Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) :Bengaluru, Bhopal as well as Gujarat's Dholavira and Madhya Pradesh's Dhubela are among the cities and towns in India with some of the most interesting urban projects that manage, protect and conserve water supply, according to a report from the World University of Design (WUD) on Thursday.
Globally, South Africa's Cape Town, Mozambique's Beira, and Peru's Lima are the leading cities that have adopted design as a strategic element in innovation processes to solve the water crisis looming at large, according to the report titled "Cities with the Best Water Designs" released ahead of the World Water Day on March 22.
"As we approach World Water Day on March 22, it is time to seriously introspect on the importance of efficiently designing and managing our water resources in urban city planning," Shaleen Sharma, Dean, School of Architecture, World University of Design, said in a statement.
"Smart Cities are the need of the hour. Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) while designing smart cities will help in building resilience to climate change as well as improve livability and aesthetics of smart cities," Sharma said.
By 2025, two thirds of the world's population may face a water crisis and by 2030, water supply may be outstripped by 40 per cent, as has already been the case observed in various cities of India.
It is expected that by 2050, 75 per cent of the population in India will be living in cities.
Therefore, solving water problems specific to metropolitan areas is crucial.
Located in Sonipat, Haryana, the World University of Design offers one of the largest portfolio of design courses in India which includes over 30 cutting-edge programmes based on transportation design, product design, game design, film and video, digital drawing & illustration, built environment and habitat studies, design management, art education and curatorial practice among others.
The WUD said it has received an ERASMUS+ grant which will provide a pathway for students to study in European Union countries thereby giving the students the exposure they rightly deserve.
It is also a member of Cumulus, the international association of universities and colleges of art, design and media that has over 160 member universities in 60 countries.