Thaltej Village:
An Incremental Approach to Urban Encroachment
Thaltej Village: An Incremental Approach to Urban Encroachment
Emily Brown Allison Buchwach Ryan Hagerty Mary Richardson Laura Schultz Bin Yan Under the advisement of Professor Michael Dobbins
Georgia Institute of Technology April 27, 2012
Acknowlegements
This report was produced with help from faculty and students at CEPT University in Ahmdebad, as well as many other generous folks both here and abroad that have helped us immeasurably with their advice, insight and feedback along the way. To all, we extend our heartfelt gratitude.
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 2 INDIAN NATIONAL CONTEXT ...... 3
2.1 INDIA’S URBANIZATION AND ITS IMPACT ON SLUMS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ...... 3 2.2 IMPACT OF URBANIZATION: ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION ...... 5 2.3 POLICY RESPONSES ...... 6 2.4 POLICY RESPONSES ...... 8 2.4.1 Slum Clearance (1956) ...... 8 2.4.2 Slum Improvement (1971) ...... 9 2.4.3 Slum Upgrading Program (SUP) (1985) ...... 9 2.4.4 Slum Redevelopment Scheme (SRD) (1991) ...... 9 2.4.5 Slum Rehabilitation Scheme (SRS) (1995) ...... 9 3 GUJARAT & AHMEDABAD CONTEXT ...... 11
3.1 GUJARAT ...... 11 3.2 AHMEDABAD: PROFILE OF THE CITY ...... 13 3.3 INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS AHMEDABAD: SLUMS AND ...... 16 3.4 URBAN GOVERNANCE ...... 17 4 THALTEJ SITE ANALYSIS AND OVERVIEW ...... 21
4.1 PHYSICAL CONTEXT OF THALTEJ ...... 21 4.2 SOCIAL CONTEXT OF THALTEJ ...... 24 4.3 GOVERNANCE IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THALTEJ ...... 26 5 ISSUES ...... 29
5.1 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ...... 29 5.2 SOCIAL ISSUES ...... 29 5.3 ECONOMIC ISSUES ...... 29 6 CASE STUDIES ...... 31
6.1 GUARAPIRANGA PROGRAM: SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL ...... 31 6.2 BAAN MANKONG (SECURE HOUSING) PROGRAM, THAILAND ...... 33 6.3 KLONG TUEY, BANGKOK, THAILAND ...... 34 6.4 PARAISÓPOLIS, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL ...... 35 6.5 HANNA NASSIF COMMUNITY MANAGED SETTLEMENT UPGRADING PROJECT, DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA ...... 36 6.6 MUMBAI SLUM SANITATION PROGRAM, MUMBAI, INDIA ...... 37 6.7 PRIVATIZATION OF THE LAKES, BANGALORE, INDIA ...... 38 6.8 LAKE BARINGO COMMUNITY-BASED LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT PROJECT, LAKE BARINGO, KENYA ...... 39 6.9 EMPLOYMENT CREATION THROUGH PARTICIPATORY PLANNING, KITALE, KENYA ...... 39 6.10 MICROENTERPRISES, NAIROBI, KENYA ...... 40 6.11 URBAN AGRICULTURE, FORTALEZA, BRAZIL ...... 41 7 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ...... 42
7.1 ORGANIZATION OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION TOOLS ...... 42 7.2 PRELIMINARY CONSULTATION ...... 44 7.2.1 Level of Interest ...... 44 7.3 PROGRAM MANAGEMENT ...... 45
Contents
7.4 DECISION-MAKING PROCESS ...... 46 7.5 STEPS IN THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROGRAM ...... 46 7.6 REVIEW PROCESS ...... 49 8 SCENARIO ALTERNATIVES ...... 51
8.1 SCENARIO 1: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT ...... 51 8.2 SCENARIO 2: COMMUNITY INITIATIVES ...... 54 8.3 SCENARIO 3 COMMUNITY CENTERED REDEVELOPMENT ...... 59 Analysis ...... 70 8.4 SCENARIO 4: REDEVELOPMENT ...... 70 8.4.1 Building Blocks ...... 71 9 CONCLUDING THOUGHTS ...... 77
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 3.2.1: The pols on the east of the Sabarmati ...... 13 Figure 3.2.2: Informal Market ...... 14 Figure 3.2.3: Ahmedabad Transportation ...... 15 Figure 3.2.4. Lake Development Plan, Ahmedabad City Development Plan ...... 15 Figure 3.4.1: Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission ...... 18 Figure 3.4.2: TP Scheme 38 ...... 19 Figure 3.4.3: Metro Rail Feasibility Study ...... 20 Figure 4.1.1: Thaltej Village Location Map ...... 21 Figure 4.1.2. Building Typologies in order from top to bottom: Hutment, Village, Colony, Regional Corridor ...... 22 Figure 4.1.3Thaltej Lake ...... 23 Figure 4.2.1: Villagers in Thaltej ...... 24 Figure 4.2.2Waiting for Water at the Public Taps ...... 25 Figure 4.2.4: Public Housing ...... 25 Figure 4.2.3: Private Toilet ...... 25 Figure 4.3.1: Vastrapur Redevelopment Project ...... 27 Figure 5.3.1: Three Levels of Issues ...... 30 Figure 7.1.1: Public Participation Toolkit ...... 43 Figure 8.1.1: Scenario 1 Rendering ...... 51 Figure 8.1.2: Oxfam Bucket ...... 52 Figure 8.1.3. Waste collection with large blue waste bins ...... 52 Figure 8.1.4: Scenario 1 Funding ...... 53 Figure 8.2.1: Scenario 2 Funding ...... 58 Figure 8.3.1: Scenario 3 Rendering ...... 61 Figure 8.4.1: Scenario 4 Rendering ...... 71 Figure 8.4.3: Expenditures and Revenues Timeline 1 ...... 73 Figure 8.4.5: Expenditures and Revenues Timeline 3 ...... 74 Figure 8.4.3: Expenditures and Revenues Timeline 1 ...... 76 Figure 8.4.2: Scenario 4 Funding ...... 76
Contents
Figure 8.4.4: Expenditures and Revenues Timeline 2 ...... 76
LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1.1: India's Urbanization ...... 3 Map 3.1: Location of Gujarat ...... 11
In conclusion, no one alternative is recommended over one another since it is 1 Introduction feasible to implement all alternatives over a period of time The following report was completed by at Georgia Institute of Technology in Spring Project Overview 2012. This studio was a collaborative Ahmedabad is known as a city of lakes, both international exchange between Georgia natural and man-made, dispersed around Tech and Center for Environmental Planning the city for collecting rainwater, irrigation, and Technology (CEPT) in Ahmedabad India. and to recharge ground water levels. The Eleven students travelled to India in city has undergone a massive lake linking December 2011 to establish a problem project in order to allow excess water to statement, learn about the planning flow into other lakes until it reaches process and policy in India, and collect data Sabarmati or the Gota-Gadhave canal to be necessary to proceed through the Spring used for irrigation. 2012 semester. Thaltej is a lake on the far western edge of This project specifically addresses Thaltej Ahmedabad. Since the city has continued to Lake and the surrounding communities in expand outward, development pressure has Western Ahmedabad. As the city expands increased in the area and the lake has rapidly, increasing development pressure recently become an interest to the surrounds the former village and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) dilapidated lake, which currently is home to and the Ahmedabad Urban Development many slum dweller populations. It was Authority (AUDA) as a potential determined that an approach to enhancing redevelopment project. Currently, the lake the environs and quality of life in Thaltej is surrounded by a large slum population must address three primary issues: who has lived around the water body for environmental and public health 25-35 years. In addition, the lake and the restoration, economic concerns of the City, surrounding area are extremely polluted. and the needs of the current residents. While these three concerns may be Methodology + Disclosure competing, an ideal solution must reconcile While in Ahmedabad, data collection and provide for all three. included taking photographs of the site,
demarcating the locations of drainage The following project describes the points and other environmental indicators, background and context of slum and mapping the land uses as seen on the redevelopment in India, Gujarat, and ground. Interviews were conducted with Ahmedabad. Detailed accounts of the Thaltej Village residents, slum residents, economic, social, and environmental and local business owners by having an conditions at Thaltej are included. In Indian student from CEPT serve as a addition, case studies and best practices are translator. Interviews were of an informal described. Through site analysis, interview style and were used to gauge the research, and case study analysis, four stakeholder’s perceptions and perspectives alternatives are presented in the report regarding the site. In addition, interviews of ranging from environmental upgrade to a local officials such as the panchayat office full-scale redevelopment plan for the area. and the city’s engineer for conducted. Financing schemes are considered as well as a public participation plan for the rebuilding process, which applies to all four scenarios.
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Throughout the project, there were many barriers to obtaining accurate and quality data. First, the on-site data collection period was very brief due to time constraints. Second, upon leaving India, it was very difficult to obtain additional information from abroad. Lastly, data in India both on the local and national level is generally inaccessible, not well documented, and rarely available digitally on the Internet. Therefore, many assumptions had to be made in order to carry through with the project and come up with the alternatives presented. In addition, many alternatives presented in this report had to remain at somewhat of an abstract or conceptual level.
It is important to recognize that many of the ideas and research efforts involved in this report were derived from the case studies found both in India as well as around the world. Beyond the primary data collected in India, the group relied on previous cases to understand consequences, implications, and contexts to slum redevelopment and resettlement.
Problem Statement An approach to enhancing Thaltej Lake and the surrounding areas must comprehensively address three primary issues: the restoration of the physical environment including sanitation and public health measures, the desire of the City to increase the tax base and provide recreational amenities, and the needs of the current residents for basic social services and infrastructure, as well as their need to maintain a social framework that supports their livelihood. While these three concerns may be competing, an ideal solution must reconcile and provide for all three.
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percent of urban population growth. Rural- 2 Indian National urban migration is the second largest cause. In the 1960s, 18.7 percent of urban population growth was due to rural Context migration, and in the 1990s, that rate increased to 24.2 percent. In order to create an understanding of the current conditions of the slums and water Over the last few decades, the absorption bodies at Thaltej Village, it is necessary to of urban population growth has shifted contextualize the project in relation to the from the creation of entirely new urban larger, historic socioeconomic forces that areas to the expansion of existing have shaped India’s urban areas. The administrative boundaries. In the 1960s, following section explores the recent population growth in entirely new urban history of India’s urbanization and its areas was 13.2 percent versus 6.2 percent impacts on slum formation and in the 1990s. Conversely, in the 1960s, environmental degradation, as well as the population growth in expanding urban various policy responses to slums and the areas was only 2.9 percent versus 9.7 environment of the last half-century. percent in the 1990s. (Sivaramakrishnan, Kundu, and Singh, 2007).
