Surat to be India's first Eco City

SURAT: The diamond city has taken a step forward to become India's first 'eco city', on the lines of Singapore.

After selecting Surat as one of the three cities in the world for a demonstration project for "eco city" development, UK-based charity The Ecological Sequestration Trust (TEST) has decided to spend nearly Rs 50 crore over a period of five years to build a sustainable development model that will be more environment-friendly, reports TOI.
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TEST will begin working with its local partner South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry by July 1.

The funds will be used in setting up a pilot project of green buildings with reduced heat and minimized water use, an intelligent transport system, a system to periodically forecast traffic and weather at different spots on cellphones through global positioning system, road mapping to suggest better routes for travel by own vehicles, setting up prototypes of recycling of used water and setting up efficient transport system that reduces road requirements by half.

Peter Head, head of TEST said, "Surat can be the next Singapore in terms of ecology and water management systems."

TEST which has joined hands with a leading consultancy firm TARU will start the planning for creation of ecologically sustainable mega city by July 1 after working out contractual agreements with local climate change trust and the city advisory board.