Mumbai is a coastal city located on the Western Coast of India. Through the years, annual flooding in the city is a cause for concern for the inhabitants (in terms of safety) as well as the State Government (in terms of monsoon preparedness)
It is necessary to address this phenomenon as it concerns the safety of the inhabitants during the monsoon season (June to September). It brings the city to a grinding halt after heavy downpours.
Being a coastal city, Mumbai is peripherally surrounded by Mangroves & Beaches. The city's natural resources also include Forests, Riverine Systems - Lakes & Tributaries and Urban Parks.
From L to R: Beachfront, An Agricultural Farmland & A green Patch of land to be converted into a privately owned housing enclave
Some of the major man-made causes impacting these natural resources through a few decades include:
1. Land as a Precious Commodity – Mumbai is a dense city and the real estate rates are very high. Therefore, historically and through decades, mangroves have been reclaimed to accommodate built fabric. However, these settlements have been built along the No Development Zone.
Historically Evolved Informal Settlements along Mangrove Edge in the City.
2. Lack of Proper Waste Management Systems – This has caused the production of landfills along the mangroves & the clogging of the inner riverine systems that have led to its deterioration & degradation. The effects are hazardous for both the natural ecology as well as public health.
3. Major Infrastructure Projects – The Coastal Road Project that has been envisioned along the city coastline has impacted the mangroves & the natural biodiversity along the entire coastal stretch.
4. Subsidiary Causes – An enclave (plot) specific built form approach to Urban Planning is reducing the urban commons such as neighbourhood parks. This is disintegrating the urban fabric socio spatially.
Effects:
Most of the causes have progressed at an exponential rate at the cost of impacting the city socio-ecologically. This includes:
1. The City’s Resilience towards the annual Flooding - as it has impacted the coasts’ & the wetlands' natural water absorption & retention capacity.
2. Affect on the Internal Riverine System – mucky, unsafe and stagnant water & garbage dumping cause unhygienic conditions and are natural & health hazards.
3. Loss of Urban Greens and Recreation Zones - For the health, wellbeing & social welfare of the city’s inhabitants.
4. The impact of natural biodiversity along the coast has impacted the livelihood of the traditional fishermen communities.
Overall this has negatively impacted the health & safety of the inhabitants and the city's resilience capacity towards climate change.
Planning for and Restoring Urban Nature:
There have been efforts to reclaim the city’s natural biodiversity along the coastal and riverine edges. Although these efforts are fragmented throughout the city, it provides an exemplar approach and a starting point to implement these processes to revive the city’s urban greens and natural biodiversity.
Case Illustration - Maharashtra Nature Park, Mumbai
Overview: The Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) is an exemplar of how a dumping yard can be converted into a restored urban hotspot for biodiversity. It is located along the Riverine Edge of the 'Mithi' River.
Maharashtra Nature Park
Source: Nat Geo India Traveller
Governance: The State Govt of Maharashtra (MCGM) had appointed MMRDA (a parastatal agency) for the development of a business district. When the MMRDA presented the plan, they also provided an open platform for suggestions. The World Wildlife Fund of India (WWF - I) suggested a plot reservation for developing a nature park.
Funds: The project was funded by the Grants transferred from MCGM to MMRDA
Project: The Urban Development Dept in the MCGM created a Project Group with the MMRDA specifically for this project. The MCGM had been appointed for the project implementation. MMRDA appointed WWF-I for cleaning the site and planting. A very well known Indian Ornithologist Dr Salim Ali was also appointed.
For the project, the MMRDA registered Maharashtra Nature Park Society (MNPS), a scientific community specific to the site's requirements. This refined the community of stakeholders involved.
Role of Community: The institute organized drives and activities for students to integrate them into the development process and create awareness among them
Impact of the Project:
1. The project provided a good starting point towards developing an Urban Nature. It illustrated a collaborative & incremental form of governance structure - the involvement of stakeholders, delegation among the government, parastatal agencies & NGOs and the role of the community
2. The Park is now a hotspot for rich biodiversity along a riverine system. It is also a social amenity available to the city inhabitants
A trail at Maharashtra Nature Park
3. It demonstrated the possibility of converting a garbage dump yard to a restored urban green & fostered mangrove restoration
4. It created awareness amongst, especially, the impressionable community - the students, of the importance of a natural ecosystem through activities such as planting saplings & an educational institute within the campus
Regional Vision for An Urban Ecosystem:
Urban Re-Nature Management Plan to Address and Restore Natural Resources in the Coastal City of Mumbai & Enhance its Responsiveness & Resilience towards Climate
Objectives:
To Enhance and Increase the Natural (Blue & Green) Cover in the Region
To Increase the Health, Wellbeing & Social Welfare of the City's Inhabitants
To Strategize towards Natural, Contextual & Adaptive Design Responses towards Climate & Increase the overall Resilience of the City
The Process includes a large scale transformation of Urban Neighbourhoods that integrates Multi-functional & multiple uses of nature-based systems & approaches to achieve Multiple Benefits.
It is a transformation not only in terms of ecological or technological Innovations but also changes to municipal working practices & governance structures. It provides a possible direction towards socio-ecological integration & a Nature+People Centric Approach towards Planning.
Conducive Regional Strategies:
1. City Level Mangrove Management Plan: The development of a city-level wide mangrove management plan will enable the restoration of mangroves along the coast - restore the biodiversity along the coast and the riverine system, and also provide cleaner water. This can include the process involved in the case of the Maharashtra National Park mentioned above
An Overview Strategy - Mangrove Management Plan
Source: Klaus Schmitt & Norman C Duke. 2015
2. Storm Water/ Flood Management System: Integrated Networks of Blue, Green & Grey Infrastructure that should be implemented to optimize the surface-level runoffs of rainwater & result in clean water resource. This increases the water retention capacity for re-use, cool climate and fosters rich ecological biodiversity.
Nature-Centric Urban Solution
Source: Melbourne Water
3. Improving City-Wide Waste Management & Disposal System: This will enable proper management in terms of recycling, re-using and disposal of waste.
Segregation of Waste at Individual Household Levels is an Integral Approach to a Successful Waste Management System. Source: Katestone Environmental
4. Network of Interconnected & Accessible Urban Green+Blue (Infrastructure & Spaces) within the City: Connecting the Open Spaces with the existing greens in the forest such as Mangroves, River systems, Forest will enable social interaction and an integrated approach to planning in the city. This creates a naturally integrated & enabling environment
Integration of Blue-Green-Grey Infrastructure
Source: Wetlands International
5. Strict Monitoring & Assessment: Especially at the grassroots level for any form of development along the natural edges.
Possible Governance & Business Model Framework for Implementation:
The Governance Model strives to instil Accountability amongst the various stakeholders (& groups) involved - The concerned management departments and the city's inhabitants. It steers the norms of actions towards a social momentum enabling Transformation.
Governance Framework to Implement Nature-Based Solutions into Planning Processes
Source: Author
Dedicated Civic Responsibilities, Renewed Legislations including strategies and policies that target mainstreaming Urban Nature into Urban Development & Planning Processes and an Evolving Governance Structure enable fostering a sustainable environment & a Climate Adaptive & Resilient City.
Bibliography & References:
Official Website of Maharashtra Nature Park Society - https://maharashtranaturepark.org/
An Overview of Resources on Mangrove Restoration, Management, Implementation & Monitoring -
- Mangrove Management, Assessment & Monitoring. Klaus Schmitt & Norman C Duke. 2015
- Changing Perspective of Mangrove Management in India. Rajarshi DasGupta & Rajib Shaw. 2013
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