2.1 India’s Urbanization and its Impact on Slums and the Table 2.1.1: India's Urbanization Environment Annual percent Growth # of As India’s Class I cities have become more Year Urban Rate of Towns/UAs industrialized during the last century, it has Population Urban grown increasingly urbanized. At the turn Population of the twentieth-century, only 10.8 percent 1901 1827 10.84percent of India’s population lived in urban areas. 1911 1815 10.29percent .03 In the early 2000’s, close to 28 percent of 1921 1949 11.18percent .79 1931 2072 11.99percent 1.75 the population, or 285 million people, lived 1941 2250 13.86percent 2.77 in urban areas (Sivaramakrishnan, Kundu, 1951 2843 17.29percent 3.47 and Singh, 2007). The growth in urban 1961 2365 17.97percent 2.34 population parallels the growth in the 1971 2590 19.91percent 3.21 number of urban areas. In 1901, there 1981 3378 23.34percent 3.83 were 1,827 towns/urban areas and in 2001 1991 3768 25.72percent 3.09 there were 4,368, as is illustrated in Table 2001 4368 27.78percent 2.73 2.1.1. Today, approximately 68.7 percent of the urban population lives in cities with Despite vast increases in India’s urban more than 100,000 people and 38 percent populations over the twenty-first century live in cities with more than one million and significant economic growth since the people. 1990s, India’s rate of urbanization has begun to slow in recent decades (See Table Urbanization has four primary causes: 2.1.1, Column 4). The annual growth rate of natural increases, rural –urban migration, urban areas peaked in the 1970s at 3.8 the creation of new urbanized areas, and percent, and has since declined to 3.1 the expansion and amalgamation of existing percent in the 1980s, and 2.73percent in urban areas. From the 1960’s through the the 1990s, which is much slower compared 1990’s, natural increases accounted for 60 to other developing countries.
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people in the early 2000s (Edelman and Planners, economists, and policy makers, Mitra, 2006). As of 2001, national statistics have theories on why—despite India’s of cities and towns with populations of consistently high economic growth—the more than 50,000, found that country’s urbanization has slowed and does approximately 15 percent of the urban not compare to other high growth dwellers in India live in slums, totaling economies. Economists cite the 1970s around 42.6 million people (Risbud, 2009). restructuring and dismantling of larger These collective figures do not highlight industries in cities as a partial explanation how extreme the housing and to slowed urbanization (Hashim, 2009). infrastructure problem can be. In Mumbai, Over the last few decades, India’s industrial for example, 48.8 percent of residents, or composition has bifurcated from large, over 11 million people, live in slums. In labor-intensive, urban factories into more Ahmedabad approximately 20 percent of capital intensive factories and informal, the population lives in 710 slum pockets household production (Hashim, 2009). (Makwana, 2006).
Although urbanization has slowed, it is still Despite efforts to document and track slum a highly influential for the future of India’s population growth, much of the data settlements. Despite the decreasing collection and classifications have differed percentage change in urban populations, over time. For example, the first estimate the real numbers of growth remains of slum populations across India was taken staggering. In the 1990s, nearly seven in 1971 and limited to a sample of Class I million more people every year are calling cities. The 1991 and 2001 Census collected urban areas in India home more detailed data on slum populations, (Sivaramakrishnan, Kundu, and Singh, but limited the estimates to cities and 2007). towns with populations greater than 50,000. Large, Class I cities like Ahmedabad, which have large manufacturing and services Counts also vary based on the notification bases, continue to grow at much higher status of a slum by municipalities, rates. In the 1990s, Class I cities had an corporations, local bodies, or development annual growth rate of 3.42 percent, which is authorities. Notified slums are eligible for significantly higher than lower class cities, improvements under government with rates ranging from .8 to 2.15 percent programs, whereas non-notified slums have annually (Sivaramakrishnan, Kundu, and to rely on non-government sources for Singh, 2007). access to basic services. Overall, the number of notified slums have been Impact of Urbanization: Lack increasing, from 36 percent in 1993 to 51 of Housing percent in 2002 (Risbud 2009, 180). Like all statistics, these numbers vary widely by The concentrated growth in existing large state and city. For instance, Gujarat has urban areas in India creates severe actually decreased its percentage of challenges for housing and the notified slums from 47.93 percent in 1993 environment. Informal housing settlements to 26.32 percent in 2002. are just one byproduct of India’s urbanization. Despite the level of urban Slums across India share similar poverty decreasing over the last two characteristics to one another such as the decades, India’s slum populations continue location within a city and size. to grow, swelling to nearly 170 million Approximately 90 percent of slums across
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India’s urbanized areas are located in 2002. This demonstrates the increased residential areas; however, this land is permanency of the slum settlements in typically lower quality “marginal lands along many cities. During the last two decades, the riverbanks, drains, low-lying areas, ill there have been various efforts throughout slopes, and railways tracks” (Risbud, 2009). India to increase the tenure for slum According to 2000 Indian Census around 64 dwellers, which provides residents to invest percent of slums are located on public land more in improving the conditions. and 36 percent are located on private land. Additionally, as more slums have developed Finally, the average slum size across India is on private land, there is less threat of small, with only about 159 households eviction by the public. While these changes (Risbud, 2009). are minor, they have improved the conditions for millions across the country in Within these slums, hygiene and sanitation the past decades. is a primary problem. Access to toilet facilities in slums actually declined from 54 percent in 1993 to 17 percent in 2002. 2.2 Impact of Urbanization: Despite an increase in the number of Environmental Degradation toilets, these toilets are often “badly located, extremely unhygienic and dirty, Air and water pollution have increased in and are not maintained; they fall into disuse India’s major cities and remain critical due to overuse” (Risbud, 2009). The lack of problems for environmental integrity and toilets leads to widespread open public health. Much of the pollution stems defecation. For example, in a study of primarily from increasing and unmanaged Delhi’s slums, 26 percent of adult males, 25 population growth, especially in the form of percent of females, and 63 percent of slums, and growth of industries using coal children openly defecated (Risbud, 2009). powered energy sources and producing solid wastes. Another source of air pollution Many of the hygiene problems relate is emissions from motor vehicles, which directly to the limited access to clean water. have also increased in number following Despite overall increased access to tap population growth. water, many slums experienced a decline in their access to water during the 1990s. It is According to the Indian government’s common in slums for the public stand post Central Pollution Control Board, 72 major to not work because of maintenance and/or Indian cities are not in compliance with the overuse. Moreover, the public stand often government standards for one or more of exceeds the standards established by public air pollutants that have consequences for authorities of 150 persons per stand. Water human health (Central Pollution Control access also varies by both the time of day Board, 2008). Those pollutants include and the season. Because of this poor and sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, suspended inconsistent access to water, slum dwellers particulate matter, and respirable commonly have to fetch water from suspended particulate matter. Respirable multiple water sources and store the water. particulate matter is the most occurring standard exceedance in cities. Most often While hygiene remains woefully pollution exceedances are due to motor inadequate, there have been some overall vehicle emissions, but also occur due to the improvements to slum conditions. In 1993, presence of industries in cities as well as only 30 percent of slums had pucca houses, natural dust. The number of motor vehicles structures made out of permanent material. has increased tremendously, from 1.9 This number increased to 48 percent in million in 1990 to 5.3 million in 2000.
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Generally, ambient air quality had become of India’s population lived in urban areas. polluted enough to contribute to a rise in In the early 2000’s, close to 28 percent of mortality rates in 2005 (Maiti and Agrawal, the population, or 285 million people, lived 2005). in urban areas (Sivaramakrishnan, Kundu, and Singh, 2007). The growth in urban Water quality has also worsened. population parallels the growth in the Monitoring led by the Indian government number of urban areas. In 1901, there has shown that organic and bacterial were 1,827 towns/urban areas and in 2001 contamination of water bodies is a critical there were 4,368, as is illustrated in Table problem. This condition is mostly caused by 2.1.1. Today, approximately 68.7 percent of untreated waste water entering the water the urban population lives in cities with body system due to discharge of domestic more than 100,000 people and 38 percent wastewater in urban centers and the live in cities with more than one million inability of the municipal government to people. meet the demand in volume of wastewater that needs treatment. The high demand for Urbanization has four primary causes: wastewater treatment and the under- natural increases, rural –urban migration, capacity of municipal government often the creation of new urbanized areas, and results in sewage left untreated and the expansion and amalgamation of existing released into water bodies. The problem is urban areas. From the 1960’s through the exacerbated by the low availability of water 1990’s, natural increases accounted for 60 in rivers (Central Pollution Control Board, percent of urban population growth. Rural- 2008). urban migration is the second largest cause. In the 1960s, 18.7 percent of urban Another pollution-related challenge in population growth was due to rural urban centers is solid waste management. migration, and in the 1990s, that rate Solid waste is often left in low-lying areas of increased to 24.2 percent. the city’s outskirts and poses public health concerns. Four major cities in India, Over the last few decades, the absorption including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and of urban population growth has shifted Chennai, were studied and show production from the creation of entirely new urban of ash, textiles, paper, leather, plastic, and areas to the expansion of existing compostable matter as the predominant administrative boundaries. In the 1960s, wastes generated. In 1996, the municipal population growth in entirely new urban solid waste volume was 5355 tons/day in areas was 13.2 percent versus 6.2 percent Mumbai, 4000 tons/day in Delhi, and 3124 in the 1990s. Conversely, in the 1960s, tons/day in Channai (data missing for population growth in expanding urban Kolkata). The waste will continue to be a areas was only 2.9 percent versus 9.7 problem in terms of health hazards if it goes percent in the 1990s. (Sivaramakrishnan, unmanaged and Indian cities continue to be Kundu, and Singh, 2007). preferred locations for packaging of consumer goods (Maiti and Agrawal, 2005). Despite vast increases in India’s urban populations over the twenty-first century 2.3 Policy Responses and significant economic growth since the 1990s, India’s rate of urbanization has As India’s Class I cities have become more begun to slow in recent decades. The industrialized during the last century, it has annual growth rate of urban areas peaked grown increasingly urbanized. At the turn in the 1970s at 3.8 percent, and has since of the twentieth-century, only 10.8 percent declined to 3.1 percent in the 1980s, and
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2.73 percent in the 1990s, which is much poverty decreasing over the last two slower compared to other developing decades, India’s slum populations continue countries. to grow, swelling to nearly 170 million people in the early 2000s (Edelman and Planners, economists, and policy makers, Mitra, 2006). As of 2001, national statistics have theories on why—despite India’s of cities and towns with populations of consistently high economic growth—the more than 50,000, found that country’s urbanization has slowed and does approximately 15 percent of the urban not compare to other high growth dwellers in India live in slums, totaling economies. Economists cite the 1970s around 42.6 million people (Risbud 2009, restructuring and dismantling of larger 179). These collective figures do not industries in cities as a partial explanation highlight how extreme the housing and to slowed urbanization (Hashim, 2009). infrastructure problem can be. In Mumbai, Over the last few decades, India’s industrial for example, 48.8 percent of residents, or composition has bifurcated from large, over 11 million people, live in slums. In labor-intensive, urban factories into more Ahmedabad approximately 20 percent of capital intensive factories and informal, the population lives in 710 slum pockets household production (Hashim, 2009). (Makwana, 2006).
