Group R - Collaborative Climate Adaption Project

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Place	Mumbai (Bombay)
Country	India
Topic	Effects of climate change and adaptation possibilities - case study from Mumbai , India
Author(s)	Nisit Chobdamrongtham, Ivankovic Dijana, Milena Ignjatijevic
Source	http://www.corfu-fp7.eu/home/page2894.html

Rationale: Why have you selected this case study area?

We have selected the area of the city Mumbai,which is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra,because this area is one of the most vulnerable region in the world to climate change. We choose this area, because impacts in India are already being seen in unprecedented heat waves, cyclones, floods, salinisation of the coastline and effects on agriculture, fisheries and health. Challenges of urban poverty in India are intimately tied with challenges of the country’s fast development.Such high-speed, colossal growth, as impressive as it may be, poses several problems if not threats: pollution (air, soil, water), and a disproportionate concentration of poverty, among others.

Authors' perspectives

Whether they are induced by human action or the natural cycle of the planet earth, experts agree on one thing, climate change must be seen as a serious threat to the sustainable development of mankind, with the expected adverse effects to the environment, human health, access to food and natural resources, economic and physical infrastructure. As landscape architects who are closely associated with climate, we should be involved in finding new ways to fight against the consequences of its disruption.

Landscape and/or urban context

Mumbai is the second largest city in the world, and the biggest city in India. It was named a Global City in 2009 and it's most dense megalopolis in the world. Аn increasing number of India’s population are moving to urban centers and now, the average density surpasses 27,000 people per km². It is not unusual that Mumbai’s slums accommodate as many as 100,000 persons per km².

The urban image of Mumbai is one of extremes. On one hand, images of slum dwellers living in substandard conditions are synonymous with the city, yet on the other hand, luxury developments and tall buildings are becoming an increasingly prominent part of the city. These contrasts strongly impact the urban sustainability and economy debate both in local and global discussions. [3]

Historically, Mumbai was formed by land reclamation projects of seven islands which are located on the western coast of India. Mumbai is surrounding with the Arabian Sea. Many parts of the city stand around 10 - 15 m above sea level(average elevation is 14 m). Northern Mumbai(Mumbai Suburban District; Salsette Island) is hilly and the highest point is merely 450 m. There are six major lakes that supply water to the city including three small rivers are situated in Borivili National Park, within the city's limits, one supply from the lake is used only for agricultural and industrial purposes. The coastline of the city is indented with numerous creeks and bays. The eastern coast of Mumbai is covered with large mangrove swamps which are fully in biodiversity while the western coast is mostly sandy and rocky. Soil cover in the city area is affected from sandy near to the sea. In the suburbs, the soil cover is mainly alluvium and loam. Furthermore, Mumbai sits on a seismically active zone is classified as a Seismic Zone III region that means it has possibilities to occur an earthquake up to 6.5 Richter.[source:India Meteorological Department. Seismic Zoning Map (Map). Retrieved 20 July 2008.]

Mumbai has traditional prosperity about textile mills and harbor until the 1980s. Then these are now increasingly being replaced by industries employing more skilled labor such as engineering, diamond polishing, healthcare and information technology. Presently, Mumbai is India's city which has the most population and is the financial and commercial capital of the country also serves as an economic hub. Nevertheless, Mumbai still has many unskilled and semi-skilled self-employed citizenry, who primarily earn their livelihood as hawkers, taxi drivers and mechanics.

Mumbai suffers from the major urbanisation problems that are seen in many fast growing cities in developing countries. The outcome are widespread in poverty, unemployment, poor public health, poor civic, low educational standards. With restrictive land, Mumbai residents often settle in cramped, relatively expensive housing, usually far from workplaces and therefore requiring long commutes on crowded mass transit or traffic jam roadways. By forecasting, demographers said Mumbai's people shifts are in keeping with global trends where population expectedly peaks at the initial stages of development and subsequently falls.[4]

