Planning for land resources is an essential decision-making process as it has multiplier effects on the economy of developing countries. Suitable strategies for planning and development of industrial areas, hold the potential to promote economic and environmental efficiency in India. Manufacturing industries as Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have a major share of the total count of industries and also contribute approximately a third of country’s GDP. The siting of these enterprises becomes vital as they significantly affect the employment and economic issues and also their concentration impacts the ecology of a specific area. The historians and planners have put their findings on siting the manufacturing sector in the form of locational theories as discussed in this research study with case specific relevance to Jaipur city in Rajasthan. Considering such select locational theories and literature review along with the government policy framework, certain factors are identified having an analogous impact in deciding the location of MSME industries. These factors after surveys and expert opinion have been analyzed using GIS as a platform to propose a site suitability map in line with the character of MSME industries of Jaipur.

The construction materials industry has been acclaimed as an enormous economy and is expected to continue to rise in future. Over the past few years, India's urban built environment has been expanding rapidly to accommodate the increasing urban population and to meet the rising aspirations of upscaling standards of living. In addition to new projects, redevelopment works are also prominent amongst the construction activities being undertaken all across our urban areas. The large-scale construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) is generated inadvertently from on-going construction activities with no major sustainable interventions or practices in place ever since. The state of art overview of C&D waste management practices and related legislation in India and select countries abroad provides sufficient opportunity for introducing and promoting circular economy (CE) in C&D waste management. This can be done through direct reuse or by recycling/ repair /refurbishment in different stages of construction projects. Reports on key infrastructure projects suggest project delays and cost over-run due to shortage of fresh stocks of primary construction materials. Promoting design of products or components remanufactured using dismantled or recycled C&D waste would no longer let the C&D waste remain as a threat to sustainable environment. Instead, the industry would get geared up to produce high-quality secondary raw materials that can be fed back into production processes. This will not just reduce the reliance on primary resources for construction materials like stone, sand, etc. but also promote the new business models which will focus on waste prevention and ‘turning waste into resources’ by effectively and efficiently utilizing C&D waste in a sustainable manner. This will embed circular economy in the system and also make the process more sustainable. Present models for sustainability assessment are primarily based on statistical records of C&D waste quantities and they rarely include all three aspects of sustainability (economic, environmental and social). This paper proposes a conceptual model of efficient C&D waste management strategies considering all the three aspects of sustainability. A conceptual model has been developed using the barriers and motivating factors obtained from literature review for implementation of effective C&D waste management for circular economy. Using existing knowledge of the components of C&D waste management system and the positive or negative relationships between them the proposed conceptual model focuses on strategies, institutional arrangement and economic circularity for managing the C&D waste. The paper highlights the need for an institutional framework and suitable strategies for efficient handling of C&D Waste. The paper concludes with possible future directions and potential policy recommendations for optimizing C&D waste management in India.

The decline of traditional water bodies in India needs to be addressed for a sustainable water management system in both urban and rural context. Traditional water conservation practices have been overpowered by the growing urbanisation can still reduce environmental stress. Deeg, known as the "city of water palaces," still maintains a number of water storage facilities that several kings over the course of centuries erected to address summertime water shortages in semi-arid zones of India. This research study was undertaken to give empirical evidence to revive and utilise one such traditional waterbody of Gopal Sagar and Roop Sagar in Deeg palace. By assessing the water quality of the water bodies, the paper tries to gauge the immediate impact of such water bodies on the surroundings. Through conversations with technical staff, field observations, and resident interviews, numerous analysis methodologies have been practiced to comprehend the long-term viability of these certain measures. The paper also examines the hydrological system of the associated water body and discusses the conservation practices that can be implemented for the research setting. The comprehensive study has enhanced understanding of the spatio-temporal behaviour of the water bodies which can also be useful in the future for policymakers and authorities in designing or improving similar traditional water bodies anywhere in the India. In order to keep these vital water sources from going extinct in the cities where water is already scarce, it is crucial to monitor, control, prevent, and most importantly educate the public and grassroots institutions.

Increasing Air Pollution levels globally has been one of the major environmental risks on the ecosystem having multiplier effects on the human health. As a result, the need for regulating bodies to keep an eye on and evaluate pollution levels has grown, particularly in urban areas where human activity and population density are concentrated. Air quality monitoring thus becomes essential in creating and developing strategies to achieve the objectives of sustainable environmental policies. In India, there has been certain measures to set up air quality monitoring stations (AQMS) which are referred to form various action plans to improve the overall air quality in the country. The paper examines various approaches toward locating AQMS throughout the world and in India. It also discusses the approach of single or multi-pollutant monitoring worldwide with the use of various spatial tools and techniques. The guidelines and initiatives for locating optimal AQMS are examined in the study resulting in the formulation of various evaluation criteria which can be practiced for a holistic air quality management. The research aims to bridge the research gap and provide recommendations for an optimum approach to locating air quality monitoring stations in the urban areas of India and the world for better air quality management.