Natural Resources Conservation Service

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Natural Resources Conservation Service

Agency overview
Formed April 20, 1932
 Soil Conservation Service,
Preceding
Soil Erosion Service
agency
Headquarters Washington, D.C.
Employees Approx 11,000
 Jason Weller, Chief
Agency
 Kirk Hanlin, Assistant Chief
executives
Parent agency Department of Agriculture
Website www.nrcs.usda.gov

NRCS Chief Jason Weller in December 2012

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly known as the Soil
Conservation Service (SCS), is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) that provides technical assistance to farmers and other private landowners and
managers.
Its name was changed in 1994 during the presidency of Bill Clinton to reflect its broader
mission. It is a relatively small agency, currently comprising about 11,000 employees. Its
mission is to improve, protect, and conserve natural resources on private lands through a
cooperative partnership with state and local agencies. While its primary focus has been
agricultural lands, it has made many technical contributions to soil surveying, classification and
water quality improvement.[1][2] One example is the Conservation Effects Assessment Project
(CEAP), set up to quantify the benefits of agricultural conservation efforts promoted and
supported by programs in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill).
NRCS is the leading agency in this project.

Contents
 1 History
 2 Programs and services
o 2.1 Farm bill
 2.1.1 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
 2.1.2 Healthy Forests Reserve Program
o 2.2 NRCS National Ag Water Management Team
 2.2.1 Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting
o 2.3 Conservation Technical Assistance Program
o 2.4 Gulf of Mexico Initiative
o 2.5 International programs
 3 Technical resources
o 3.1 Soil
o 3.2 Water
 3.2.1 Water management
 3.2.2 Water quality
 3.2.3 Watershed program
o 3.3 Plants and animals
 3.3.1 Fish and wildlife
 3.3.2 Insects and pollinators
 3.3.3 Invasive species and pests
 3.3.4 Livestock
 3.3.5 Plants
 4 Supported organizations
 5 See also
 6 References
 7 External links

History
The agency was founded largely through the efforts of Hugh Hammond Bennett, a soil
conservation pioneer who worked for the Department of Agriculture from 1903 to 1952.[3]
Bennett's motivation was based on his knowledge of the detrimental effects of soil erosion and
the impacts on U.S lands[4] that led to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. On September 13, 1933, the
Soil Erosion Service was formed in the Department of the Interior, with Bennett as chief. The
service was transferred to the Department of Agriculture on March 23, 1935, and was shortly
thereafter combined with other USDA units to form the Soil Conservation Service by the Soil
Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1935.[5][6]

The Soil Conservation Service was in charge of 500 Civilian Conservation Corps camps between
1933 and 1942. The primary purpose of these camps was erosion control.[7]

Hugh Bennett continued as chief, a position he held until his retirement in 1952.[3] On October
20, 1994, the agency was renamed to the Natural Resources Conservation Service as part of the
Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994.[6][8]

Programs and services

NRCS offers technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers. The financial assistance
is authorized by the Farm Bill, a law that is renewed every five years. The 2014 Farm Bill
consolidated 23 programs into 15. NRCS offers these services to private land owners,
conservation districts, tribes, and other types of organizations.[9] NRCS also collects and shares
information on the nation's soil, water, air, and plants.

2008 Farm Bill logo (USA)

Farm bill

The Conservation Title of the Farm Bill provides the funding to agricultural producers, and a
conservation plan must be included.[10] All of these programs are voluntary. The main programs
include:

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

The purpose of EQIP is to provide assistance to landowners to help them improve their soil,
water and related natural resources, including grazing lands, wetlands, and wildlife habitat.

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

CSP is targeted to ag producers who maintain a higher level of environmental stewardship.

Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

RCPP consolidated four programs from the prior 2008 Farm Bill. It aims at more regional or
watershed scale projects, rather than individual farms and ranches.

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)

ACEP was another consolidation effort of the 2014 Farm Bill, which includes the former
Grasslands Reserve Program, Farm, and Ranch Lands Protection Program, and Wetlands
Reserve Program. ACEP includes technical and financial help to maintain or improve land for
agriculture or environmental benefits.

Healthy Forests Reserve Program

(HFRP) Landowners volunteer to restore and protect forests in 30 or 10 year contracts. This
program hands assisting funds to participants. The objectives of HFRP are to:

1. Promote the recovery of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA)
2. Improve plant and animal biodiversity
3. Enhance carbon sequestration [11]

NRCS National Ag Water Management Team

(AGWAM) Serves 10 states in the Midwest United States in helping to reduce Nitrate levels in
soil due to runoff from fertilized farmland. The project began in 2010 and initially focused on the
Mississippi Basin area. The main goal of the project is to implement better methods of managing
water drainage from agricultural uses, in place of letting the water drain naturally as it had done
in the past. In October 2011, the The National "Managing Water, Harvesting Results"[12] Summit
was held to promote the drainage techniques used in hopes of people adopting them
nationwide.[13]

Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting

Includes water supply forecasts, reservoirs, and the Surface Water Supply Index (SWSI) for
Alaska and other Western states. NRCS agents collect data from snowpack and mountain sites to
predict spring runoff and summer streamflow amounts. These predictions are used in decision
making for agriculture, wildlife management, construction and development, and several other
areas. These predictions are available within the first 5 days of each month from January to
June.[14]

Conservation Technical Assistance Program

(CTA) Is a blanket program which involves conservation efforts on soil and water conservation,
as well as management of agricultural wastes, erosion, and general longterm sustainability.
NRCS and related agencies work with landowners, communities, or developers to protect the
environment. Also serve to guide people to comply with acts such as the Highly Erodible Land,
Wetland (Swampbuster), and Conservation Compliance Provisions acts. The CTA can also cover
projects by state, local, and federal governments.[15]

USDA-NRCS State Conservationist Salvador Salinas with Federal and state partners held a press
conference at the Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge, in Austwell, TX, on Friday, Dec. 16, 2011.
Salinas covered the recent announcement of the USDA-NRCS Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GoMI)
efforts to improve water quality, habitat, and the health of the Gulf ecosystem.

