Greener, safer skyscrapers to be made mandatory

 A city that looks like a cramped row of shiny, tall matchboxes in places, Mumbai is finally going to get some respite. The civic body has accepted a set of guidelines that make it mandatory for developers to build safer, better, airier high-rises .

The norms, which were formulated by a state-appointed committee under the chairmanship of retired Justice Shafi Parkar demand that at least 20m space be left between skyscrapers , parking space be provided for guests' vehicles and the use of glass facades be minimized.

They dictate that swimming pools be built on lower storeys of a highrise , enough importance be given to the forecourt area, and commercial high-rises have pedestrian and clear spaces. Right at the time of furnishing their proposals, developers must specify the planned building's water needs and its impact on the neighbourhood, water sources, water distribution system as well as the estimated sewerage generated by the skyscraper's residents and how it will be treated.

A high-rise , as defined officially, is a building at least 70 m high or with minimum 20 storeys. Put together, the regulations are bound to slow down, if not altogether check, the rapidly decline of the city. If implemented rigorously , they will create more free space, decongest roads, preserve streetscapes and, help the environment.