
outside of the existing zoning laws and are serious threats to the health,
harmony and safety. What is needed is more exacting city planning, which should
ideally be part of the overall development plan for the city.
Likewise,
developers also have a responsibility towards ensuring the sanctity of the
residential projects they create.
About
The Author:
 |
| Mr. Kishor Pate |
Mr.
Kishor Pate is Chairman & Managing Director at Amit Enterprises Housing
Limited (AEHL), is the driving force behind one of the country's most
successful real estate development firms in Pune and beyond.
AEHL's
many projects in Pune include its signature luxury homes towers &
premium gated townships in Sahakarnagar and Ambegaon
For
more details
For Media Contact
Jay Kalghatgi
Client Interface - CopyConnect
Mobile: 9320142248
Jay Kalghatgi
Client Interface - CopyConnect
Mobile: 9320142248
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