Gulf of Mexico Initiative

Is a program to assist gulf bordering states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas)
improve water quality and use sustainable methods of farming, fishing, and other industry. The
program will deliver up to 50 million dollars over 2011-2013 to apply these sustainable methods,
as well as wildlife habitat management systems that do not hinder agricultural productivity, and
prevent future over use of water resources to protect native endangered species.[16]

International programs

The NRCS (formerly SCS) has been involved in soil and other conservation issues
internationally since the 1930s. The main bulk of international programs focused on preventing
soil erosion by sharing techniques known to the United States with other areas. NRCS sends staff
to countries worldwide to conferences to improve knowledge of soil conservation.[17] There is
also international technical assistance programs similar to programs implemented in the United
States. There are long term technical assistance programs in effect with one or more NRCS staff
residing in the country for a minimum of one year. There are currently long term assistance
programs on every continent. Short term technical assistance is also available on a two-week
basis.[18]

These programs are to encourage local landowners and organizations to participate in the
conservation of natural resources on their land, and lastly landscape planning has a goal to solve
problems dealing with natural resource conservation with the help of the community in order to
reach a desired future outcome.[19]

Technical resources
Soil
In 2015, NRCS began broad support of soil health, which incorporates less tillage and more
cover crops to reduce erosion and improve the diversity of the soil.[20]

Water

Pollution of water due to a number of different pollutants has driven the NRCS to take action.
Not only do they offer financial assistance but they also provide the equipment needed for
private land owners to protect our water resources.[21] Water gets polluted by nitrogen and
phosphorus which causes algae to grow proliferously causing the oxygen concentrations to
decline rapidly, life is no longer supported in this habitat.[22] Excessive sedimentation is also
another concern along with pathogens threats that can find their way into water systems and
cause detrimental effects.[22] NRCS works in a way to help both the land owner and the water
systems that need prevention or restoration.

Water management

Water management strives to manage and control the flow of water in a way that is efficient
while causing the least amount of damage to life and property.[23] This helps provide protection
in high risk areas from flooding. Irrigation water management is the most efficient way to use
and recycle water resources for land owners and farmers.[23] Drainage management is the
manipulation of the sub surface drainage networks in order to properly disperse the water to the
correct geographical areas.[24] The NRCS engineering vision is constantly making improvements
to irrigation systems in a way that incorporates every aspect of water restoration.[25]

Water quality

A team of highly trained experts on every aspect of water is employed by the NRCS to analyze
water from different sources. They work in many areas such as: hydrology and hydraulics,
stream restoration, wetlands, agriculture, agronomy, animal waste management, pest control,
salinity, irrigation, and nutrients in water.[26]

Watershed program

Under watershed programs the NRCS works with states, local governments, and tribes by
providing funding and resources in order to help restore and also benefit from the programs.[27]
They would like to provide: watershed protection, flood mitigation, water quality improvement,
soil erosion reduction, irrigation, sediment control, fish and wildlife enhancement, wetland and
wetland function creation and restoration, groundwater recharge, easements, wetland and
floodplain conservation easements, hydropower, watershed dam rehabilitation.[27]

Plants and animals

Plants and animals play a huge role in the health of our ecosystems. A delicate balance exists
between relationships of plants and animals. If an animal is introduced to an ecosystem that is
not native to the region that it could destroy plants or animals that should not have to protect
itself from this particular threat. As well as if a plant ends up in a specific area where it should
not be it could have adverse effects on the wildlife that try to eat it. NRCS protects the plants and
animals because they provide us with food, materials for shelter, fuel to keep us warm, and air to
breathe.[28] Without functioning ecosystems we would have none of the things mentioned above.
NRCS provides guidance to assist conservationists and landowners with enhancing plant and
animal populations as well as helping them deal with invasive species.[28]

Fish and wildlife

NRCS for years has been working toward restoration, creation, enhancement, and maintenance
for aquatic life on the nearly 70% of land that is privately owned in order to keep the habitats and
wildlife protected.[29] NRCS with a science based approach, provides equipment to wildlife and
fish management. They also do this for landowners who qualify to benefit from these
technologies.[29]

Insects and pollinators

Pollination by insects plays a huge role in the production of food crop and flowering plants.
Without pollinators searching for nectar and pollen for food the plants would not produce a seed
that will create another plant. NRCS sees the importance of this process so they are taking
measures to increase the declining number of pollinators.[30] There are many resources provided
from the NRCS that will help any individual do their part in conservation of these important
insects. Such as Backyard Conservation which tells an individual exactly how to help by just
creating a small habitat in minutes. There are many others such as: Plants for pollinators,
pollinators habitat in pastures, pollinator value of NRCS plant releases in conservation planting,
plant materials publications relating to insects and pollinators, PLANTS database: NRCS
pollinator documents.[30] All of these are valuable resources that any individual can take
advantage of.

Invasive species and pests

Many adverse effects are present due to invasive species. Plants and animals both inhabit areas
that they are not intended to be. The kudzu vine for example covers miles of foliage.[31] These
invasive species cause America's reduction in economic productivity and ecological decline.[31]
Humans are unknowingly transporting these invasive species via ships, planes, boats, and their
own bodies.[31] NRCS works in collaboration with the plant materials centers scattered
throughout the country in order to get a handle on the invasive species of plants.These centers
scout out the plants and take measures to control and eradicate them from the particular area.[32]
Invasive animals such as feral hog, European gypsy moth, and the sirex woodwasp pose a
significant threat to America's wildlife as well as to the health of human beings.[31] The hog was
introduced as a food source for humans, but now the swine pandemic is a serious threat to
humans.[33] The gypsy moth destroys natural forests that are habitat to many beneficial
species.[34] The Woodwasp feeds on pine trees as well as providing a means of transportation for
a fungus that kills pine trees.[35]

Livestock
Livestock management is an area of interest for the NRCS because if not maintained valuable
resources such as food, wools, and leather would not be available. The proper maintenance of
livestock can also improve soil and water resources by providing a waste management system so
that run off and erosion is not a problem.[36] The NRCS provides financial assistance to land
owners with grazing land and range land that is used by livestock in order to control the run off
of waste into fresh water systems and prevent soil erosion.[36]

Plants

Plants are a huge benefit to the health of ecosystems. NRCS offers significant amounts of
resources to individuals interested in conserving plants. From databases full of information to
financial assistance the NRCS works hard to provide the means needed to do so. The plant
materials program, Plant materials centers, Plant materials specialists, PLANTS database,
National Plant Data Team (NPDT) are all used together to keep our ecosystems as healthy as
possible.[37] This includes getting rid of unwanted species and building up species that have been
killed off that are beneficial to the environment. The NRCS utilizes a very wide range of
interdisciplinary resources.

