Midweek Musings 17, 1.04.2026

                     Supply chains for urban landscapes

Supply chain infrastructure must include highways, other rail and road networks, warehousing, roaster system of Human resources, and accurate networking of supply and deman hubs are all necessary for  sustainable  development and alternate options to avoid contingenciesilike in the current war theatre. 

By Malini Shankar

 Digital Discourse Foundation

Supply chains for supply of foods to medicines, clothing, to furniture,… cutlery to cooking vessels,… fertilisers, agricultural produce marketing, the logistical infrastructure for supplies of our everyday needs goes by the phrase supply chain… a concept that has assumed critical significance since the COVID 19  lockdown / emergency.

Now with the uncalled for Iran war it has scuttled the supply chains or the wheels of those sections of the economy that are dependent on fuel supplies from Iran and West Asia. In the process many a commodity has flown off the shelf. Fuel supplies has affected food supply. Formula milk, processed foods, urban eateries, non-native vegetables and fruits, are all dependent on supply chains. The Iran war has affected supply of many essentials and non-essentials – like lactose free milk, coconut milk, many options of plant based milk like millet milk. Why millets a not so popular staple cereal grown in dry arid climes beyond the horizons of urban agricultural markets is facing delays in supply. Perishables like fresh fruit, fish milk and milk products are critically dependent on fuel supply. With fuel supply and energy infrastructure compromised by war – not of our making has a lesson to offer: We need Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D, in place for all sectors of economy, disaster mitigation and administration. This critical lesson in public policy has been missing from focus of Public Policy researchers and practitioners and Media despite a debilitating Pandemic.

The primary lesson that has failed the attention of legislators and policy makers is that only one institution should not be relied on. That India’s energy supplies is almost wholly dependent on imports from West Asia …that in itself is a recipe for disaster. Choking the Strait of Hormuz which was a distinct possibility last week, threatened not just fuel supply in India but India’s very food security. In comparison, we can still prognosticate that China’s Belt and Road Initiative was indeed far sighted.

Its not just fuel supply, we need alternative sources of food, water and energy supply, alternate livelihood security options, alternate health care infrastructure, in public administration – Line of Command and Standard Operating Procedures,  and all of this should be inclusive – addressing the needs of frail and infirm, nursing mothers. Vet care should also be factored in.  

The Iran War today holds a mirror in the face of policy makers for not having invested enough in alternate sources of energy… solar, wind energy, tidal energy, etc.  This is a prime focus of #SDGs. When urban governance is SDG compliant, the fruits of development will have the right trickle down impact on each tax payer, on each citizen of every country, region, territory and State. Without this, the development quotient makes for great election hysteria and political rhetoric I daresay!

But how do we educate the policy makers and Elected Representatives??? Please log in your comments on this last question in the comments section below.