Mumbai's Unsustainable Growth: Chasing Economy at the Cost of Ecology
Mumbai's rapid growth comes at the cost of its ecology and sustainability, risking its future as a liveable city. Despite being a climate-sensitive city with high population density and urban inequality, the city authorities have not paid attention to its
MumbaiEcologySustainabilityClimate ChangeUrban PlanningReal Estate MaharashtraAug 05, 2024
Two decades later, Mumbai’s rivers have retaining walls to hold rainwater, stormwater drains are annually desilted, spending hundreds of crores, and water pumps have been installed at many locations to literally throw the rainwater into the Arabian Sea.
What Mumbai’s authorities have not done is pay attention to its ecology either in response to climate change-induced extreme weather or as a necessary parallel to its economy. Instead, the city lost a staggering 2,028 hectares of green cover in just five years from 2016 to 2021 for a slew of infrastructure projects. Its complex system of watercourses lies fractured.
Mumbai is a climate-sensitive city with one of the world’s highest population densities, at about 14 times the national average, and with one of the worst instances of urban inequality in India. Yet, the city authorities have not paid attention to Mumbai’s ecology either in response to climate change-induced extreme weather or as a necessary parallel to its economy.
Governance of Mumbai has to take the blame for the city’s condition. Key civic services are with the BMC, but some areas and projects are exclusively governed by autonomous bodies that have no accountability to the city’s elected body or by special purpose vehicles such as the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited where people’s voices are not represented.
The distressing economic inequality and ecological slide cannot but touch the iconic Mumbai quality of embracing strangers, making space despite the crunch, and folding in different strains of music, life, and food unto itself. That it still holds magic for so many must have something to do with its enigmatic sea breeze.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main issue with Mumbai's growth?
Mumbai's growth is coming at the cost of its ecology and sustainability, risking its future as a liveable city.
What is the impact of climate change on Mumbai?
Mumbai is a climate-sensitive city with high population density and urban inequality, and climate change-induced extreme weather is a major concern.
What is the role of the BMC in Mumbai's governance?
The BMC is responsible for key civic services, but some areas and projects are exclusively governed by autonomous bodies with no accountability to the city’s elected body.
What is the impact of urban inequality on Mumbai?
Mumbai has one of the worst instances of urban inequality in India, with over 54% of its population living in slums and affordable housing within city limits being a distant dream.
What is the solution to Mumbai's ecological and economic problems?
A comprehensive urban planning approach that takes into account the city's ecology, economy, and social welfare is needed to address Mumbai's problems.
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