The NRCS also utilizes the following disciplines in order to maximize efficiency:

 Agronomy
 Erosion
 Air Quality and Atmospheric Change
 Animal Feeding Operations and Confined Animal Feeding Operations
 Biology
 Conservation Innovation Grants
 Conservation Practices
 Cultural Resources
 Economics
 Energy
 Engineering
 Environmental Compliance
 Field Office Technical Guide
 Forestry,
 Maps
 Data and Analysis
 Nutrient Management
 Pest Management
 Range and Pasture
 Social Sciences
 Soils, and Water Resources

These Science-Based technologies are all used together in order to provide the best conservation
of natural resources possible.[19]

Supported organizations
  Great Basin Plant Materials Center based in Fallon, Nevada.[38]

Established in 2006, the GBVPMC serves Nevada, California, and parts of Utah and Oregon.
The main purpose of the center is to combat damage done by invasive plant species in the area,
which have done great damage to ecosystems in the Great Basin. They also aid in restoring
ecosystems damaged by fires, climate change, drought, or other natural disasters. The centers
provides native plants to help restore these damaged areas. They also do work developing plant
organisms and technologies that are suited for the dry, high salt content soil of the area.[39]

 National Association of Conservation Districts

(NACD) A non-profit agency which serves 3,000 conservation districts across the United States.
There about 17,000 employees. The organization works with landowners and public properties to
help manage land and water resources. The mission of NACD is to provide leadership and a
unified voice for natural resource conservation in the United States.[40] The NACD grew in the
1930s from a statewide operation in Oklahoma, and many independent districts, to a unified
National organization in 1946.[41]

2.

WAYS TO SUSTAIN ENVIRONMENT :

10 Ways To Save Ourselves, The Planet Will More Then Likely Continue

There are many ways we can help to sustain our environment. Helpful information is available
on the web, in our libraries, and in countless books. We are “consumers” in the society of today.
Unfortunately because of this fact, we are also trash makers and very wasteful. We have to have
the newest this or the newest that as soon as it comes out on the market. Which in turn calculates
to a lot of trash. This age of new technology is caused greatly in respect to the technological
advances we are making, but the drawback is, when the newest cell phone or computer comes
out we have to have it. What do we do with the old stuff? Where does it go? These advancements
are also depleting vital resources from countries around the world.

Never before have we had so many technological advances in such a short period of time. If you
look back to prior generations who had cell phones, mp3 players and such? All these
advancements are causing major problems for us in regards to our environmental impact. Now
more than ever we need to be concerned with consumption and waste. Remember little things
add up to big improvements, or disastrous problems when thinking on a global scale. If millions
of people changed just one or two habits in their life we could make a huge difference.
It is said that we are killing our earth with all the chemicals and trash we are filling it with. There
is a point that is not taken very often. The earth is a huge sphere hanging in space, powerful and
majestic. Our own deaths from global warming and the negative environmental impacts we have
created will almost certainly come first.

1. Turn off the water when your brushing saves 10 quarts of water a time 500,000 quarts in a
lifetime

2. Install low flow water faucets saves up to 50 percent water usage, or shower with a friend=-)

3. Take the bus, ride your bike or carpool at least once a week.

4. Cut out or reduce your meat consumption. It takes several times the land and water to produce
meat as opposed to vegetables and wheat. You’ll be healthier too. If you’re worried about protein
eat beans and remember some vegetables contain protein too..

5. Plant a tree or join www.treefresno.org an organization that plants live trees around Fresno
provides more shade to cool the earth and help clean our air.

6. Plant flowers for the bees nature.berkeley.edu/urbanbeegardens/.

7. Plant your own herbs and vegetables, use no chemicals and the food doesn’t have to travel far
to your kitchen, no fuel used.

8. Plant your own herbs fresh chemical free and right outside your doo.r

9. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Do this and follow that order. Reduce your consumption there is
less to reuse and recycle!

10. Don’t use plastic grocery store bags, bring your own.

WHY ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

The environment is essential to human well-being and development. People depend on the
environment for food, water, shelter and clothing. But while we need the environment to sustain
our lives, we must also contribute to sustaining the environment for future generations and
ensure it does not collapse under the burden of our demands. Unsustainable patterns of
production and consumption are driving resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and rapid
changes in the critical natural systems that sustain life. Neoliberal globalization has facilitated
greater corporate exploitation of natural resources and the spread of environmentally harmful
practices and technologies. Multilateral firms and transnational corporations from advanced
economies are the most responsible for unsustainable patterns of resource extraction, pollution
and environment degradation.
Much of climate change has been created by developed countries during their industrialization
periods, and yet the poor in developing countries are bearing the greater burden of the
consequences of climate change. Environmental degradation and exploitation cannot be
addressed without international cooperation and action. However, international efforts at
addressing environmental decline have yielded little as states continue to promote their economic
interests before the common goal of environmental sustainability.

The challenge
Environmental decline is at a critical stage. The unrestrained rise in greenhouse gas emissions is
pushing the planet ever closer to irreversible and catastrophic climate change. Governments must
act now to stop the unsustainable exploitation of the environment and natural resources and to
achieve development in accordance to the principles of living in harmony with other peoples and
the environment to recover the health of Mother Earth.

The Campaign for People’s Goals makes the following

recommendations to guide a new development agenda to:
Commit to adequate action on climate, including:

 Limit global temperature rise to 1.5C, consistent with the recommendations of climate
science, through drastic emissions cuts and fair-sharing of the global carbon budget that
takes into account historical emissions – without resort to offsets.
 Take steps to provide adequate and appropriate climate finance contributed by countries
on the basis of historical responsibility for global warming and to make reparations to all
affected parties

Ensure sharing of safe, appropriate and ecologically and socially sound technologies

 Take steps to establish an international public system for the diffusion of green
technologies that includes a participatory and transparent mechanism for assessing
technologies according to their social, economic and environmental impacts
 Reorient intellectual property rights regime to allow for easier diffusion and development
of green technologies

Take steps to achieve sustainable production and consumption patterns while securing
people’s livelihoods and access to resources.

 Achieve universal access to modern energy services through enhancing energy efficiency
and increasing the share of renewable energy in the total energy mix, including through
investment in renewable energy research and development, phasing out of fossil fuel
subsidies, and discontinuing further investment in fossil energy capacity;
 Shift to ecologically based agriculture based on people’s food sovereignty;
 In manufacturing, promote technologies for eco-efficiency, recycling, remanufacturing,
reuse of waste materials and product durability and longevity;
  Ensure that resource extraction such as water use, fishing, logging and mining are within
sustainable levels while protecting the livelihoods and access to resources of fisherfolk
and indigenous people; and promote community based stewardship of natural resources;
 Reflect environmental and social costs in prices of goods and services to discourage
overconsumption and waste and influence ecologically smart behavior;
 Promote education and awareness raising on environmental issues within government and
in schools, communities and workplaces; and
 Enhance the capacity to enforce environmental regulations.

