Small lessons. Big impact

Singapore has executed some inspiring ideas to ensure its green cover isn’t affected by its industrialised core. Pic/iStock

Sir PM was pacing up and down in the foyer leading to the Cathedral. His dear friend was back from Singapore after a mini vacation with her cousin, and he couldn't wait to hear all about her stay there. It had been raining intermittently these past few days; those pre-monsoon showers didn't help his perspiration levels, and so he felt it best to meet in a suitably protected area.

"Ah! There you are, Pheroze. You seemed to have lost weight in one week's time. How I wish you could have come with me! So much to love and learn from, really," she smiled; her vacation glow still very visible. "How was the experience, and is it true that they have executed some truly inspiring ideas to ensure their green cover isn't affected by their industrialised core?" Sir PM enquired.

Lady Flora smiled; she knew her friend was eager to learn all about this amazing success story. "Pheroze, I was impressed. Do you know that the powers that be have gone all out to keep their country green? According to the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Singapore, almost half of the country's area is green. I learnt that from nature reserves to botanical gardens and parks linked by treetop highways, there is so much greenery wherever I went. Cousin Victoria was telling me that the young nation, since its inception, has been focused on this aspect. Apparently, in the early days of its development, they lost a sizeable percentage of greenery to urbanisation but they decided to relook at this approach and launched an aggressive greening campaign." Lady Flora realised that Sir PM was actually taking notes, so she felt that much more responsible to share key details.

"Plus, a friend of Victoria's, who was part of their original civic setup, like you Pheroze, shared over a very stimulating tea session about how all new public housing had to integrate greener surroundings. This could include plants, green roofs, foliage walls or vertical gardens. An article in their leading newspaper Strait Times reiterated this mandate," she added. "I am impressed beyond words, My Lady. Please go on," he requested, as he noticed an overcast sky. "Let's head inside; looks like it will come down heavy." Both proceeded quickly inside in the nick of time.

"So, I also heard they had built a 101-hectare park on reclaimed land, pretty much like our Maharashtra Nature Park. But don't you think we need hundreds of such ideas across such a non-green city like ours?" she glanced at her friend who was looking a bit glum by now.

"My Lady, this sounds impressive and also a bit far-fetched for our fellows here…We are just about struggling to meet our targets for this year's cleanup jobs before the real rains reach us. I won't even get into our long-pending infra projects that aren't exactly moving at a great pace, given the original architecture of our city."

Lady Flora could gauge why he was forlorn but tried to cheer him up. "There is even a park that moves along a river. I wish our civic authorities could plan something similar along the Mithi River for starters. I explored the East Coast Park that lines the southeastern coast of the city. It was such an amazing idea. It also makes for a lovely picnic spot for families keen to enjoy the outdoors amidst this green lung. Imagine if the same could be conceptualised for the Coastal Road? These are all very possible, you see. Plus, they double up as flood-control systems. I fail to understand why these measures cannot be taken up at the earliest, given how fragile our city's ecosystem is and worse, given the ominous threat of climate change that isn't going anywhere with each passing year."

Sir PM looked like he wanted to say something important. "And tell me about this tea session…is the tea any good, as I've heard from Viegas?" Lady Flora smiled, and pulled out a cutesy pouch from her tote bag. "Here, this is for you; Singapore's finest tea, and let me know what you think. I knew you'd be curious." Sir PM was gushing at his friend's thoughtful gesture.

By now the sky had cleared and they made their way towards Horniman Circle Gardens, where work was still underway.

"It's about keeping time. I dearly wish we could stick to project deadlines with greater intensity, and respect the fact that greening our city must be on top of the agenda, above all else. Once these two factors are focused upon, we will become a more livable city. I am pretty sure that this green movement in Singapore played a role in the fact that it is the world's third happiest city in the Happy City Index. It will be the most satisfying day for me when we enter even the Top 50," Sir PM smiled.

mid-day's Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city's sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her. She tweets @bombayana

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