Although urbanization has slowed, it is still Despite efforts to document and track slum a highly influential for the future of India’s population growth, much of the data settlements. Despite the decreasing collection and classifications have differed percentage change in urban populations, over time. For example, the first estimate the real numbers of growth remains of slum populations across India was taken staggering. In the 1990s, nearly seven in 1971 and limited to a sample of Class I million more people every year are calling cities. The 1991 and 2001 Census collected urban areas in India home more detailed data on slum populations, (Sivaramakrishnan, Kundu, and Singh, but limited the estimates to cities and 2007). towns with populations greater than 50,000. Large, Class I cities like Ahmedabad, which have large manufacturing and services Counts also vary based on the notification bases, continue to grow at much higher status of a slum by municipalities, rates. In the 1990s, Class I cities had an corporations, local bodies, or development annual growth rate of 3.42 percent, which is authorities. Notified slums are eligible for significantly higher than lower class cities, improvements under government with rates ranging from .8 to 2.15 percent programs, whereas non-notified slums have annually (Sivaramakrishnan, Kundu, and to rely on non-government sources for Singh, 2007). access to basic services. Overall, the number of notified slums have been increasing, from 36 percent in 1993 to 51 Impact of Urbanization: Lack percent in 2002 (Risbud, 2009). Like all of Housing statistics, these numbers vary widely by The concentrated growth in existing large state and city. For instance, Gujarat has urban areas in India creates severe actually decreased its percentage of challenges for housing and the notified slums from 47.93percent in 1993 to environment. Informal housing settlements 26.3 percent in 2002. are just one byproduct of India’s urbanization. Despite the level of urban
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Slums across India share similar improvements to slum conditions. In 1993, characteristics to one another such as the only 30 percent of slums had pucca houses, location within a city and size. structures made out of permanent material. Approximately 90 percent of slums across This number increased to 48 percent in India’s urbanized areas are located in 2002. This demonstrates the increased residential areas; however, this land is permanency of the slum settlements in typically lower quality “marginal lands along many cities. During the last two decades, the riverbanks, drains, low-lying areas, ill there have been various efforts throughout slopes, and railways tracks” (Risbud, 2009). India to increase the tenure for slum According to the 2000 Indian Census around dwellers, which provides residents to invest 64 percent of slums are located on public more in improving the conditions. land and 36 percent are located on private Additionally, as more slums have developed land. Finally, the average slum size across on private land, there is less threat of India is small, with only about 159 eviction by the public. While these changes households (Risbud, 2009). are minor, they have improved the conditions for millions across the country in Within these slums, hygiene and sanitation the past decades. is a primary problem. Access to toilet facilities in slums actually declined from 54 percent in 1993 to 17 percent in 2002. 2.4 Policy Responses Despite an increase in the number of Since the 1950s, policy makers in India have toilets, these toilets are often “badly been addressing the issue of urban located, extremely unhygienic and dirty, migration and the proliferation of informal and are not maintained; they fall into disuse settlements in cities. Although there have due to overuse” (Risbud, 2009). The lack of been numerous policies, schemes, and toilets leads to widespread open programs at all levels of the government, defecation. For example, in a study of the slum policy history for India can be Delhi’s slums, 26 percent of adult males, 25 captured by the five major program eras in percent of females, and 63 percent of Mumbai (Mukhija, 2003). Although the children openly defecated (Risbud, 2009). following five strategies are specific to Mumbai, they are characteristic of the Many of the hygiene problems relate general policy approaches to slums in directly to the limited access to clean water. India’s cities. Despite overall increased access to tap water, many slums experienced a decline in 2.4.1 Slum Clearance (1956) their access to water during the 1990s. It is Early slum legislation sought to address common in slums for the public stand post slums through clearance. Overall, the to not work because of maintenance and/or strategy of slum clearance was based on the overuse. Moreover, the public stand often idea that slum dwellers should be removed exceeds the standards established by public and resettled into public housing. Although authorities of 150 persons per stand. Water this legislation was enacted at the national access also varies by both the time of day level, it was executed at the state level with and the season. Because of this poor and great variation among the states. At the inconsistent access to water, slum dwellers state and city level, slums were categorized commonly have to fetch water from into ‘clearance areas,’ ‘redevelopment multiple water sources and store the water. areas’, and ‘improvement’ areas. Typically,
if slum clearance was implemented, due to While hygiene remains woefully inadequate, there have been some overall
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the financial viability, it was for select, well- upgrading was if slum dwellers had the located slums. security of land tenure, they would invest and improvement into their homes, and 2.4.2 Slum Improvement (1971) over time, the conditions of the slums Based on the shortcomings of slum would improve. clearance policies, policies shifted to favor 2.4.4 Slum Redevelopment slum improvement in the early 1970s. Scheme (SRD) (1991) These policies took a holistic view of incrementally improving the conditions of The Slum Redevelopment Scheme was the slums. “Slum improvement was implemented during the same year as emphasized by firmly linking improvement India’s economic liberalization. In this era programs with security of tenure, social of privatization, it is no surprise that slum development programs, and house policies were based on unleashing market improvement loans” (Risbud, 2009). For forces to address slums’ problems. SRD example, the national Minimum Needs allowed private developers to redevelop Programme (1972) provided slums with slum sites, most of which were located on community taps, community toilets, storm government owned land, with new units for water drains, paving of lanes, and slum residents. By allowing greater density streetlights. Because of the “bottom-up” at the site, slum units would be subsidized methods of slum improvement schemes, with market rate units. To prevent rampant the approaches vary widely; however, speculation, in addition to requirements for Risbud (2009) categorizes five channels slum units, the scheme capped investors used for slum improvements: profit at 25 percent of the investment. Despite the progressive intentions of this > Central government policies for slum policy, the paperwork and the investment improvement and poverty alleviation cap prevented the scheme from gaining > Slum improvement in selected cities traction in Mumbai. through international and bilateral aid > Slum improvement and tenure The primary mechanisms of the scheme, regularization through state legislation granting greater density to subsidize slum and state government programs housing with market rate housing, are typical ways of market solutions to slum > Slum improvement and redevelopment problems. projects with private sector
participation > City-specific initiatives 2.4.5 Slum Rehabilitation Scheme (SRS) (1995) 2.4.3 Slum Upgrading Program With steep property value escalation during (SUP) (1985) the early 1990s and the failures of the SRD, the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme (SRS) was Whereas slum improvement schemes introduced to promote private solutions to focused more on the improvement of slum rehabilitation. The SRS was based on environmental conditions, slum upgrading ratios between the total area of new programs, which emerged in the 1980s with housing for slum dwellers (the the support of the World Bank, emphasized rehabilitation area) and the area of new transforming slum dwellers into legal land market rate housing, which allowed for owners. Because most slums are illegal and predictability across Mumbai’s slums. Like informal, slum residents constantly risk the SRD, SRS allowed for greater density displacement. The logic behind slum
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with a FAR cap of 2.5. Unlike SRD, developer profits were not capped. Unlike previous schemes, the combination of these different mechanisms provided a large subsidy to developers. Under this new program, a great number of slums across Mumbai were “rehabilitated”
Because of its successes in developing new slum housing, the Slum rehabilitation Scheme has served as a model for slum later redevelopment schemes in both Mumbai and other cities across India.
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industrialized at a faster rate. Particularly 3 Gujarat & since the introduction of economic reforms in India in the early 1990’s, Gujarat has been an economic growth center for the Ahmedabad country of India. Population growth is one indicator of Gujarat’s rapid development, Context which remains higher than the national average growth rate of 17.5 percent per 3.1 Gujarat decade (Census, 2011). From 1991 to 2001, the population of Gujarat grew at a rate of Intro 22.6 percent and from 2001 to 2011 the The state of Gujarat is located in western population grew at a rate of 19 percent. In India, bordered by Rajasthan to the north, addition, while India’s population still Maharashtra to the south and Madhya largely resides in rural areas (estimated 73 Pradesh to the east. With a total area of percent), Gujarat has experienced extensive 75,686 sq. mi., the state sits on the Arabian urbanization. In 2011, it was estimated that Sea and borders Pakistan on the western 42 percent of the population of the state edge. Gujarat is the tenth largest state in lives in urban areas, making it the 3rd most India, with 60,383,628 people according to urbanized state. According to the City the 2011 Census. The state covers six Managers’ Association Gujarat, if the state percent of the total land coverage of India continues to urbanize at this rate, and houses five percent of the population 47percent of the population will be living in (Census, 2011). urban areas by 2021 or 35 Million people.
Gujarat is the fifth richest state in India (Arya and Mehta, 2011). Much of Gujarat’s economic success can be attributed to its diversified economy, the commercialization and therefore high productivity in agriculture, and a strong manufacturing and industrial sector. Gujarat is known for its pro-business attitude in its promotion of private enterprises and entrepreneurial culture. In addition, the state calls for a high level of public participation in the development process relative to other states (Arya, Anita, Nati).
Slum Development and Poverty Populations
While Gujarat is one of the fastest growing Map 3.1: Location of Gujarat states, economic growth has not trickled down to lower income populations and therefore has not allowed for a reduction in Urbanization poverty throughout the state. In 2011, 31.8 Historically, Gujarat has always percent of the population was considered outperformed other Indian states as living below the poverty line (Rajiv Shah, economically and has developed and 2011). Looking at hunger levels across
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Indian states, Abusaleh Shariff numbers, was able to construct 16,700 new (Subrhmaniam, 2011) found that while units, of which about ten percent are Gujarat boasts higher per capita income vacant. Following the recommendations of and income stability than other states, a committee under the Private Sector hunger levels were higher in Gujarat and Restructuring Program, which was carried Gujarat scored lower on the Human out with the purpose of reducing the state Development Index than other less wealthy government’s participation in the states. He attributes this finding to the commercial sector and increasing private drastic rich-poor disparities found across sector participation, the GSCB was shut the state (Kashap and Mehta, 2011). down and all its assets and liabilities were transferred to the Gujarat Housing Board. According to the 2001 Indian Census, nearly 12 percent of the urban population Another program implemented by the state lives in slums or 18.67 lahks (1,867,000). government in the 1970s was the Urban Much of the squatter and slum populations Community Development Program (UCD), in Gujarat consist of disadvantaged rural which provided for a separate UCD cell in populations that migrate to urban areas in the AMC responsible for health, education search of work. For employment, they often and other community development provide services and cheap labor to the city initiatives for the urban poor. In addition, while living on the periphery of urban areas. the state government amended the These informal settlements often lack Bombay Municipal Corporation Act 1949 access to basic amenities and services such (under which AMC is constituted) to make it as access to safe drinking water, access to mandatory for the AMC to spend at least flush toilets, garbage removal services, ten percent of its own revenue for electricity and basic infrastructure. Since improving basic services in slums and Gujarat is prone to flooding, lack of chawls. infrastructure such as drainage and flood control mechanisms in settlements further Environmental Concerns affect drinking water supplies, facilitate the Economic growth and development has put spread of diseases such as diarrhea and a large strain on environmental resources malaria. and the quality of the environment in the
state. While pollution is always a Gujarat Response to Slums consequence of industrialization, the At the state level, the government has industry sectors in Gujarat are particularly taken steps towards improving the lives of harsh on environmental systems and often slum dwellers. An instance is the Gujarat are located in close concentration to one Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and another. Industries throughout the state Redevelopment) Act, 1973, which was include textiles, chemicals, petrochemicals, subsequently amended in 1988. Among drugs and pharmaceuticals, and cement and other provisions, the Act allows the ceramics. Since environmental regulation is government to improve the physical controlled by state pollution control boards, infrastructure in slums and to recover costs in this case the Gujarat Pollution Control from slum dwellers. For implementation Board, states have trouble enforcing purposes, the Gujarat Slum Clearance Board regulation due to competition to be pro- (GSCB) was set up to take up housing business. With an absence of regulation of projects for low-income groups. The GSCB these industries as well as inadequate was not able to successfully carry out in site waste disposal infrastructure, air pollution, upgrading, and, according to official water pollution, land pollution, coastal
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ecology concerns, and extensive deforestation are prevalent in the state (Kashap and Mehta).