REPORT ON POPULATION AND HOUSING CONDITION OF MUMBAI

54% of Mumbai lives in slums: World Bank

SHARE COMMENTS

While there are conflicting views on whether slums will completely overtake Mumbai's
landscape by 2025, as projected by the World Bank, the general consensus is that rehabilitation
of slum-dwellers is the only feasible solution

More than half of Mumbai's population now lives in its slums, according to latest statistics from
the World Bank (WB), one of the world's largest financial institutions. While almost 54% of the
metro's inhabitants live in shanties, another 25-30% live in chawls and on footpaths, with just 10-
15% living in apartment buildings, bungalows or high-rises. However, experts rubbish the claim
that from being the slum capital of India, Mumbai is now set to become the slum capital of the
world.

Projections are that in 20 years, due to factors like a halt in the city's controversial slum
demolition scheme, unchecked migration into the city by people in search of jobs, antiquated
housing laws and skyrocketing real estate prices, slums will overtake the Mumbai landscape. The
WB estimates that 22.5 million people will be living in slums in Mumbai by 2025.

Professor R N Sharma, head of the urban studies unit at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences,
Mumbai, agrees that the city is being overrun by slums. "Thanks to migration, the city's
population is rising rapidly. Already 67% of the city work in the informal sector. If the World
Bank estimate of the city reaching a population of 2.25 crore by 2025 is true, slums will be
everywhere."
It is estimated that 100-300 new families come to Mumbai every day; most land up in slum
colonies or erect shanties on the nearest available footpath. In fact, Business World magazine's
recently-released WhiteBook of Marketing 2005 clearly debunks the popular perception that
Mumbai houses the largest proportion of the country's elite (the top socio-economic class)
population. Mumbai's A-class measures only 14.8%, compared to the national capital Delhi's
25.4% and Chennai's 16.3%.

A Jockin of SPARC, a non-governmental organisation that works with the issue of urban slums,
says rehabilitation is the only solution. "This talk about Mumbai having predominantly slums is
rubbish. Already 67% of slums on railway land have been resettled. The airport project and the
rehabilitation near the Mithi river are also happening at a good pace. These figures of the slum
population rising are not true."

Both the current Congress-led coalition government and the former Shiv Sena government came
to power in Maharashtra on the strength of their slum rehabilitation schemes. The Sena's scheme
envisaged free housing for 40 lakh (400,000) of Mumbai's slum-dwellers, a goal it failed to meet.

Former Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority chief and housing expert
Chandrashekhar Prabhu says that every government has tried to impose a slum scheme. "They
have never been given an option of choosing from different slum schemes. They have had to
choose from one scheme at a time, and all have got their disadvantages."

BACKGROUND TO MUMBAI

MUMBAI IS A MEGACITY AND A WORLD CITY, IT HAS GROWN ENORMOUSLY SINCE THE 1950’S AND
GIVES A GREAT CASE STUDY OF URBANIZATION AND ITS ISSUES WITHIN AN LEDC. THIS CASE STUDY
WILL EXPLORE HOW URBANIZATION, SUBURBANIZATION, COUNTER URBANIZATION AND NOW
REURBANISATION PROCESSES HAVE OCCURRED IN THE MUMBAI REGION AND HOW THOSE
PROCESSES HAVE BEEN MANAGED.

MUMBAI IS LOCATED ON A PENINSULAR ON THE WESTERN COAST OF MAHARASHTRA STATE IN

WESTERN INDIA, BORDERING THE ARABIAN SEA. BOMBAY IS A THRIVING MEGACITY THAT HAS HAD
AN ECONOMIC BOOM IN RECENT YEARS. IT IS HOME TO BOLLYWOOD AND THE FILM "SLUMDOG
MILLIONAIRE" WAS BASED THERE. INDEED, PROPERTY IN MUMBAI IS BECOMING SOME OF THE MOST
EXPENSIVE IN THE WORLD. ONE 28 STORY STRUCTURE FOR ONE FAMILY COST £2 BILLION. HOWEVER,
MANY OF THE RESIDENTS OF MUMBAI LIVE IN ILLEGAL SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS (KNOWN AS
BUSTEES IN INDIA). DESPITE THE POOR CONDITIONS IN THE SLUM PRINCE CHARLES THINKS THAT THE
PEOPLE OF DHARAVI "MAY BE POORER IN MATERIAL WEALTH BUT ARE RICHER SOCIALLY".
INDEED, IN TERMS OF POPULATION SIZE MUMBAI IS INDIA'S LARGEST CITY, AND IS THE FINANCIAL
CAPITAL OF THE COUNTRY, BEING HOME TO THE MUMBAI STOCK EXCHANGE. UP UNTIL THE 1980S,
MUMBAI OWED ITS WEALTH TO ITS HISTORICAL COLONIAL PAST, TEXTILE MILLS AND THE SEAPORT,
BUT THE LOCAL ECONOMY HAS SINCE BEEN DIVERSIFIED AND NOW MUMBAI IS HOME TO MOST OF
INDIA'S SPECIALISED TECHNICAL INDUSTRIES, HAVING A MODERN INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND
VAST, SKILLED HUMAN RESOURCES. INDUSTRIES INCLUDE AEROSPACE, OPTICAL ENGINEERING,
MEDICAL RESEARCH, COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT OF ALL VARIETIES, SHIPBUILDING
AND SALVAGING, AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. MUMBAI SERVES AS AN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC HUB
OF INDIA, CONTRIBUTING 10% OF ALL FACTORY EMPLOYMENT AND 40% OF INDIA'S FOREIGN TRADE.
MANY OF INDIA'S NUMEROUS TRANS NATIONAL CORPORATIONS (INCLUDING THE STATE BANK OF
INDIA, TATA GROUP, GODREJ AND RELIANCE) ARE BASED IN MUMBAI. OTHER FORMALIZED WORKERS
INCLUDE MANY STATE AND GOVERNMENT WORKERS.

ALONGSIDE THIS INCREDIBLE WEALTH IS A LARGE UNSKILLED AND INFORMAL WORKFORCE, WHO
WORK AS SELF-EMPLOYED AND OFTEN UNREGULATED WORKERS. MANY OF THESE PEOPLE EARN
THEIR LIVING AS STREET HAWKERS, STREET SELLERS, TAXI DRIVERS, MECHANICS AND OTHER SUCH
OCCUPATIONS.