Rapid changes in land use and occupational patterns of urban spaces in developing cities bring upfront the conflict between housing requirements and the preservation of green spaces. Mumbai, where 50% of the population lives on 8% of the land while the city has very limited green spaces except for a large urban forest. In the 1990s, settlements grew within the forest and led one environmental association to file a public interest litigation in order to protect this natural habitat. The analysis is carried out along two main lines. First, it focuses on the impact of urban governance disfunctioning on the peripheries of Indian cities. It demonstrates that peri-urban areas are used as a land reserve fund for relocation programs in order to relegate the poor outside the city central areas. Second, it explores the manner in which the relationships between the poor and the environment are framed on the conservative premises that poor encroachers were mostly responsible for the degradation of the park. Overall, the conflict underscores the constant vulnerability of the urban poor as well as their ability to challenge collectively unfavourable urban policies. New and apparently legitimate forms of urban governance, in our case the judiciary, maintain social prejudices and contribute to displace the poor to the periphery.

The urban or built-up area lay down plain land almost 70% of land area along surround hilly reserved zone as green zonal area, green area is 25% of land area the other shall be blue area which include wetland and coastal forest about less than 5% of total land area .

                     Ratio of green : blue  =  5 : 1
                     Ratio of sealed : built-up = 2.3 : 1

Illustrations:

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  The illustration above shows Mumbai's region in historySeven Islands of Bombay

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  The illustration above shows Mumbai's region in present.

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  India natural vegetation map [1]

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  The illustration above shows the statistic graph of Mumbai's population in history.[2]

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  The illustration above shows Mumbai's zoning area.

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  The illustration above shows Mumbai's Land use.

Cultural/social/political context

Culture

Apart from being one of the biggest metropolitan cities in the country with the highest GDP (Gross domestic product), Indian's love it for it's blend of different languages, cuisines, food, festivals and because it provides diverse city life. Food and the festivals are the important part of Mumbai's culture and every 'Mumbaikar', as the citizens of Mumbai are often labeled, is passionate about the local celebrations like Ganesh Chathurthi, Diwali, Christmas and Eid. Also, Mumbai is known as the 'film city of India' because of Bollywood Industry. Giving that, this is the city which follows modern trends, so problems of the caste, creed and color of people are not that much apparent.

Marathi is the official language of this city, but there are other languages which are popular, like Hindi, English, Urdu and the local dialect, 'Bambaiya Hindi'. This diversity also spread through different cousines adopting and transforming them into tasty dishes now unique to Mumbai.

In terms of religion, Mumbai is a city of many faiths. Because of various communities and migrants, there is a mix of religions, but mostly, people of Mumbai are a concentrated mix of Hindus, Muslims, Zoroastrians, Christians, Jains and Buddhists. [5]

Political economy

Mumbai is called the ‘commercial capital of India’ because of its contribution to the growth of the Indian economy. Approximately 40% of state domestic production originates in it. Mumbai represents one of the most diversified and vibrant economies in the country. There are many ancillary enterprises like metal and pharmaceutical industry which are important contributors. The Mumbai's port support the industries dependent on imports of raw materials.

Problems in environment caused by the ‘oppressive size’ of the city lead to deterring any growth in employment levels in Mumbai through dispersal of industries. The State Government limited the location of expansion for industries and commercial establishments resulting in declining the total population of workers in past decades. Nevertheless, the share of industrial employment remained dominant opposed to household industry, and the share of manufacturing sector had reduced. [6]

Legal framework

• Brief explanation of culture, political economy, legal framework

Illustration: Bullet points, image, background notes

Local Climate

• What are the climatic conditions at present? Have there been extreme weather events in the near past?
• Which changes are expected? Is there any evidence?

Illustration: Table or time line

Analysis of vulnerability

• If you consider these potential changes - which aspects/functions of your case study would be affected?

Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches/photos/background notes

Proposals for Climate Change Adaption

• How could your case study area become more resilient to climate change?
• Which measures would need to be taken to adapt to the new situation?
• How could you assure sustainability of these measures?
• Please describe 2-3 measures

Proposals for Climate Change Mitigation

• Which measures would need to be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other drivers of climate change within your case study area?
• How could you assure sustainability of these measures?
• Please describe 2-3 measures

Your scenario

• How will this area look like in 2060?
• Please forecast one potential future development taking climate change into account

Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes

What can be generalized from this case study?

• Are there any important theoretical insights?
• Which research questions does it generate?
• Short statement plus background notes

Image Gallery

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References

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