CBED – PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT IN CMA

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has initiated a program for improvement of environment in Urban Local Bodies (ULB) within the Chennai Metropolitan Area.  During the year 1995.  UNHABITAT and the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) jointly launched the Sustainable Cities Program (SCP).  The SCP implemented in Chennai was known as sustainable.  Chennai Project (SChP).  The CMDA was the implementing partner in the project.  Implementation of the SchP gave an opportunity to CMDA to project itself as an organization that is alive to meet the needs of the population at the grass root level and involve them indecision making process which is unique experience in investment process and creation of infrastructure rather than “top down” approach.  As a follow-up of the SchP, the CMDA has evolved a Community Based Environment Development Program (CBED), which aims to achieve sustainable urban development with the active involvement of stakeholders particularly in identifying local environmental problems, formulating workable proposals and even providing monetary contributions besides implementation of projects.