BOLLYWOOD AND OTHER MEDIA INDUSTRIES ALSO EMPLOY HUGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE. MOST OF
INDIA'S MAJOR TELEVISION AND SATELLITE NETWORKS, AS WELL AS ITS MAJOR PUBLISHING HOUSES,
HAVE HEADQUARTERS HERE. THE CENTRE OF THE HINDI MOVIE INDUSTRY, BOLLYWOOD, PRODUCES
THE LARGEST NUMBER OF FILMS PER YEAR IN THE WORLD.

URBANISATION AND ITS IMPACTS

MUMBAI HAS URBANISED OVER THE PAST 60 YEARS AND URBANIZED RAPIDLY FROM ITS ORIGINS AS
A FISHING VILLAGE. THE SITE OF THE FISHING VILLAGE SOON BECAME A PORT REGION AS THE SITE
FAVOURED DEVELOPMENT. PROTECTED FROM THE ARABIAN SEA BY A PENINSULAR ART THE
SOUTHERN END OF SALSETTE ISLAND, IT HAD ACCESS TO SEA ON TWO SIDES AND THE BRITISH
COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION IN INDIA DEVELOPED THE SHELTERED INLET INTO A MAJOR PORT. THE
BRITISH VIEWED THE PORT AND SURROUNDINGS AS THE”GATEWAY TO INDIA”. THIS MADE IT THE
CLOSEST PORT OF ENTRY TO SUBCONTINENT FOR TRAVELLERS FROM EUROPE, THROUGH THE SUEZ
CANAL. AS WITH MANY MAJOR GLOBAL PORTS AREA AROUND THE PORT BECAME INDUSTRIALISED –
PROCESSING GOODS FOR EXPORT AND HANDLING IMPORTS. THE CITY GREW DURING BRITISH RULE
AS VARIETY OF SERVICES GREW UP AROUND THE PORT AND CONTINUED TO GROW AFTER BRITISH
LEFT IN 1947. SINCE 1971, THE GRAPH SHOWS THE INEXORABLE RISE IN THE POPULATION OF
MUMBAI, FROM 8 MILLION IN 1971 TO 21 MILLION NOW. THE OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTOR TO NOTE
IS THAT SLUM DWELLERS MAKE UP AN EVER INCREASING PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION,
CREATING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE AND PLANNERS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE
ORIGINAL URBANISATION PHASE OF MUMBAI FOCUSSED UPON THE SOUTHERN TIP OF SALSETTE
ISLAND, AND OUTSIDE OF THIS THE CITY SUBURBANISED IN A NORTHERN DIRECTION.

THE CAUSES OF URBANISATION ARE MULTIPLE, BUT INVOLVE A HIGH LEVEL OF NATURAL INCREASE
WITHIN MUMBAI ITSELF AND IN-MIGRATION PRINCIPALLY FROM THE SURROUNDING DISTRICT OF
MAHARASHTRA BUT ALSO FROM NEIGHBOURING STATES. MUMBAI BOOMING ECONOMY MEANS
THAT MIGRANTS COME FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE EXPANDING INDUSTRIES, FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS AND ADMINISTRATION.

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MUMBAI HAS GROWN IN A NORTHERN DIRECTION LIMITED BY PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AS SHOWN IN

THE IMAGE BELOW. IT IS LIMITED IN WHERE IT CAN GROW WITH CREEK SYSTEMS TO THE NORTH AND
EAST, THE ARABIAN SEA TO THE WEST AND ITS HARBOUR TO THE SOUTH EAST. MANGROVE SWAMPS
FURTHER COMPLICATE THE PICTURE, AND THESE MARGINAL LANDS OFTEN FORM THE LOCATION FOR
THE POOREST PEOPLE WHO LIVE ILLEGALLY IN SLUMS. ONE SUCH SLUM IS DHARAVI, IN THE HEART
OF MUMBAI.

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THE FOLLOWING NOTES ARE BASED UPON KEVIN MCCLOUD'S "SLUMMING IT." AND SHOW THE
CONSEQUENCES OF RAPID URBANISATION IN POORER COUNTRIES, WHERE THE PACE OF
URBANISATION MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN SERVICES ESSENTIAL FOR AN ACCEPTABLE
STANDARD OF LIVING.

DHARAVI SLUM IS LOCATED IN MUMBAI (FORMALLY BOMBAY) IN INDIA. INDIA’S AND MUMBAI'S
BIGGEST SLUM IS KNOWN AS DHARAVI. THERE ARE A MILLION PEOPLE CRAMMED INTO ONE SQUARE
MILE IN DHARAVI. AT THE EDGE OF DHARAVI THE NEWEST ARRIVALS COME TO MAKE THEIR HOMES
ON WASTE LAND NEXT TO WATER PIPES IN SLUM AREAS. THEY SET UP HOME ILLEGALLY AMONGST
WASTE ON LAND THAT IS NOT SUITABLE FOR HABITATION. IN THE WET MONSOON SEASON THESE
PEOPLE HAVE HUGE PROBLEMS LIVING ON THIS LOW LYING MARGINAL LAND. MANY OF THE PEOPLE
HERE COME FROM MANY PARTS OF INDIA AS A RESULT OF THE PUSH AND PULL FACTORS OF
MIGRATION.
CONDITIONS IN THE SLUM

IN THE SLUM PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE WITH MANY PROBLEMS. PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO THE TOILET IN
THE STREET AND THERE ARE OPEN SEWERS. CHILDREN PLAY AMONGST SEWAGE WASTE AND
DOCTORS DEAL WITH 4,000 CASES A DAY OF DIPHTHERIA AND TYPHOID. NEXT TO THE OPEN SEWERS
ARE WATER PIPES, WHICH CAN CRACK AND TAKE IN SEWAGE. DHARAVI SLUM IS BASED AROUND THIS
WATER PIPE BUILT ON AN OLD RUBBISH TIP. THE PEOPLE HAVE NOT PLANNED THIS SETTLEMENT AND
HAVE NO LEGAL RIGHTS TO THE LAND. THERE ARE ALSO TOXIC WASTES IN THE SLUM INCLUDING
HUGELY DANGEROUS HEAVY METALS. DHARAVI IS MADE UP OF 12 DIFFERENT NEIGHBOURHOODS
AND THERE ARE NO MAPS OR ROAD SIGNS. THE FURTHER YOU WALK INTO DHARAVI FROM THE EDGE
THE MORE PERMANENT AND SOLID THE STRUCTURES BECOME. PEOPLE LIVE IN VERY SMALL
DWELLINGS (E.G. 12X12FT), OFTEN WITH MANY MEMBERS OF THEIR EXTENDED FAMILIES.