3.2 Ahmedabad: Profile of the City
Location Ahmedabad is the largest city in Gujarat and the seventh largest in India. Located on both banks of the Sabarmati River in North- central Gujarat, the city encompasses 466 Map 3.2: Ahmedabad City Map Sq. Km and is approximately 32 Kilometers from Gujarat’s state capital, Gandhinagar. Demographics Ahmedabad is split into two distinct According to the 2011 Census, Ahmedabad sections. On the east bank of the Sabarmati City had approximately 5.5 million people, lays the old city and the west side is the compared to the 3.5 million estimated in new city, which began to develop in the late 2001. The population consists of 2.9 million 1800’s during the British colonial rule. The males and 2.6 million females. The Census urban form of the old city consists of a indicated that the population density is now densely packed pol system, which consists 9,707 people per sq. km., as opposed to the of small walled neighborhoods each with 18,445 people per sq. km. in 2001. their own distinct community. However, this variation is attributed to the expansion of the perimeter of the city from 190.84 Sq. Km. in 2001 to 466 sq. km. by 2011. Population growth for the decade was 26.61percent, which was faster than the 22.36percent growth rate from 1991 to 2001. Overall, the Ahmedabad Urban Agglomeration population constituted 11.94 percent of the total Gujarat population.
Economy The city of Ahmedabad is the economic engine of Gujarat that has experienced high growth rates and increasing productivity since the early 1990’s. Historically, the textile industry was the primary driver of economic growth for the Ahmedabad City. With the decline of the textile industry in the 1970’s and 1980’s, Ahmedabad’s economy was restructured and saw a large growth in the informal sector to approximately 75 percent. The informal Figure 3.2.1: The pols on the east of the Sabarmati sector is defined by employment categories such as daily wage laborers, construction
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workers, rag pickers, street vendors, result in flooding of the areas rivers as well domestic workers, readymade garments as droughts when the monsoon does not workers, and factory workers in the reach far west. With a high dependence on outskirts of the city (Shriya Anand). The ground water and lack of perennial water formal economy has seen a large sectorial sources, Ahmedabad City has developed shift with the growth of new industries, and maintained extensive water supply particularly the chemical and petrochemical infrastructure such as water retention industries. Of the 4,859 factories in ponds, reservoirs, dams, and intake wells. Ahmedabad City, 29 percent are Chemical While some water bodies are natural, the and Petrochemical plants, followed by 25 AMC and the AUDA have worked to percent Engineering Products and 21 improve many of the water bodies by percent Metallurgy (Hirway & Shah, 2011). constructing percolating bore wells in the In addition, business and commerce, lakes in order to raise the underground transportation and communication, water table, restore rainwater and recharge construction activities and other services underground aquifers (H.A. Solanki; P.U. have grown tremendously in the last Verma, D.K. Chadawat, 2011) Nevertheless, decade. the depletion of the water table at an annual rate of two to three meters. (Ahmedabad City Development Plan, 2003) continues to pose challenges for the availability of water as well as the quality. In addition, the lack of a comprehensive sewerage system has resulted in untreated industrial effluents and sewerage flowing into the River Sabarmati and contaminating ground water.
Air quality is also an increasing concern in Ahmedabad, as the number of two- wheelers and auto- rickshaws has escalated. It is estimated that vehicular pollution accounts for 60-70percent of the city’s total pollution load (Ahmedabad City Development Plan, 2003). Air pollution in terms of parts per million, carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide have exceeded ambient levels in many street junctions throughout the city and suspended Figure 3.2.2: Informal Market particulate matter (SPM) and respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) levels Environment have been consistently high in industrial and residential areas (Gujarat Pollution Ahmedabad has a hot semi-arid climate Control Board) due to high volumes of dust that cycles through three seasons; a hot suspension from un-surfaced road margins and dry summer, and a rainy and humid and vehicles that are non-compliant with monsoon season that typically lasts from exhaust standards. This is of particular June to September and winter. Historically, concern to the rise in automobile there has been vast variation in annual ownership across the state. rainfall resulting in torrential rains that
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Over the many years, Ahmedabad has dealt with problems related to monsoons such as flooding and water logging. Furthermore, the water bodies, which are most affected by monsoons, have not been maintained and, in part, due to silt, have insufficient capacity to manage downpours. Additionally, these water bodies have often dried up in summer, becoming dumping grounds, which has impaired the network when trash has blocked drainage pipes. Figure 3.2.3: Ahmedabad Transportation Lastly, the storage limitations have also constrained the capacity of these water bodies to recharge the aquifers, which is a Water Resources major part of the larger water resources plan for the city.
To reconcile these issues, since 2006, as prescribed in the City Development Plan, Ahmedabad has worked on a stormwater and water resources management plan to connect and develop the various water bodies in the west side of the city. Such a scheme utilizes water from the recently completed Narmada Canal to keep water in these tanks year-round. During rain events, when tanks overflow, the connected system ushers water down a gradient from the higher elevation tanks to the lower elevation tanks and eventually into the Sabarmati River. This plan helps to prevent flooding, while also maximizing the potential recharge throughout the city rather than limiting it to the specific catchment area. The potential recharge
Figure 3.2.4. Lake Development Plan, Ahmedabad rate and capacity is increased through the City Development Plan inclusion of bore wells in the water bodies and the augmentation of the storage volume of the water bodies through Ahmedabad has many water bodies, both dredging. As a part of the development natural and man-made, dispersed around scheme in the associated plan, the plan calls the city for collecting rainwater, irrigation, for slum resettlement to provided housing, and to recharge ground water levels. The greening of the waterways, and protection city has undergone a massive lake linking of the littoral areas (banks of the tanks). project in order to allow excess water to flow into other lakes until it reaches Institutional Amenities Sabarmati or the Gota-Gadhave canal to be used for irrigation. Ahmedabad is known for its well-developed educational networks and facilities,
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covering a range of schools for primary, 2003). Despite overall economic prosperity secondary, and higher secondary education in Ahmedabad, slum populations are as well as many private and public colleges. extensive in the city. AMC (2006) estimated In higher education, Ahmedabad is the there are approximately 1,000 slums in leader in business education, with 22 which over 40percent of the population live schools of Business Management. It is also in. The average household size is 4.6 people strong in social sciences, teaching schools, and the average household has lived within computer sciences, and law. Furthermore, their respective slum territory for almost 19 Ahmedabad is known for its innovative and years (Stanwix, 2009). Furthermore, it is counter-culture institutions, such as CEPT estimated that approximately 60 percent of University. slum dwellers actually own their homes and about 40 percent pay rent which averages Healthcare in Ahmedabad is provided at 495 Indian rupees per month. In 2009, through a variety of institutions including Stanwix found the average per capita public and private hospitals and medical monthly income of Ahmedabad slum colleges. There is a strong network of public dwellers to be 702 Rupees (USD $13), which medical services including hospitals, is above the national poverty line of 650 dispensaries, and maternity homes Rupees per month (USD $12) (Stanwix, (Ahmedabad City Development Plan). AMC 2009). has a network of 60 medical institutions that provide free medical services for the Ahmedabad’s Response to urban poor. However there is not a strong Slums presence of these facilities nearby slum populations. Lastly, there are approximately The approach of the AMC until the 1990s 100 parks in the city of Ahmedabad, with was one of tolerance towards informal most of the open spaces existing in the settlements on public and private lands. It form of gardens and playgrounds. Open allowed activities such as hawking on public spaces have been declining in recent years lands and did not enforce anti-poor however, particularly as green belts and legislations. During the mid-1990s, the AMC open green space have been converted to spent nearly one-third of its capital budget other urban uses. in improving the basic services and infrastructure in the slums of East 3.3 Informal Settlements Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad: Slums and Slum Populations As Ahmedabad increasingly aims to attract transnational capital and gain international In Ahmedabad, slum populations are recognition for its progressive policies, the designated into two predominant types: city’s stance towards slum settlements is chawls and slums. Chawls are typically once again shifting away from one of multi-storied concrete tenements that were tolerance. New urban development first constructed for industrial workers. proposals, such as the Sabarmati Riverfront Slum areas typically refer to marginal areas Development Project, affect a large section of the city that are illegally occupied by of slum dwellers who are living on the migrants and other economically weaker riverbank (an estimated 8,000 – 10,000 sections, typically lacking adequate households), as evictions in the riverfront infrastructure, facilities, and basic area are likely to increase (Shriya Anand). amenities. In addition, slum developments are often found in low lying lands and The Slum Networking Program (SNP) was vacant private or government land (Bhatt, initiated by the AMC in 1995 to provide a
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package of physical improvements and public transport, and development of parks community development initiatives to and gardens. More recently, AMC has slums in the city. Physical improvements adopted programs for economic and social include individual toilets and sewerage planning as well as poverty alleviation. Also, connections, storm water disposal, paved the city has been proactive in strategies to roads, street lighting and solid waste improve traffic conditions, air quality, and management. Community development general quality of life and image of the city initiatives include the formation of (Das & Takahashi, 2009). community based organizations, increasing access to primary health care and Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority education, and support for income- (AUDA) is another city governmental entity generating activities. responsible for the creation and implementation of city plans through The SNP was implemented as a partnership planning and construction of infrastructure. between the city government, the Generally, their authority includes the beneficiaries, NGOs and SEWA Bank, a preparation of Town Planning Schemes community-based financial institution. (TPS), conduct surveys for the city SEWA Bank provided slum dwellers with a Development Plan and TPS plans, guide and savings bank that, in contrast to most assist local government agencies in matters micro-financial institutions in India, was pertaining to development and land use, geared towards lending. and control development in accordance with the Development Plan (Mohapatra, The program is based on the premise that (2011). Their activity in the planning process services should only be provided where as the primary authority for land use there is an expressed demand for them. planning and development is described in Beneficiary slums are thus required to the following section. demonstrate their willingness to participate in the program by contributing a proportion of the costs. The program has achieved City Planning Process some success in improving the living conditions of the city’s slum dwellers. The The state of Gujarat passed the Gujarat SNP has helped secure slum residents’ Urban Development and Town Planning Act tenure by ensuring that they are not evicted of 1976 (GUDTP), which gives the authority for ten years after completion of the to AMC and AUDA to carry out their city program. planning and development duties (Mohapatra, 2011). The city maintains a Development Plan, which is required by 3.4 Urban Governance state law and is updated every ten years. The City of Ahmedabad is governed by the The Development Plan is executed by AMC , created by state law in 1949. It is smaller area plans, or Town Planning headed by a mayor and the municipal Schemes that vary in size of about 100-250 commissioner. Traditionally, the acres. The city prides itself on its unique government has been responsible for development process referred to as “land providing and maintaining the city’s pooling and readjustment.” This strategy infrastructure, including water supply, allows AUDA to give boundaries to tracts of sewerage and stormwater drainage, land about 100 – 250 acres, referred to as a construction and maintenance of roads, Town Planning Scheme (TPS) and design its street-lighting, disease prevention and new land use and infrastructure. This land is monitoring, solid and liquid waste disposal, at the periphery of the city where
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landowners agree to have their land given such infrastructure and land use City Development Plan designation. Those landowners pay betterment charges to help fund the On a macro-level, AMC is authorized to construction; however they greatly benefit create a slum redevelopment plan under from appreciation in the value of their land the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban once the infrastructure is in place. Typically, Development Act of 1976. General uses of about 20-30 percent of the land is taken for the plan include developing new growth roads and other amenities, and AUDA aims areas, zoning and rezoning, creating to take an equal amount of land from each development controls and density landowner. The new design is proposed to regulations, developing city level road the landowners for approval, then sent to networks, and developing city level the state of Gujarat for approval. Once infrastructure. approved by the state, the plan is again reviewed by the landowners for comment. The most recent City Development Plan is a Once AUDA receives their approval, AUDA comprehensive plan for the city of can begin construction (Ballaney, 2008). Ahmedabad created in 2003. This document presents a perspective of and vision for
Figure 3.4.1: Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission
Existing Plans future development of the city. AMC and AUDA have the vision for a compact, The following is a brief summary of existing integrated city with coherent urban form. In and proposed plans for the Ahmedabad addition, they envision well-designed public area. This includes the City Development and green open space which conserve Plan, the Metro Rail Plan, and TP Scheme 38 nature and preserves heritage. which is the town planning scheme that includes the village and lake of Thaltej. The process of preparing the City Development Plan began in 1999. A series
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of consultations was conducted by AMC, AUDA, and the Government of Gujarat with various stakeholders that resulted in the City Development Strategy report in 2003, setting the stage for the plan. The planning process then followed the process outlined in the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission and in Figure 3.4.2. The twelve chapter document profiles the city and addresses Environmental Services, Roads and Transportation, Urban Poor and Housing, Social Amenities, Cultural Heritage, Urban Environment, Municipal Finances and Financial Operating Plan, Urban Governance and then the overall vision for the city.
