1. Historical evolution of Mumbai
Mumbai has a long history of evolution that spans for 1000 years. In 1343 the cluster of seven islands was controlled by the Sultanate of Gujarat, and later in 1534 following Portugal invasion, the area was converted into a trading center (The British Library Board). The Portuguese coined the term Bom Bahia, meaning ‘the good bay’, and developed dwelling units, factories as well as ship building yards in the Island cluster, which later became known as Bombay (The British Library Board). With the establishment of East India Company, the British ousted Portuguese, and used Bombay’s deep-water port for their shipping trade (The British Library Board). But, Bombay’s extreme monsoon, and harsh weather made it difficult for the British to establish themselves (The British Library Board).
During 1670’s the English made Bombay their Indian capital, and built the city based on London’s rebuilding plan after the great fire of 1666 (The British Library Board). Causeways connecting the islands, hospitals, forts, castles and churches were built, and the port was strengthened (The British Library Board). However, after the 1688 attack by the Mughals, Bombay’s population was greatly reduced. In 1700’s the city began to grow again, and British developed a strong Bombay marine patrol system, which later became the Indian navy (The British Library Board). Also, cotton export and cloth import flourished in the port city, and in 1854 an Indian cotton mill was opened in Bombay (The British Library Board). Bombay soon became a land of opportunities, and both Indians and English people settled in the city. In the 1800’s, the island cluster was properly converted to a single island, and the railway system was established in 1850’s (The British Library Board). Thereafter, the city has been ever growing, and the city was renamed Mumbai in 1995, in commemoration of Mumbadevi, the local goddess, who native fishermen of Bombay used to worship before British Invasion (The British Library Board).
2. Special features of the city
Mumbai’s highest point is the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, situated at the northern side, 450m above sea level (Mumbai.org). Most other parts of Mumbai are at the sea level, and the city is on top of three fault lines, making the region an earthquake prone zone (Mumbai.org). The eastern coast of Mumbai has rich mangroves, bays and creeks that support a unique coastal biodiversity, while rocky beaches cover the western part (Mumbai.org). Pawai, Tulsi and Vihar lakes are the primary drinking water sources for the city spanning 603 square km (Mumbai.org). Thus Mumbai is a busy metropolitan city gifted with rich natural biodiversity as well. Amidst the concrete blocks of Mumbai, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) covering 103 square km of moist deciduous forest provides natural green cover to the city as well as habitat to rare and threatened species such as Atlas moth, Karvy flowers that bloom once every 8 years, leopards and other big cats (Mumbaikars for SGNP). SGNP also has the archeologically significant Buddhist caves, and is home to native tribes such as Warlis and Mahadeo Kolis, who worship the big cats and help in conserving it (Mumbaikars for SGNP).
3. Urban challenges and problems
More than 30% of the population is living in the southern tip alone, which has more job opportunities. The northern part i.e. Navi Mumbai has more unoccupied spaces. Thus establishing a proper usable, transportation network in the city is quite a challenge. According to Rode, slums in central Mumbai are being relocated to the outer regions to improve access to the city with new transportation projects, and new housing projects (especially for the illegal dwellers) are being developed in the periphery of the city. But, this would only complicate the mobilization problem, as still people need to travel long distances for job. While Mumbai’s road network has only doubled in last 50 years, the vehicles have increased 37 times (Rode). The Mumbai government is coming up with several developmental strategies to provide accessibility to an increasing population, and one such project is the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, which is a first of its kind offshore ring road with 8 lanes that can handle private cars and heavy vehicle’s traffic load (Rode). 5.6 km segment of the Sea-Link is presently being constructed. However, this project is estimated to cost 350 million USD (Rode), and extending the public transport systems such as railways would better serve the public compared to the Sea-Link.
Mumbai suffers from several issues of rapid urbanization in a developing economy. While population density of Mumbai keeps on increasing, the local government is not able to provide hygienic living conditions, and basic amenities such as water, sewerage systems, and access to basic medical facilities. Further, natural disasters such as floods and heavy rains cripple the city, due to the poorly managed urban infrastructure, and urban squatter. The percentage of urban poor in Mumbai city has been rising steadily, and while it was 12% of the total population in 1961, it became 51% in 1991 (Karn and Harada, 269). So, Mumbai’s majority are the urban poor who constitute the slum dwellers, those who live on pavements, beside railway lines as well as sewer drain pipes (Karn and Harada, 269). Karn and Harada conducted a survey on the 1070 slum dweller households in Mumbai to assess the health impacts of poor living environmental conditions (Karn and Harada, 269). They found that a morbidity rate of at least 30% in the slum dwellers is attributable to water borne diseases, which in turn is correlated with lack of clean drinking water supply, improper sewage and sanitation facilities (Karn and Harada, 274).