MANY ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS CLAIM THIS SLUM COULD HOLD THE SOLUTION TO MANY OF THE
PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST CITIES.

WATER IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR MUMBAI'S POPULATION; STANDPIPES COME ON AT 5:30AM FOR 2
HOURS AS WATER IS RATIONED. THESE STANDPIPES ARE SHARED BETWEEN MANY PEOPLE. RUBBISH
IS EVERYWHERE AND MOST AREAS LACK SANITATION AND EXCREMENT AND RATS ARE FOUND ON
THE STREET. 500 PEOPLE SHARE ONE PUBLIC LATRINE.

THE FAMOUS CLOTH WASHING AREA ALSO HAS PROBLEMS, DESPITE ITS SOCIAL NATURE SEWAGE
WATER FILTERS INTO THE WATER USED FOR WASHING CLOTHES.

THE POSITIVES OF DHARAVI SLUM

THERE ARE POSITIVES; INFORMAL SHOPPING AREAS EXIST WHERE IT IS POSSIBLE TO BUY ANYTHING
YOU MIGHT NEED. THERE ARE ALSO MOSQUES CATERING FOR PEOPLE'S RELIGIOUS NEEDS.

THERE IS A POTTERY AREA OF DHARAVI SLUM WHICH HAS A COMMUNITY CENTRE. IT WAS
ESTABLISHED BY POTTERS FROM GUJARAT 70 YEARS AGO AND HAS GROWN INTO A SETTLEMENT OF
OVER 10,000 PEOPLE. IT HAS A VILLAGE FEEL DESPITE ITS HIGH POPULATION DENSITY AND HAS A
CENTRAL SOCIAL SQUARE.

FAMILY LIFE DOMINATES, AND THERE CAN BE AS MANY AS 5 PEOPLE PER ROOM. THE HOUSES OFTEN
HAVE NO WINDOWS, ASBESTOS ROOFS (WHICH ARE DANGEROUS IF BROKEN) AND NO PLANNING TO
FIT FIRE REGULATIONS. ROOMS WITHIN HOUSES HAVE MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING LIVING,
WORKING AND SLEEPING.
MANY DAILY CHORES ARE DONE IN SOCIAL SPHERES BECAUSE PEOPLE LIVE CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER.
THIS HELPS TO GENERATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. THE BUILDINGS IN THIS PART OF THE SLUM ARE
ALL OF DIFFERENT HEIGHTS AND COLOURS, ADDING INTEREST AND DIVERSITY. THIS IS DESPITE THE
ENORMOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS WITH AIR AND LAND POLLUTION.

85% OF PEOPLE HAVE A JOB IN THE SLUM AND WORK LOCALLY, AND SOME HAVE EVEN MANAGED TO
BECOME MILLIONAIRES.

RECYCLING AND WASTE IN DHARAVI

KEVIN MCCLOUD FOUND THAT PEOPLE SEEMED GENUINELY HAPPY IN THE SLUM. HOWEVER, TOILETS
ARE OPEN HOLES ABOVE A RIVER – HARDLY HYGIENIC. THIS COULD LEAD TO DENGUE FEVER,
CHOLERA AND HEPATITIS

DHARAVI HAS A RECYCLING ZONE. IT IS CLAIMED THAT DHARAVI’S RECYCLING ZONE COULD BE THE
WAY FORWARD TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. EVERYTHING IS RECYCLED FROM COSMETICS AND
PLASTICS TO COMPUTER KEYBOARDS. 23% OF PLASTIC WASTE GETS RECYCLED IN THE UK, IN MUMBAI
IT IS 80%. HOWEVER, IT IS HUMANS WHO WORK TO SIFT THE RUBBISH IN THE TIPS WHERE CHILDREN
AND WOMEN SIFT THROUGH THE RUBBISH FOR VALUABLE WASTE. THEY HAVE TO WORK UNDER THE
HOT SUN IN APPALLING CONDITIONS. THEY EARN AROUND A £1 A DAY FOR THEIR WORK.

AT THE EDGE OF THE TIP THE RAG DEALERS SORT THEIR HAUL BEFORE SELLING IT ON TO DEALERS.
THE QUANDARY IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK IN POOR CONDITIONS TO RECYCLE WASTE. FROM
THE TIP IT ARRIVES IN DHARAVI WHERE IT IS PROCESSED. IT IS SORTED INTO WIRE, ELECTRICAL
PRODUCTS, AND PLASTICS. PLASTICS IN INDIA ARE CONTINUOUSLY RECYCLED. PEOPLE WORK IN
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS WITH TOXIC SUBSTANCES WITHOUT PROTECTIVE CLOTHING; THIS COULD
AFFECT PEOPLE’S LIFE EXPECTANCY. EVEN DANGEROUS HOSPITAL WASTE IS RECYCLED.

ONE PRIVATE ENTERPRISE MAKES THE METAL CAGES INSIDE SUITCASES, MAKING 700 PIECES PER DAY,
PAID 3 RUPEES PER PIECE. THERE ARE 15,000 ONE ROOM FACTORIES IN DHARAVI WHICH THERE ARE
300 FEEDING MOST OF MUMBAI. MANY OF THE PRODUCTS FROM DHARAVI END UP AROUND THE
WORLD BASED UPON VERY CHEAP LABOUR. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WORK IN VERY POOR WORKING
CONDITIONS, AND INCLUDES CHILDREN. INDEED, DHARAVI IS TRYING TO DO IN 20 YEARS WHAT THE
WEST DID IN 200, DEVELOP.
MANAGING AND IMPROVING SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS

LARGE SCALE REDEVELOPMENT

A $2BILLION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THREATENS THE RECYCLING DISTRICT AND PART OF DHARAVI.
THE LAND UPON WHICH DHARAVI IS BUILT IS NEXT TO MUMBAI’S FINANCIAL DISTRICT. THIS MAKES
IT A PRIME TARGET FOR REDEVELOPMENT. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RELOCATED WILL BE PUT INTO
SMALLER HOUSING IN APARTMENT BLOCKS. AN ANCIENT FISHING VILLAGE IS ALSO THREATENED.
THESE AREAS HAVE STRONG SAFE NEIGHBOURHOODS THAT HAVE LOW CRIME AND COMMUNAL
AREAS. ALSO AT RISK ARE THE LOCAL SHOPS AND MARKETS AND THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT WHICH HAS
TAKEN GENERATIONS TO DEVELOP. THE LOCALS WOULD PREFER SMALL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
EXISTING SLUM SUCH AS IMPROVEMENTS IN DRAINAGE. THE VALUE OF LAND IS SO HIGH THAT
REDEVELOPMENT IS NOW A REAL THREAT. THE ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION IS VERY SMALL.