TP Scheme 38
Town planning schemes are micro-level governing bodies to better assess Figure 3.4.2: TP Scheme 38 conditions and needs at the local level. Ahmedabad is divided into these TP Metro Rail System Plan schemes, which consist of approximately In 2004, the Gujarat Infrastructure 100 hectares. Some typical functions of Development Board (GIDB) engaged the these bodies include developing Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in order to neighborhood level road networks, prepare a detailed project report for a reconstituting land, building neighborhood Metro Rail System in Ahmedabad. The level social and physical infrastructure, MEGA Corporation was founded in 2010 in providing financing of neighborhood level order to implement a metro rail project infrastructure. connecting Ahmedabad, the Ahmedabad Airport, and Ghandinagar. The current Thaltej falls into TP scheme number 38. proposal consists of an elevated heavy rail Currently, no written document exists for system within the Ashram Rd right of way the overall development of the scheme, and an estimated 13 stations along the however a map of the land uses and route. The goal is to have the entire project development plan was created in 1979 and completed by 2015. modified as recently as 2003.
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Figure 3.4.3: Metro Rail Feasibility Study1
Thaltej Stop
Thaltej is located at the most western point of what will be known as Line 2 which cuts horizontally through the city (across the Sabarmati River) for 9.845 KM. It is estimated to carry .258 million passengers per day through phase 1 and by 2035, it will have .638 million passengers per day. If this metro rail plan is fully implemented, it is a critical component to consider when developing alternatives and development scenarios for Thaltej Lake and the surrounding village.
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Arham Bunglow Road to the west, the edge 4 Thaltej Site of current settlement development to the north, and Sardar Patel Marg and Thaltej Road to the east. Analysis and The adjacent neighborhoods are divided Overview into four zones reflecting their direction in relation to the project site. Thaltej Village is The site resides around Thaltej Lake, which to the south; Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) is one of many lakes linked between the housing is to the west, fallow/vacant Narmada Canal and the Sabarmati River. As farmland and Socially & Economically a part of the larger process, AUDA is seeking Weaker Section Housing (SEWSH) to the to redevelop the areas around several of north, and bungalows, offices and the SG these lakes to promote higher levels of Mall and the Acropolis Mall to the east. development. These lakes present many environmental, social, and economic The combined boundaries of the project challenges ranging from poor water quality site and the west zone form a soft barrier or to illicit slums. This section discusses the fictitious line that marks a significant shift in current state of the site. neighborhood character. The project area, which represents the site and the four 4.1 Physical Context of Thaltej zones, has several different neighborhood typologies within it, including: hutment,
village, colony (suburban complex), and Thaltej Village is a recently annexed census regional corridor. town in the New West Zone of the City of Ahmedabad. The project site is directly Building Typologies north of the village. It comprises three water bodies and an assortment of > Hutment: The hutment typology supposedly formal and informal settlements supports a wide range of development in an area roughly 22 acres. The project patterns from decidedly organic to boundaries include Shilej Road to the south, highly structured, but which form in clusters. One can most easily recognize
Figure 4.1.1: Thaltej Village Location Map
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and identify this typology through its Other characteristic features of this distinct building type, materials, and typology are the extensive tree density. The building type is most often coverage and the walled nature of the a variant of a shack, which utilizes buildings with long setbacks, creating a temporary and semi-permanent compound-like environment. materials such as wood, corrugated metal, and brick. These buildings > Regional Corridor: The regional corridor > ordinarily have small footprints of less typology does not support any specific than 500 square feet. Thus, even under form of development. Rather, it circumstances in which they are classifies the developments directly detached structures, their clustering adjacent to a thoroughfare. Unlike the results in high densities. other three typologies, in this typology, the streets consistently pre-date the > Village: The village typology supports a plan and construction of the buildings. narrower range of development The building type varies by land use, patterns from standard organic to including standalone high-value real visibly restructured organic. The estate such as malls, offices, apartment second form refers to organic complexes, and medium density development that has encountered industries, all of which are likely to use demolition of buildings to build vital cement as a prime building material. infrastructure to provide government The right of way is the most visible services like roads and sewers. The feature of this typology as it is much building type varies by the date in wider relative to other rights of way in which the village developed, but usually the district. It may have wide sidewalks is a multi-storied, attached structure, with increased tree coverage, though which utilize the most common building not to the same extent as in the colony material in use during the period in typology, as well as common parking which they were constructed. This is lots. often wood or cement. While these structures are often multi-storied, the ground floor is often used as a workplace, which, along with somewhat larger footprints, limits the density compared with hutment typology.
> Colony: The colony typology supports a suburban or exurban development Figure 4.1.2. Building Typologies in order from top to bottom: Hutment, Village, Colony, Regional Corridor pattern with detached, planned real estate, curvilinear streets, and, occasionally, cul-de-sacs. In India, houses in this framework may be a part of a cooperative, similar to a Environmental Conditions condominium development in the United States, in which one purchases a Detailed topographic information was not share of a micro-neighborhood for the available. With the available online data ownership or extended lease of a given and the information gathered from on-site property. The building type is typically visits, we can surmise that the project area a bungalow made of cement and clay. is relatively flat with only gradual changes in
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Figure 4.1.2: Thaltej Village Site elevation. The water bodies account for the harm to the water quality, giving the tanks greatest variability, where the surrounding no opportunity to restore themselves under land slopes more steeply down into the the conditions. The degradation of the these ponds. The water bodies are tanks and the depleted oxygen levels are somewhat shallow; the smallest of the evident from the stench that wafts from ponds is no greater than four feet deep. them. As a result of such a state of affairs, these tanks do not have a utilitarian The water bodies, or tanks, are purpose for residents beyond waste contaminated cesspools at this time. They collection. The water is unsuitable for are stagnant; they lack buffers between consumption by humans and large animals, settlements and their shores; residents use it also places stress on plants that need them as part of an open sewer system; and, moderate to high amounts of oxygen. they have much trash in them. Residents have connected open drains for wastewater Water hyacinth is one of the plants that to flow into these bodies, which does more thrives in the given conditions; however,
Figure 4.1.3Thaltej Lake Thaltej Village: An Incremental Approach to Urban Encroachment | p.23
this plant provides ideal breeding grounds these four-story buildings are located just for mosquitoes, which carry various north of Thaltej Lake, which could diseases, that can seriously affect local significantly increase the population in the populations. As a result, the government study area as new low income residents employs workers to remove this plant from once the lottery is complete. This will put the water. While it provides natural much more pressure on the immediate area filtration for the water, the risks associated for public infrastructure and facilities, such with vector transmission are too great to as schools and clinics. This is important to ignore. acknowledge as current residents in Thaltej Lake feel that they need improved access to 4.2 Social Context of Thaltej such facilities.
Housing Although many of Thaltej residents would An important consideration for the study quality, in terms of income, for public area is the occupation of the public housing housing, most residents interviewed did not just north of Thaltej Lake. This housing was want to move into this housing because it built by the AMC for the Socially and does not fit the needs of the current Economically Weaker Section (SEWS), or lifestyle, especially in cases where families
Figure 4.2.1: Villagers in Thaltej those people making less than 3,300 own livestock. Not having ground floor Rupees per month. According to a study, access is also a significant contributor to the year 2007 saw a shortage of 24.7 million their resistance to participating in the housing units, including 21.8 million units lottery (Joshi and Sanga, 2009) needed for SEWS. Field Survey AMC has been constructing public housing Hutment residents have lived in the units all over the city that, once all units are community for up to 30 years and have constructed, will be distributed to SEWS settled in areas just northwest and through a lottery. Approximately eight of
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immediately west of Thaltej lakes and program, however, many are unused surrounding the minor lakes in the site area. because they are not hooked up to the Many family members live together in one sewer system. Also, some residents share hutment, often multi-generational. one toilet between several families. A Residents living in the hutments often work building housing public toilets provides in the private, upper class residents living toilets and some showers during specified nearby or in the market and commercial hours of the day. area along Thaltej road. Many have livestock living on their property, including cattle that they keep for their milk. Their children go to public and private schools nearby. Residents were interviewed by CEPT students on questions regarding how long they have lived on the site, what their needs are, and how they feel about relocation. Residents were interviewed in the afternoon on weekdays. Responses were recorded by the American students as translated by the Indian students. Figure 4.2.4: Private Toilet Approximately twenty residents in the immediate area around Thaltej were surveyed. Conversations were often lengthy Public Water Taps and summarized by the CEPT-student Residents’ second priority is access to public translators. Validity of the surveys cannot water taps. Currently, about five families be confirmed by the American students. share a water tap that has running water for two hours of the day. A concern for Ranking of Priorities some families is being able to collect and store enough water during the two hours to Surveying the Thaltej residents led to a ranking of their priorities.