Urban sprawling in Mumbai is also a challenge to the government as population migration towards the city is enormous, and the city is increasing in extent at a rapid pace. Affluent people within the city thus move towards suburbs as space within city limits becomes restricted, and costly too (Chand). So, surrounding rural areas are also used for constructing buildings, which reduces the biodiversity and becomes a threat to even natural environment. Already resources in the city are limited, and there is further pollution in rural areas due to urban sprawl (Chand). Also, as people have to travel through long distances from outskirts to reach their workplaces, air pollution and traffic congestion problems arise (Chand). Also, due to lack of proper utilities such as drainage and water supply, and access to proper schools or hospitals in the city outgrowths, people inhabiting the suburbs suffer from a poor quality of life.
Mumbai is unique city with extensive green cover, but rapid urbanization is affecting the city’s biodiversity too. For instance the proposed Delhi-Mumbai freight corridor (DMFC) project requires more than 50 hectares in the city, and the forest department has approved 10 hectare of the SGNP for the project (Naik). The Delhi-Mumbai Freight Corridor project includes eight smart cities, two airports, five power projects and two mass rapid transit systems, and it is expected to boost the state’s economy as well as employment opportunities. However, Leopards, wild boars, hyenas and other wildlife movement in the park will be greatly affected by the proposed project (Naik). De-reservation of the natural forest area that is so unique in its location within a rapidly developing city, will put the lives of several rare species of plants and animals under threat, as well as affect the livelihood of remaining native tribes.
Thus Mumbai needs to address socio-economic, political and environmental aspects of urbanization, and handle these issues with great caution to ensure the developmental projects truly benefit the people.
4. Recommendations and suggestions to solve the problems
Slums and suboptimal dwelling units need to be transformed into proper residential areas with access to all amenities. Also, increasing connectivity can minimize urban sprawl. While, Mumbai has a good railway system, still many employees drive long distances to work. Projects such as the Bandra-Worli Sea-Link should also accommodate bus lanes to support public commutation, and not just goods transport (Rode). Alternatively, rail transit systems can also be improved to link more places and reduce use of private vehicles. To protect further congestion in the city, urban redevelopment plans such as restrictions on the number or area of property holds within the city limits, reserving regions for socio-economic minorities, as well as developing green belts around the city limits can all help. Mumbai’s government has come up with a cluster development policy, which enables old buildings that are dangerous for human habitation, beyond 30 years of age, and built on an area of not less than one acre can be demolished, and used for redevelopment projects (Suryawanshi). There was a proposal to increase the (Floor Space Index) FSI by 4 for redeveloped buildings too (Suryawanshi). Urban development plans such as these should be implemented without much legal procedural delay and political interference, to support the growing urban population. Further, preserving Mumbai’s forest and coastal eco-system amidst developmental pressure is also essential. Proper environmental impacts assessments must be made prior to implementation of developmental projects such as the Sea-Link or Freight Corridor, to reduce losses to terrestrial and coastal as well as mangrove ecosystems.
5. Conclusion
Mumbai is a unique city where natural and built environments co-exist, and the city’s legacy also needs to be preserved. The port city had to withstand natural calamities of large magnitude several times, and better urban planning and design is essential in future to build eco-sensitive structures, that have less adverse environmental impacts. Most of the city lies at sea level, and global warming induced climate change can lead to sea-level rise and salt-water intrusion (Jawale and Tandon). These can affect built environment and lead to displacement of considerable population into the already crowded central areas. Thus future planning of the city should aim at minimizing climate change impacts, securing livelihood of those living near coasts, finding better housings for slum dwellers, and improving connectivity through eco-sensitive infrastructure designs, as well as improving water and wastewater utilities.
Works Cited
Chand, Smriti. "11 Major Problems of Urbanization in India." YourArticleLibrarycom The
Next Generation Library. N.p., 2013. Web. 08 July 2016.
Jawale, R., and S. Tandon. "Economic Impacts of Climate Change on Mumbai, India."
Karn, S. Kumar, and H. Harada. "Field Survey on Water Supply, Sanitation and Associated
Health Impacts in Urban Poor Communities – a Case from Mumbai City, India." Water Science and Technology 46.11 (2002): 269-75. Web. 8 July 2016.
Mumbaikars for SGNP. N.p., 2012. Web. 08 July 2016.
Naik, Yogesh. "Forest Department Clears Train through City’s National Park – Mumbai
Mirror -." Mumbai Mirror. N.p., 2 Mar. 2016. Web. 08 July 2016.
Rode, Philipp. "Mumbai: The Compact Mega City." En Gb. N.p., Nov. 2007. Web. 08 July
2016.
Suryawanshi, Sudhir. "Maharashtra Government Notifies New Cluster Policy for Mumbai."
N.p., 10 Sept. 2014. Web. 8 July 2016.
The British Library Board. Bombay: History of a City. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 July 2016.