THE SLUM DWELLERS FACE 14 STORY APARTMENTS AS ACCOMMODATION AS PROPOSED BY THE

CITIES SLUM REHABILITATION AUTHORITY. THIS WILL SEPARATE COMMUNITIES AND MAKE PEOPLE
WORK AWAY FROM WHERE THEY LIVE. ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED IN THE SLUM SINCE 2000 WILL
BE RELOCATED. CURRENT REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ARE DENSELY POPULATED AND HOUSE LOTS OF
PEOPLE. THEY ARE NOT GOOD FOR COMMUNITY COHESION.

LOCAL BASED IMPROVEMENTS

THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO LARGE SCALE REDEVELOPMENT AND THAT IS TO ALLOW LOCAL PEOPLE
DESIGN THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SLUM.

THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF AREA RESOURCE CENTRES, BETTER KNOWN AS SPARC, THIS IS
AN NGO THAT SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS OF LOCAL PEOPLE TO GET BETTER HOUSING FOR THEIR MANY
MEMBERS. IDEAS GENERATED FROM LOCAL PEOPLE SUPPORTED BY THIS CHARITY INCLUDE ADDING
AN EXTRA FLOOR TO BUILDINGS SO THAT ALL FAMILY MEMBERS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE
SAME BUILDING. THESE FLATS ALSO HAD 14-FOOT HIGH CEILINGS AND A SINGLE TALL WINDOW SO
ARE WELL VENTILATED, BRIGHT, AND LESS DEPENDENT ON ELECTRIC FANS FOR COOLING. THEIR LOFT
SPACES ADD EXTRA ROOM WITHOUT SEEMING CROWDED, AND INCLUDE SMALL SPACES FOR
BATHING. BUT TOILETS ARE PLACED AT THE END OF EACH OF THE BUILDING’S FOUR FLOORS, AND
KEPT CLEAN BY THE TWO OR THREE FAMILIES WHO USE EACH ONE. THESE IDEAS ONLY WORK WHEN
WATER IS RUNNING IN DHARAVI.

ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN HARD AT WORK. ONE STUDENT HAS CREATED A MULTI-
STOREY BUILDING WITH WIDE OUTER CORRIDORS CONNECTED BY RAMPS “SPACE WAYS IN THE SKY,”
TO REPLICATE THE STREET. THESE SPACE WAYS ALLOW VARIOUS ACTIVITIES TO BE LINKED, SUCH AS
GARMENT WORKSHOPS, WHILE MAINTAINING A SECLUDED LIVING SPACE ON ANOTHER. COMMUNAL
OPEN SPACE ON VARIOUS LEVELS ALLOWS WOMEN TO PRESERVE AN AFTERNOON TRADITION,
GETTING TOGETHER TO DO EMBROIDERING.

ONE STUDENT ALSO TRIED TO HELP THE POTTERS OF DHARAVI. HE DESIGNED INTO EXISTING HOUSES
THE LIVING SPACE AT ONE END AND A PLACE TO MAKE THE POTS AT THE OTHER. EACH HAS AN
ADDITIONAL OPEN TERRACE ON WHICH TO MAKE POTS, WHICH ARE FIRED IN A COMMUNITY KILN.

AS THE NATIONAL SLUM DWELLERS FEDERATION HAS REPEATEDLY PROVEN, HOUSING THE POOR
WORKS BEST, COSTS LESS AND IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, WHEN THE POOR THEMSELVES
HAVE A SAY IN WHAT IS BEING BUILT.

DHARAVI COULD ALSO FOLLOW THE BRAZILIAN MODEL, AS EVIDENCED IN ROCINHA IN RIO DE
JANEIRO. WITHIN THE FAVELAS THE GOVERNMENT HAS ASSISTED PEOPLE IN IMPROVING THEIR
HOMES. BREEZE BLOCKS AND OTHER MATERIALS (PIPES FOR PLUMBING ETC) WERE GIVEN AS LONG
AS PEOPLE UPDATED THEIR HOMES. THIS IS AN APPROACH KNOWN AS SITE AND SERVICE.

THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT ALSO MOVED A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF SHANTY TOWNS AND INTO
LOW COST, BASIC HOUSING ESTATES WITH PLUMBING, ELECTRICITY AND TRANSPORT LINKS. THE
WAITING LIST FOR THESE PROPERTIES WAS HUGE.

SUBURBANISATION IN MUMBAI

MUMBAI NOW HAS A LONG HISTORY OF SUBURBANISATION, AND MANY KEY EVENTS HAVE
OCCURRED IN THE SUBURBANISATION PROCESS, INITIALLY IN A NORTHWARDS DIRECTION ALONG
MAJOR TRANSPORT ROUTES SUCH AS ROADS AND RAIL LINKS, AND NOW IN AN EASTWARD
DIRECTION. THIS SUBURBANISATION HAS INVOLVED NOT JUST THE GROWTH OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS
BUT ALSO THE RELOCATION AND GROWTH OF NEW INDUSTRIAL AREAS.

1930S TO 1940S

THE RISE OF SHIVAJI PARK AREA, MATUNGA AND MAHIM AS THE OUTLYING SUBURBS

1960S (POST INDEPENDENCE)

INNER SUBURBS IN SOUTHERN SALSETTE AND CHEMBUR-TROMBAY HAD EMERGED

1970S
ASSIMILATION OF THE `EXTENDED SUBURBS' BEYOND VILE-PARLE AND GHATKOPAR.

AS WITH OTHER MAJOR CITIES, OTHER TOWNS AND VILLAGES HAVE BEEN SWALLOWED UP BY
MUMBAI IN THE PROCESS OF SUBURBANISATION. IN THE LAST DECADE, THANE, VASHI AND BELAPUR
HAVE BECOME EXTENDED SUBURBS DESPITE BEING PLANNED AS INDIVIDUAL TOWNS. ALL OF THESE
DEVELOPMENTS ARE SUMMARISED IN THE MAP BELOW.

