An Indian court pulls the plug -- sort of -- on unregulated groundwater exploitation.
A popular way to deal with dysfunctional urban services in India – assuming you have the money – is to opt out. You buy a diesel generator. You drill a well. You live and work well outside the city center to avoid the traffic. . . at least until the city you left behind swallows you up. Or, in the case of Gurgaon, a high-end suburb of Delhi, the water runs out.
Gurgaon's water table has been dropping by over a meter a year. Most of the natural lakes in the region are gone. The monsoon has been disappointing this year, so many residents are now relying on water tankers to truck in water. Such residents, who bought "villas" on "sprawling greens" in a region with no surface water, are rightly (if somewhat ironically) alarmed.
And they just scored a win in court. The State high court just prevented the local development authority from issuing new development permits if the developers cannot prove they won't use groundwater in the construction.
While the decision has rightly been considered a major environmental win, it also has its limitations. The goal of the suit is to manage the short-term impacts of construction, not the long-term impacts of building Southern California in Northern India. That being said, it suggests that the while the sun may not be setting on the Wild West days of Indian real estate development, it's at least starting to feel like midafternoon.
Thanks to Rachel Proctor May
FULL STORY: New Construction in Gurgaon Put on Hold to Tackle Water Problem

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie