The present adaptation strategies are mainly focused on population that is either
public property or is covered by insurance. For instance, during the 2005 flood, a
large number of poor people were affected. However, their financial losses were
never factored in while arriving at a total loss figure. This must change. “A team of
IIT Bombay conducted over 1000 surveys in various low-lying areas of Mumbai
and realized the loss of poor was far greater than the public sector loss. These poor
people have devised their own adaptation strategies to deal with flooding, such as
raising the toilet seats, installing electricity metrer transformers at a higher level,
etc. These are all private adaptations. Unless these converge with the larger
long-term adaptation plan of Mumbai, they will remain a failure and will only add
to the financial burden of the poor,”. Insurance can be of much help in disasters
such as July 26 flood, Insurance model works well when there is low probability of
an event, as the risks are pooled together. Flooding in Mumbai is a chronic problem
and a large chunk of population is affected by it at the same time (Discussion with
Patwardhan 2013).
According to Aggarwal, Mumbai needs to have a comprehensive adaptation plan
that not only focuses on drainage, but also on other elements such as solid waste
management, urban land use, public transport, encouraging pedestrians, etc. “At
present, the exercise of preparing a 20 years development plan for Mumbai is going
on. It is a big opportunity for the corporation to factor in climate change, encourage
people’s participation in planning, and then come up with a comprehensive plan.”
The Development plan (DP 2014–2034) for Greater Mumbai is being prepared by
the development plan department of the corporation in consultation with M/S
Groupe SCE (I) Ltd. The existing land use (ELU) maps and reports have already
been prepared and put up on corporation’s website for comments from the public.
Mumbai-based think tank, Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI) is actively
campaigning to ensure the DP 2014–2034 is comprehensive, robust and
people-centric. This may just be the last chance for Mumbai to stay afloat.
4 Conclusion
Both the cases re-emphasise the fact that urban planning is not a top-to-down
approach and it cannot be undertaken in isolation. In wake of growing evidence of
climate change impacts in urban areas, it is imperative that a holistic “environmental urban planning” is undertaken to help Indian cities adapt to climate change.
Infrastructure development must take into account the natural water channels and
urban water bodies. Urban forests need to be created and protected to address the
rising temperature in urban cities and increased heat waves. Local level disaster
preparedness and management needs to be strengthened. Capacities of our civic
institutions need to be built to address challenges of climate change. Above all,
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S. Manasi and N. Jamwal
public property or is covered by insurance. For instance, during the 2005 flood, a
large number of poor people were affected. However, their financial losses were
never factored in while arriving at a total loss figure. This must change. “A team of
IIT Bombay conducted over 1000 surveys in various low-lying areas of Mumbai
and realized the loss of poor was far greater than the public sector loss. These poor
people have devised their own adaptation strategies to deal with flooding, such as
raising the toilet seats, installing electricity metrer transformers at a higher level,
etc. These are all private adaptations. Unless these converge with the larger
long-term adaptation plan of Mumbai, they will remain a failure and will only add
to the financial burden of the poor,”. Insurance can be of much help in disasters
such as July 26 flood, Insurance model works well when there is low probability of
an event, as the risks are pooled together. Flooding in Mumbai is a chronic problem
and a large chunk of population is affected by it at the same time (Discussion with
Patwardhan 2013).
According to Aggarwal, Mumbai needs to have a comprehensive adaptation plan
that not only focuses on drainage, but also on other elements such as solid waste
management, urban land use, public transport, encouraging pedestrians, etc. “At
present, the exercise of preparing a 20 years development plan for Mumbai is going
on. It is a big opportunity for the corporation to factor in climate change, encourage
people’s participation in planning, and then come up with a comprehensive plan.”
The Development plan (DP 2014–2034) for Greater Mumbai is being prepared by
the development plan department of the corporation in consultation with M/S
Groupe SCE (I) Ltd. The existing land use (ELU) maps and reports have already
been prepared and put up on corporation’s website for comments from the public.
Mumbai-based think tank, Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI) is actively
campaigning to ensure the DP 2014–2034 is comprehensive, robust and
people-centric. This may just be the last chance for Mumbai to stay afloat.
4 Conclusion
Both the cases re-emphasise the fact that urban planning is not a top-to-down
approach and it cannot be undertaken in isolation. In wake of growing evidence of
climate change impacts in urban areas, it is imperative that a holistic “environmental urban planning” is undertaken to help Indian cities adapt to climate change.
Infrastructure development must take into account the natural water channels and
urban water bodies. Urban forests need to be created and protected to address the
rising temperature in urban cities and increased heat waves. Local level disaster
preparedness and management needs to be strengthened. Capacities of our civic
institutions need to be built to address challenges of climate change. Above all,
472
S. Manasi and N. Jamwal