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THE NORTHWARDS MOVEMENT ALONG RAIL AND ROAD CORRIDORS COMES FIRST. NEXT, THE AREAS
AROUND THESE COMMUNICATION LINKS ARE DEVELOPED. THIRD, THESE AREAS EXTEND OUTWARDS
AND CAN INVOLVE RECLAIMING LAND NEXT TO CREEKS AND MANGROVE, AND SLOPES IN THE HILLS
OF SALSETTE CAN BE COLONISED TOO. THE MAJOR RAILWAY STATIONS HAVE AREAS AROUND THEM
THAT HAVE BECOME SHOPPING FRONTS. THE RECLAIMED AREAS HOUSE THE WEALTHIER MIDDLE
AND UPPER CLASSES, BUT POORER PEOPLE WILL BUILD HUTS IN AND AMONGST THESE AREAS AND
FULL SHANTIES CAN GROW ON THE POOREST QUALITY LAND.

THIS SUBURBANISATION HAS HAD CONSEQUENCES;

1. PEOPLE ARE ECONOMICALLY STRATIFIED INTO THOSE THAT CAN AFFORD BETTER HOUSING AND
THOSE THAT CANNOT, RATHER THAN HISTORICAL CASTE, RELIGIOUS OR LINGUISTIC STRATIFICATIONS

2. LESS THAN A THIRD OF THE POPULATION OF MUMBAI LIVES IN THE `ISLAND' CITY.

3. THE CENTRE OF DENSITY OF POPULATION HAS SHIFTED FROM THE ISLAND CITY WELL INTO
SUBURBAN SALSETTE.
4. THE COMMUTER TRAFFIC HAS CHANGED. RATHER THAN BEING JUST ONE WAY INTO THE
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (CBD) IN THE SOUTH OF THE CITY IN THE MORNINGS THERE IS AN
INCREASING MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. INCREASING INDUSTRIALISATION
OF THE SUBURBS IS INCREASING THIS MOVEMENT.

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COUNTERURBANISATION IN MUMBAI

THE MAP BELOW SHOWS THAT SOME OF THE POPULATION OF MUMBAI IS ALSO
COUNTERURBANISING, WITH A DECLINE IN POPULATION OVER A 20 YEAR PERIOD WITHIN THE
ORIGINAL HEART OF THE CITY IN MUMBAI DISTRICT. THE LARGEST GROWTH IS IN THOSE DISTRICTS
DIRECTLY TO THE EAST OF SALSETTE ISLAND, AND EVEN DISTRICTS 50 OR MORE KILOMETRES FROM
MUMBAI ARE GROWING. ONE SUCH PHENOMENON FUELLING THIS GROWTH IS THAT OF PLANNED
TOWNS (NEW TOWNS IN THE UK. NAVI MUMBAI IS A PLANNED TOWNSHIP DIRECTLY TO THE EAST OF
MUMBAI AND WAS DESIGNATED IN 1972. IT IS THE LARGEST NEW TOWN IN THE WORLD. THE TOWN
WAS DEVELOPED TO REDUCE CONGESTION AND POPULATION DENSITIES IN MUMBAI, WHICH ITSELF
WAS RESTRICTED BY ITS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. THE NEW TOWN NOW HAS A POPULATION OF
1,111,000 PEOPLE, IS LINKED TO MUMBAI BY ROAD AND RAIL BRIDGES AND AN INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT. IT ALSO HAS AN EXTENSIVE BUS NETWORK, AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND MANY IT
AND SOFTWARE FIRMS IN AREAS SUCH AS THE INTERNATIONAL INFOTECH PARK AT VASHI AND THE
NEW MILLENNIUM CITY NEAR MAHAPE.

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REURBANISATION – CHANGES TO DHARAVI SLUM

LARGE SCALE REDEVELOPMENT

A $2BILLION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THREATENS THE RECYCLING DISTRICT AND PART OF DHARAVI.
THE LAND UPON WHICH DHARAVI IS BUILT IS NEXT TO MUMBAI’S FINANCIAL DISTRICT. THIS MAKES
IT A PRIME TARGET FOR REDEVELOPMENT. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RELOCATED WILL BE PUT INTO
SMALLER HOUSING IN APARTMENT BLOCKS. AN ANCIENT FISHING VILLAGE IS ALSO THREATENED.
THESE AREAS HAVE STRONG SAFE NEIGHBOURHOODS THAT HAVE LOW CRIME AND COMMUNAL
AREAS. ALSO AT RISK ARE THE LOCAL SHOPS AND MARKETS AND THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT WHICH HAS
TAKEN GENERATIONS TO DEVELOP. THE LOCALS WOULD PREFER SMALL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
EXISTING SLUM SUCH AS IMPROVEMENTS IN DRAINAGE. THE VALUE OF LAND IS SO HIGH THAT
REDEVELOPMENT IS NOW A REAL THREAT. THE ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION IS VERY SMALL.

THE SLUM DWELLERS FACE 14 STORY APARTMENTS AS ACCOMMODATION AS PROPOSED BY THE

CITIES SLUM REHABILITATION AUTHORITY. THIS WILL SEPARATE COMMUNITIES AND MAKE PEOPLE
WORK AWAY FROM WHERE THEY LIVE. ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED IN THE SLUM SINCE 2000 WILL
BE RELOCATED. CURRENT REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ARE DENSELY POPULATED AND HOUSE LOTS OF
PEOPLE. THEY ARE NOT GOOD FOR COMMUNITY COHESION. INDEED, THE PLANNED REDEVELOPMENT
IS PART OF THE MAHARASHTRA STATE GOVERNMENTS PLAN FOR DHARAVI. THE ARCHITECT
EMPLOYED TO PUT TOGETHER A $2 BILLION BID FROM MAJOR DEVELOPERS ACROSS THE WORLD TO
DEMOLISH DHARAVI AND BUILD HOMES AND AMENITIES, MUKESH MEHTA, HAS SAID ‘DHARAVI IS A
BLACK HOLE – SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF. MY VISION WOULD BE THAT IT WOULD BE
TRANSFORMED INTO ONE OF THE BETTER SUBURBS OF MUMBAI.’

THE RESIDENTS DO NOT WANT THIS REDEVELOPMENT, ARPUTHAM JOCKIN GREW UP IN MUMBAI'S
SLUMS AND NOW REPRESENTS THE SLUM DWELLERS IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT'S
PLANS. ‘SELLING THIS LAND TO THE GLOBAL MARKET AND GIVING IT OVER FOR COMMERCIAL USE -
HOW WILL THAT IMPROVE OUR LIVES? 90% OF THE PEOPLE HERE WANT A STAKE IN THEIR FUTURE
AND A SAY IN HOW IT IS TRANSFORMED. IT HAS TO WORK FROM THE BOTTOM UP - NOT TOP DOWN.’
HE SAYS. AS OF 2012 NO PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE WITH THE PLANS.