WINNING ISOLA AWARD 2018
Revitalisation of Nala's of Belgavi
Site Location: Belagavi, Karnataka Project Type: Revitalisation of network of nalas Network Length: 38 Kilometers Site Area: 169 Acres (approximately)
The City of Belagavi lies at an altitude of 784m. It is a valley surrounded by mountains, and therefore situates itself into a system of natural streams - which over a period of last two centuries have been converted into a network of nalas (drains) that carry out the city’s waste. Today the city has an underground sewage system, and yet these nalas are used to dispose the waste. There is no policy that stops one from releasing waste into this water network - be it from a household or an industry.
As Belagavi gears up to review under the smart city initiative, it is important that the nalas are reclaimed as network of waters that not only enrich the ecological fabric of the city, but also enlivens social and cultural fabric of the city.
The nalas that are actually sweet water stream - that one can witness near Hotel Green and Vaccine Depot - they are an overflow from Lakshmi Tekdi and Rakaskop reservoir. The water, as it transitions through the city, get mixed with sewage. One can clearly see the transition in the quality of water as it passes through Camp, Station Road, Shastry Nagar and Shivaji Garden right up to Old PB Road, before it touches Bellary Nala.
'Nala', often termed in the context of sewage drain, has now become a reality of the people of Belagavi. The design proposal looks at a fundamental and a pragamatic solution of claiming back the water streams from these nalas and develop them into a green network which allows for pedestrian and bicycle connections, public greens and connected ecological corridors for reviewing the landscape of Belagavi.
The team believes that doing this in phases will reduce significant carbon footprint of the city, and will bring down the temperature in the coming years. Their next plan of action is to host an event/ exhibition to engage the city's public to participate and also to create awareness on the possibilities. They're also trying to get in touch with Belagavi Smart City Limited to show them this proposal.
The team comprising of Preetanshi Singh, Shantesh kelvekar, Maithily Velangi, Siddhi Khirad and Kushal Surana from Reading Grounds has won this year's Indian Society of Landscape Architects (ISOLA) Award in the Unbuilt Design category for their ongoing design and research proposal.