Private Toilets Their first priority is to obtain private toilets that are linked to the city’s sewer system. Some residents have their own private toilets from a previous government-led
Figure 4.2.2Waiting for Water at the Public Taps have access to water throughout the day. Some public water taps were found inoperable as part of a former government program that preceded the current water taps. It is unclear whether residents run out of potable water on any given day.
Figure 4.2.3: Public Housing
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Public Schools and Health Clinics The third and fourth priorities for Thaltej residents are access to public schools and 4.3 Governance in the health clinics, respectively. A nearby school Redevelopment of Thaltej has full enrollment and Thaltej residents must send their children to a farther, private school. The distance and costs for AUDA the school are not ideal. Similarly, a health The AUDA is responsible for designing and clinic exists in the area, but is too far for building new land plots, uses, and many residents to be easily accessible by infrastructure. Thaltej is located at the their usual forms of transportation. periphery of the city, and AUDA is responsible for planning and implementing Recreational Use of Lake changes in city-led development and Both residents in the slum settlements and infrastructure for the Thaltej site. the residents living in private homes to the north of Thaltej lake have expressed the idea of repurposing the lake area as a recreational space for them and their families to visit.
Remain in their Homes Several of the hutment residents stated that they prefer to stay in their location and homes when asked if they were open to resettlement. AMC has been constructing multistory complexes for public housing for many years, and plans to place families in them through a lottery. A few of these buildings were constructed several years ago near the Thaltej lake site, and residents do not consider them a good home to transition to, even though they have private toilets. The structure of the building makes it difficult for families to live their lifestyle, especially in the case of families owning cattle or water buffalo. In addition, those spaces are smaller than hutment homes.
Retain Employment Capabilities In addition, resettlement of the residents may interrupt the pattern of formal and informal economies in the hutments. Many of the residents are employees of the neighboring private homes. Residents also drive auto rickshaws. And again, any economic value derived from livestock is threatened by moving to spaces that do not have ground-level access or sufficient space.
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Figure 4.3.1: Vastrapur Redevelopment Project The approach we assume that AUDA is In addition, the lake was severely polluted. taking on the Thaltej Lake redevelopment As the city rapidly developed, AUDA have been largely shaped by a presentation determined that the lake would better be given to the authors of this report by an utilized as a recreation site with a walking AUDA employee during the two week trail, amphitheater, and some public park program in Ahmedabad, as well as their space. Through clean up and previous work at Vastrapur Lake. redevelopment, the original inhabitants of the area around the lake were relocated to During the presentation, the AUDA 350 housing units built by AUDA. By representative expressed the desire to relocating slum dwellers to new high rise redevelop Thaltej Lake and the surrounding living accommodations, AUDA was able to area in what has been interpreted as the redevelop the lake and ultimately spur highest and best use for that land. Their investment of new apartments, retail, and perspective reflects what Ahmedabad city amenities in the surrounding area. This needs as a whole, including the need for development process has become a model more open and recreational space and for AUDA as their preferred alternative to facilities. There is pressure from AUDA to enhancing water bodies throughout the redevelop the lake reflecting Vastrapur city. Lake, a development that has been successful from the city’s perspective Public Health through the attraction of new investments Another concern for AUDA is public health. including malls, residential high rises, and Thaltej Lake fails to meet public health other economic activity. standards. Open drains connected from homes to the lake result in fecal The pilot project, Vastrapur Lake, was contamination. Solid waste is also present completed in 2003. Prior to Vastrapur’s in the lake, despite the city’s daily waste redevelopment, the site was comparable to collection in the area. Water hyacinth Thaltej with hutments and slum dwellers blooms in the smaller lakes surrounding occupying portions of the surrounding land. Thaltej, which the city pays the residents to
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remove in order to prevent a habitat conducive to mosquito breeding.
Stormwater A final concern for the city is to maintain, and possibly augment, the stormwater retention and flooding mitigation characteristics of the lake. As mentioned previously, the lake functions to prevent flooding by diverting overflow into sequential lakes connected by underground pipes. The lake also serves to allow water to percolate into underground wells for future water supply.
Thaltej Panchayat The Thaltej Panchayat is the village’s local self-government also known as a “Gram Panchayat.” Panchayat’s are set up in villages that have a population greater than 300. The Panchayat takes responsibility for many aspects of village life. While it varies from village to village, the primary activities include monitoring construction and repair of roads, keeping records of birth, deaths and marriages, looking after public health and hygiene, assisting in festivals and celebrations, organizing village meetings and providing education. Their primary funding source is through tax levied on buildings and/or open spaces throughout the village.
In the case of the “Thaltej Village” problem scenario, the perspective and goals of the Thaltej Panchayat were unable to be obtained. However, based on their responsibilities and organizational role, it would be assumed that the Panchayat would be accepting of an alternative that betters the public health outcomes of the area, enhances the public facilities such as schools and toilets, and contributes to the cultural heritage and life of the villagers
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communication efforts on behalf of AUDA 5 Issues will be important in addressing these concerns.
Key issues raised by the proposed 5.2 Social Issues redevelopment of Thaltej Village by AUDA In this project, the social needs of the fall into three categories: Environmental current Thaltej residents are weighed Issues, Social Issues, and Economic Issues. against the perceived needs of the Below, each of the issues is described. surrounding neighborhoods and businesses. Particular consideration is given to potential These needs are very different and controversy that may arise from a conflicting, and have the potential to be redevelopment-relocation strategy, as controversial, depending on which types of based on consultations; it seems that AUDA redevelopment projects are prioritized and may already be committed to a particular how they are presented to the public and decision or outcome similar to the those who will be affected. Participation is Vastrapur lake redevelopment project. the only way to draw out how the social
needs of the Thaltej villagers, 5.1 Environmental Issues unquestionably the heaviest affected by the project, can be mitigated. This is true in the All parties involved are and will be affected case of simple questions such as how to by changes to the environment, namely the provide water and sewer services or what water quality and how the lake type of community facilities are needed in improvements are handled. From a public this area, to what is the general lifestyle and health perspective, the cleaning of the lake employment pattern of this community so affects the entire city as it is connected to that relocation housing can best equip their other lakes in the city and the river. Also, it lifestyles with the least disruption. affects drinking water quality as the lake affects groundwater recharge, which affects the water supply in nearby wells. How this 5.3 Economic Issues issue is handled is of broad concern. The economic desires and needs of the City
of Ahmedabad via AUDA are again weighed The environmental issue is AUDA’s primary against the economic needs of the Thaltej entry point for the redevelopment project. villagers in considering this issue, as the Depending on the project details, and possible uprooting of the community has whether it includes slum relocation and the potential to disrupt social networks and high-profile redevelopment projects, and informal employment opportunities, the nature and quality of the environmental namely small businesses or workshops improvements, this issue has the capacity operated out of ground floors of building in to become controversial because people’s the village to the keeping of livestock and lives may be disrupted and public dollars selling their dried manure for fuel. are being spent on environmental projects. Relocation could have very negative An example of a controversial issue is that economic effects on the residents while the environmental improvements may be those in the middle class in surrounding seen as “bourgeois environmentalism” that neighborhoods receive gains in increased is serving as an excuse to push out the poor property value as well as a recreational park while creating a recreational area for the and lake and the city receives increased tax middle class. Alternatives to lake clean- up dollars and private investments via without the displacement of the Thaltej developments who are attracted to the residents might be useful to consider. The
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redeveloped area. The way in which the economic needs of the Thaltej villagers are addressed in a relocation scenario has the potential to be controversial, as even though they may be the beneficiaries of expenditures in terms of housing, water and sewer services, their livelihoods may be jeopardized without proper participation programs and considerations on their economic means and needs. Economic needs also include social capital, as this can be key factors in quality of life and economic stability in informal sectors of the economy.
The key issues that require consideration in the scenarios that are developed and discussed in later chapters of this report are grouped in to three primary categories, as illustrated in Figure 5.3.1 below:
Figure 5.3.1: Three Levels of Issues
Social Needs of Current Thaltej Village
•Public taps and toilets •Access to schools and clinics •Social and communication networks •Employment and income generating opportunities •Land tenure •General security and rights •Physical land accomodations for livestock
Economic and Recreational Needs of Ahmedabad/ AUDA
•Highest and Best Use of the land •Recreation and open space for the public •Follow the success of Vastrapur model •Increase tax base and city revenues •Increase land values •Attract new investment and development •Respond to development pressures
Environment and Public Health Needs
•Public health concerns •Water quality •Stormwater management •Open drains •Groundwater recharge •Mosquito extermination •Waste collection
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An integrated upgrading approach was 6 Case Studies taken, recognizing important interactions between wastewater collection and other infrastructure such as roads, storm Introduction drainage, and water supply. Upgrading of all The following case studies are focused on the different types of infrastructure took slum redevelopment and upgrading place simultaneously, and was built while projects from six different countries in the preserving the existing permanent cities of Dar es Salaam, Mumbai, Bangalore, structures as much as possible. Kitale, Nairobi, Bangkok, Sao Paulo, and Fortaleza . The objective of this chapter is to extract key lessons learned and action items from a range of approaches to improving the conditions and infrastructure of informal settlements and embody the values of emerging approaches to slum improvement and upgrading amongst the competing forces of global urbanization and the rights to and need for tenure and services for slum populations. The key issues of social, environmental, and Figure 6.1.1: Pollution in the Guarapiranga Reservoir economic needs and goals served as a lens through which the case studies were Objectives chosen, as well as their direct applicability to Thaltej Village. 1.Expand and improve water supply, sewerage, and wastewater treatment services. 6.1 Guarapiranga Program: São 2. Improve collection and disposal of solid Paulo, Brazil waste. 3. Upgrade informal settlements and This slum upgrading project was an attempt provide alternative housing solutions to to deal with the pollution of the people living in risk areas.3 Guarapiranga reservoir, which provides 4. Protect and recover the quality of the water for over 3 million people in São Paulo environment through the creation of parks that resulted from untreated sewage and reforestation. flowing directly into the reservoir from the 5. Manage the basin through an informal settlements. The project began in appropriate legal and regulatory 1993 and was completed in 2000, and framework, an environmental protection including construction of infrastructure for and development plan, an information wastewater collection and treatment, system, and the development of upgrading of squatter settlements and management capabilities. informal land subdivisions, and the
development of a new legal and regulatory Key Lesson Learned framework to manage the water catchment. Investment in the urban Socio-Technical Support Teams upgrading project alone was around $207 These teams were created by Diagonal million (Cities Alliance, 2008). Urbana, a private company hired for the purpose of public participation and outreach by the Sao Paulo municipality.
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They provided ready access to the project land, as the old law was. The new policy for residents, as well as information on allows for negotiation and participation. technical and programming issues, and Now each municipality is able to decide and served as an avenue for requests and legislate on land use in such a way that in all complaints. They helped organize sub-basins in the water catchment area. participation in information gathering and analysis, discussion of project alternatives, The São Paulo municipality increased their and programming of the physical works, focus on improving informal settlements, staging hundreds of meetings of thematic whereas in the beginning of the program, and area-based groups in each settlement. the focus was on sanitation, with little They also helped negotiate contentious emphasis on upgrading low-income areas. resettlement issues and organized the This initial idea evolved into a transfer of families to temporary shelters comprehensive intervention that included and, later, to their new homes. these firms infrastructure for water supply, drainage of decided to enlist a separate private wastewater and storm runoff, access roads, company with the participatory planning paving, and electricity supply as well as and social mobilization skills required for socio-technical support during construction, working with communities in slum as well as the need for removals and upgrading projects. relocation of some families (including temporary lodgings and substitution The technical support group, working in housing). close coordination with the social workers and the construction firms, provided a Key Lesson Learned bridge between the community and the Community Upgrading design and construction process, helping Although environment upgrading was the find sound technical solutions to cater to entry point of the project, the informal community demand and concerns. settlement and the lack of infrastructure
were the primary reasons for the reservoir Key Lesson Learned degradation. That is why the program The new water sources law of 1997 eventually focuses on these informal One of the primary results of the settlements. Rather than adopting a totally Guarapiranga program is the change in the replacement strategy, which was preferred legal instruments governing water by AUDA, in Guarapiranga the settlement catchments in São Paulo, the 1997 State layout must be improved and the Law of Water Sources, based on a different infrastructure built while preserving the view of the correlation between water existing structures as much as possible. quality and land use. Local resident continue to live and work in the area while the construction takes place Because the occupation of land took place . While this posed significant challenges and in a water source area subject to the constraints on planners and engineers, it restrictions of the 1975 Law of Protection of established a solid base on which the local Water Catchments, it was not possible for residents were willing to participate and the project to make progress in regularizing contribute to upgrade their own places. land tenure until the broader legal constraints were removed. The new law Key Lesson Learned acknowledges the existence of informal Land Tenure Unresolved land occupation and is not based on rigid In the same vein, clear land tenure control of the use and occupation of the strengthened residents’ sense of
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community and security, which in turn Tiête Basin, based on the success of the increased their mobility in promoting the management of the Guarapiranga program. However, in reality the land program committee, with tenure can neither be clarified easily nor representatives from universities, delegated to the current low-income professional organizations, residents. It created a vicious circle, in that nongovernmental organizations the unclear ownership impeded the (NGOs), and community entities. progress of upgrading, which increased the insecurity of residents and hampering the local participation (Cities Alliance, 2008). 6.2 Baan Mankong (Secure Housing) Program, Thailand
Baan Mankong was created in 2003 by the Key Lesson Learned Thai government as a way to support A New Planning and Management Unit community-led slum upgrading in low One of the innovative features of the income urban and rural communities. The project is the horizontal institutional government’s goal was to providing secure arrangement, aiming at an integrated housing to one million poor households upgrading approach rather than a sectorial within five years. The program is based on approach. Given the scale of the project, it the provision of housing loans and provides a new management philosophy of infrastructure support to communities and using the territory as a unit of planning and networks of communities who then take management. the lead on managing the upgrading projects themselves. The Baan Mankong Outcomes program is administered by a nonprofit organization whose goal is to build a strong > The program benefitted 250,000 societal base using the collective power of inhabitants of Guarapiranga, as well as civil groups and community organizations the city as a whole. (Boonyabancha, 2005). > The residents of the informal settlements began to feel like ordinary citizens and developed increased self- esteem due to the new water, sewer, transportation, drainage, and mail services. > Stimulated residents’ economic investment in their community. > In areas with better community organization, improvements stimulated Figure 6.2.1.: New Baan Mankong Housing collective investments in public areas and common facilities. Objectives > Change in the legal instruments > Improve the human spirit; governing the management of water > Increase awareness of the environment catchments in the state of São Paulo and/or address climate change; > The new legal and institutional > Respond to our growing need for clean framework established the State water, power, shelter, healthcare, System of Water Resources, which in education; and turn created the Committee of the Alto
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> Build community capacities for self- Upgrading projects in 1,010 communities development, create information are either finished or underway in 226 sharing networks on local, national and towns and cities, in 69 of the country’s 76 international scale. provinces, involving 54,000 households (Boonyabancha, 2005). Key Lesson Learned Pre-fabricated, subsidized flats 6.3 Klong Tuey, Bangkok, Pre-fabricated, subsidized flats sold Thailand Through the Baan Ua Arthorn Program, the National Housing Authority of Thailand Klong Toey slum of Bangkok, Thailand, designs, constructs and sells ready-to- situated on land owned by the Port occupy flats and houses at subsidized rates Authority of Thailand, established in the to lower-income applicants on a "rent-to- early 1950’s, now with 80,000 residents, the own" basis. largest in the city.
Key Lesson Learned The Duang Prateep Foundation (DPF), an NGO founded in 1978 to improve conditions Subsidies, housing loans and tenure in the Kong Toey slum, develops programs negotiation that focus on community development, Baan Mankong Collective Housing Program education, and improving general well- channels government funds, in the form of being of residents. The issue of land tenure infrastructure subsidies and soft housing has also been addressed, and DPF has acted loans, directly to poor communities. as the voice of the residents by mediating Through local collaborations for land tenure between landowners and residents. They security negotiations and arrangements, have helped structure a process of communities plan and carry out redevelopment to assist the community in improvements to their housing, developing a secure land tenure agreement. infrastructure, and environment, and manage their finances collectively for all aspects of development.
The Baan Mankong Program encourages existing slum communities to form co-ops and develop their housing in a collective way; each participating community would end up having a collective land title. This method is designed to discourage speculators from buying off individual housing units from the poor and selling them out to higher income groups. Collective housing provides the security for 6.3.2: DPF-sponsored Kindergarten low-income families so that they can have access to jobs in the city - usually as day Key Lesson Learned laborers and street vendors - and where they can have the opportunity to get out of Land Sharing poverty (DiNino, Guarabedian, Ossa, and People living on the land condense their Smith 2006). housing into a smaller section of the area so that the owner of the land can use the rest Outcome of the property for another purpose. Part of
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the population could be relocated into provide healthcare and social services another area of the community, and at the to slum communities; and same time, the existing communities can be > Present a well-structured and organized redeveloped to accommodate the reduction community to the land-owner: of available land (DiNino, Guarabedian, conceptualizing the community as a Ossa, and Smith 2006). low-income community rather than a slum (DiNino, Guarabedian, Ossa, and 5 features of a land sharing scheme: Smith 2006). > community organization 6.4 Paraisópolis, São Paulo, > land sharing agreement Brazil > densification > reconstruction Paraisópolis is an informal community in > capital investment São Paulo, Brazil that is considered an international success story for social The land sharing scheme is dependent on inclusion of informal settlements. Like many community organization and community informal settlements, it lacked many investment in order to succeed in municipal services and infrastructure until preventing destructive consequences of recent efforts. It is a high-profile area, as it redevelopment from occurring, which is surrounded by more affluent include the erosion of social networks and neighborhoods that are a source of informal job markets. Lessons from around employment for Paraisópolis’ residents. It the world on utilizing the unity of the has become a target of the Brazilian community as a benefit that opens government’s social policy, even a opportunities for alternatives to relocation showpiece, as it is central and accessible to are reviewed, as are reasons for resisting visitors, officials and politicians (Bueno & relocation and the importance of social Sedeh, 2010). networks. Key Lesson Learned Key Lesson Learned Policy Toolkit Criteria for success and failure of tenure Official Brazilian policy shifted in the 1980s negotiation toward slum upgrading instead of > Encourage the participation of the redevelopment and relocation. In 2001, it community and developing strong enacted a statute requiring cities to have leadership; master plans and created a set of tools that municipalities can use to control land > Secure land tenure improves the transfer and assure legal tenure for tenants. likeliness of investment and One of the most useful is the "zone of maintenance of the property by the special interest" which formally recognizes residents; the existence of informal slums and > Develop financial stability within the qualifies them for social services. Another community is important to maintain tool authorizes joint citizen-government improvement projects; management councils. > Establish a cooperative is useful, and community must be educated on the Key Lesson Learned benefits of participating and why it is important; Citizen-Government Collaboration > Partner with outside organizations or In 1994, a Multi-Stakeholder Forum was NGOs in order to devise a way to formed to integrate social programs in the
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favela, adhering to the guiding principal of The housing authority then helped build citizen-government collaborative decision- 2,500 new housing units inside the favela, making. In a similar vein, in 2004, a Steering which were ready for occupancy in 2008. Committee was created to oversee the The same year, a 2,800-capacity upgrading of the slum. In 2005, the educational center was opened. Following municipality committed US $10 million to the municipality’s investments, a well- the program. known furniture and appliances retailer, Casa Bahia, built the first to be opened in a Key Lesson Learned favela.
Two Option Program In 2006, the program began to offer two 6.5 Hanna Nassif Community options to the original land owners: donate Managed Settlement the land to the municipality (thus avoiding Upgrading Project, Dar es any taxes owed) or pay the outstanding Salaam, Tanzania urban land taxes and receive a certificate of permission for construction. In the first The Hanna Nassif settlement is located in case, the municipality gives a certificate of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 4 km from the city ownership to the occupant of the property. center. In 1994 the settlement had a population of 19,000 people. Prior to the Key Lesson Learned project the area experienced flooding due to absence of drainage facilities. It lacked
Replicable Phasing Approach services such as solid waste collection The project was meant to develop a facilities, paved roads, water supply and replicable approach to upgrading other human wastes disposal facilities. favelas in the city. In the first phase, sanitation and emergency systems were put For years, several upgrading programs in place, removing homes at risk from active in the city originally planned for collapse, flooding or mudslides. Paved Hanna Nassif, did not reach or somehow roads followed, along with stream channels, had failed the settlement and were not street and alley improvements and new enacted, mostly due to funding restraints. drainage systems, after which recreational This provoked a self-led upgrading project areas and a linear park were developed. in the community. The project was able to mobilize members of the community for the creation of community assets.
Objective The concept of the project was to empower the community to create and develop its own infrastructure with the assistance from donor agencies.
Key Lesson Learned
6.4.1:New recreational facilities in Paraisopolis, Sao > Establish a pilot project on community- Paulo based employment-that would implement intensive storm water Key Lesson Learned drainage infrastructure upgrades;
Housing, Education, Retail
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> Develop a support mechanism for (approximately 20 percent of the total community-based initiatives in Mumbai slum population) living on unplanned settlements involving a municipal land at about 10 percent of the network of community volunteers. MSDP project cost (approximately 13.2 billion Rupees or U.S. $295.6 million). Outcomes Under SSP, about 330 community toilet blocks (CTBs) with more than 5,100 toilet > Construction of a functioning and seats were constructed and handed over to maintainable storm water and other community groups to use and maintain. basic infrastructure service (The World Bank, 2006).
> Job creation of 24,430 work days: 65percent man-days and 35percent women-days.
> Successful maintenance of drains and development of training material and training of selected community workers.
> Establishment of women’s group (occurred organically and not as a planned element of the project) which has been cleaning the drains.
6.5.1.: Impacts of Slum Sanitation Program > Establishment of a Community Development Committee (CDC) for Key Lesson Learned identifying and constructing their own priority infrastructure Active Involvement of Slum Communities services. The program demonstrated the successful impact of a participatory, demand- responsive approach. Slum communities > A series of seminars and workshops were involved in the project that provided training to technical implementation right from the planning working groups, the CDC and staff from stage. They would take an active part in the Dar es Salaam City Commission on planning including site selection and toilet the Hanna Nassif project for block design 1 duplication. . Mobilized by NGOs, slum communities had more chance to express
what they what in terms of provision of 6.6 Mumbai Slum Sanitation sanitation system and thus were more Program, Mumbai, India enthusiastic in supporting the project.
The Municipal Corporation of Brihan Key Lesson Learned (Greater) Mumbai (MCBM) implemented the World Bank-assisted Slum Sanitation Sustainability of the Program Program (SSP) as a part of the Mumbai In each slum settlement a CBO (community Sewage Disposal Project (MSDP) that based organization) was formed and commenced in 1995. The program was targeted at about one million slum dwellers
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registered as a Trust or a Society, which Development Authority (LDA) was set up bear the responsibility of enabling local and leases out 60 tanks in public-private community processes, supervising partnerships that would turn these construction and taking full charge of O&M traditional commons into amusement parks management of local sanitation services and commercial spaces with closed access. and assets (The World Bank, 2006). Because Two factors drove this trend of the slum communities were highly engaged privatization. On the one hand, large in the construction and provision of these number of public agencies had interest and sanitation devices on their behalf, they responsibility of maintenance of those would like to pay monthly fees for all lakes, leading to the complex of expenses related to the upkeep of the toilet management and departments passing the blocks including water and electricity buck. On the other, an overall poor charges. MCBM is responsible for the major management of the economy in India made repairmen, while CBOs carry out all minor privatization an attractive and innovative repairs. solution to most capital shortage problems. When there were no efficient ways of preventing the degradation of environment, leasing out the lakes became a strategy to Key Lesson Learned keep their survival. However, these transactions were finally banned in 2008. Experiment on Public Land
This pilot program was operated on MCBM- owned land. A No Objection Certificate was required from the relevant ward office of the MCBM, which would certify that the land was not earmarked for alternate use in development plans and that was possible to extend water and drainage facilities to the slum (The World Bank, 2006). There are surely expected difficulties when the program is to be applied in larger area, where agreements with Government of India agencies and private land-owners are 6.7.1.: Citizen protest against lake privitization necessary. Nevertheless, AUDA can also experiment their innovative idea first in their publicly owned land around Thaltej Key Lesson Learned Lake. By this way a role model can be easily established if the idea does really work. Abuses of Public Goods Lake in Bangalore is one kind of particular 6.7 Privatization of the Lakes, public goods in that the entire populace of Bangalore, India the city benefit from its function and even existence. In many lakes, residents around Bangalore is famous for its comfortable the lakes use the waters for purposes such climate, partly because of the impact of the as drinking, for household purposes or for lakes on the microclimate. These lakes not livelihood activities such as agriculture, only serve the function of meeting water livestock, fishing, washing, etc. When they requirements of the populace, be it for were leased out for exclusive commercial drinking and household uses, but also host use, residents depending on the lakes for a wide variety of flora and fauna, especially livelihood were banned from accessing the birds. Established in 2002, the Lake traditional uses.
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holding eco-tourism that showed Key Lesson Learned demonstrations of best land-use practices, and hosting public meeting. Besides, the Damage to the natural function of Lake project also raised the awareness in Baringo From an environmental perspective, lakes County Council, a key player in the provide various benefits that include conservation of natural resources in the influencing the microclimate, flood control, district. By ways of facilitating workshop encouraging bio-diversity and replenishing and developing eco-tourism, they can groundwater. After the privatization and strengthen the participation of various commercial construction, these functions stakeholders as well as enhance the were intervened and ruined. For example, a capacity of managing environmental natural shoreline and presence of weeds project. were fundamental for birds’ habitation.
Newly constructed building and infrastructure along the shoreline made it 6.9 Employment Creation no more available for bird species to nest Through Participatory upon. Planning, Kitale, Kenya 6.8 Lake Baringo Community- The Building in Partnership: Participatory Based Land and Water Urban Planning (BIP:PUP) project was Management Project, Lake implemented in Kitale, Kenya. This is a city Baringo, Kenya of about 220,000 people, and, due to rapid growth, two-thirds of the population lives in The Lake Baringo Community-Based Lands slums without access to municipal and Water Management Project was infrastructure services. The goal of the developed by UNEP (United Nations project was to enhance the effectiveness of Environment Programme) and funded by city and municipal planning and GEP (Global Environment Facility). It was management, with a view to addressing designed to strengthen the capacity of some of the institutional inadequacies and communities in the lake catchment area in capacity deficiencies of urban local sustainable resource management, through authorities. It also had the goal of testing the demonstration of improved land and whether the creation of formal and water management techniques, and to informal partnerships between public, preserve biodiversity. Also, the project private, NGO, and community sectors could contributed to improve livelihoods of work together to address the needs of slum populations in the area by promoting dwellers (Majale, 2007). alternative income-generation activities designed to provide employment and The project took place between April 2001 reduce pressure on land and water and March 2004. It focused on three resources (Omwega and Norgbey, 2004). communities: Kipsongo, a settlement of
4,000 people, Shimo La Tewa, a settlement Key Lesson Learned of 3,500, and Tuwan, a settlement of Awareness Creation 65,000. It focused on slum upgrading for Increasing awareness of environment potential employment and local economic protection and sustainable utilization development. Improvement of among local communities is a key strategy infrastructure through training and hiring used in this project. The project organized slum dwellers as workers was the main various activities to expose residents to strategy of the project. Infrastructure environmental education, such as showing projects were identified by local slum videos by television set and generator, communities, then partners were recruited
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to help implement the projects, in > Associate municipal finance, cross- conjunction with the communities. subsidies, and beneficiary contributions Projects focused on installing or improving to ensure financial viability basic infrastructure and sanitation facilities > Design and negotiate relocation plans (Majale, 2007). only when absolutely necessary > Combine slum upgrading with employment generation
6.10 Microenterprises, Nairobi, Kenya This case study was an investigation of small businesses of the sort that could be created from microfinance are impacted by access to infrastructure and services. These small businesses are called
6.9.1.: Infrastructure improvement and job training microenterprises, and are owned by households that are more likely to be poor, but are also more stable or longer-term Key Lesson Learned residents in settlements with enabling infrastructure and have access to credit. Local Job Creation Makes a Difference Microenterprise ownership substantially
decreases a household’s likelihood of being Given the capital inflows involved, even a poor (Gulyani, 2010). minor shift toward more employment- intensive technology option in The study found several success indicators infrastructure investment can have a major for microenterprise success. The business impact on aggregate employment creation did better if the owners extended their and the lives of slum dwellers. sales area beyond their immediate
settlement, and if they worked in certain Key Lessons Learned sectors relative to others. The study also Sustainable Slum Development found that living conditions created > Promote good urban governance “enabling environments.” That is, the systems longer the business owners stayed in their > Establish enabling institutional settlements was an indicator of more frameworks involving all partners business success. Access to electricity, > Encourage initiatives of slum-dwellers improved services and providing means to and recognize the role of women tenure of land were also indicators of success (Gulyani, 2010). > Ensure secure tenure, consolidate
occupancy rights and regularize Key Lesson Learned informal settlements > Involve tenants and owners in finding The Downside of Relocation solutions prioritizing collective interests Programs that focus on relocating people to > Adopt an incremental approach to better housing without acknowledging the upgrading links between settlements and enterprises are likely to cause serious damage to the fragile economic base of slum households.
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6.11 Urban Agriculture, Popularity of Program Fortaleza, Brazil The projects were very successful, and Fortaleza is the capital of Ceara, a coastal generated demand for similar projects. One province in Brazil. The town is economically group raised enough money to start their depressed. About 70percent of families own laboratory for medicinal plants, as well earn monthly incomes of less than US $150, as a therapeutic massage center. The and hunger is rampant. Starting in 1992, a targeted groups of women and youths felt cooperative program funded by the Ceara more empowered by participating in the Government and the European Union called program. “Communities” brought together a number of local stakeholders to develop self-reliant Importance of Partnerships urban neighborhoods through backyard and community gardening, small animal The success of this program depended on husbandry, and fruit-tree planting for successful working relationships between economic, health and micro-climatic NGO’s, local governments, and academic benefits (Vasconcelos, 1999). institutions.
6.11.1.: Urban Agriculture in Brazil
The successes of the first program lead to the creation of a second project, which created a series of pilot projects. These projects were located in peri-urban regions and included cages, vegetables, fruit trees, medicinal gardens, and production of herbal remedies. The group worked with local people and provided training and workshops, supported by technicians and students from other institutions. Of key interest were populations of women and young people. In particular, women were recruited to work with the community medicine garden, and received training from a pharmacist benefits (Vasconcelos, 1999).
Key Lesson Learned
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Assumptions about the effects on the 7 Public community of a redevelopment of Thaltej Lake are informed by the redevelopment of Vastrapur Lake, completed in 2003. Participation Vastrapur, before redevelopment, was similar to Thaltej Village, as it was Introduction surrounded by an informal settlement known as Vastrapur Village. The lake was The purpose of this chapter is to outline a polluted, and through the clean-up and set of public participation activities or redevelopment, the original inhabitants of techniques that may be utilized in some the area around the lake were relocated to capacity by AUDA in engaging the residents 350 housing units built by AUDA. Today, as of Thaltej Village, residents of nearby a result of redevelopment, the site serves as neighborhoods, officials, and other key a park and recreation area with an stakeholders in shaping any redevelopment amusement park, jogging track, public project scenario that may occur, as well as garden and is serviced by municipal water offer those groups some level of input on and sewer, serving the occupants of nearby what, if any, environmental remediation apartment towers and the city as a whole in projects, infrastructure upgrades or terms of water quality and succeeding in community services and programs that are attracting new developments to the area . developed as part of the larger redevelopment. According to AUDA, in the case of
Vastrapur, 70 percent of the project cost It is important to engage the residents of was spent on relocation and rehabilitation Thaltej Village in the project process, of slum dwellers. Thaltej Lake is included in regardless of the specific course of action the second phase of the Comprehensive that is pursued by AUDA. This position is Lake Redevelopment Project. Similar to based on international case studies and Vastrapur, AUDA wishes to address the research referenced in Chapter 4, which environmental conditions of the lake by overwhelmingly illustrated that in slum providing sanitation services to the area, as upgrading projects and/or slum relocation well as use the opportunity to create public projects, the success of the project is green space and attract private dependent on the participation of the slum investments, thus increasing the land value dwellers. If they are not consulted in and taxes. If it can be assumed that, in a relocation, they may not accept the new relocation scenario, 70 percent of the housing as it does not meet their needs or project cost in Thaltej village will be spent they were not prepared for the relocation on relocation and rehabilitation of slum or felt they did not have a say in the dwellers, as in Vastrapur, it is important to outcome. In an upgrade scenario, ensure the success of the relocation. prioritizing which services are the most needed in the community, as well as developing programs that utilize and recruit 7.1 Organization of Public local labor and buy-in can only be achieved Participation Tools through public participation. Additionally, participation and local investment in the The following Chapter 8 will introduce four project can evolve into a long-lasting effort separate scenarios of varying scales of to promote awareness and prevention of intensity. The public participation program activities that lead to continuous pollution discussed in this chapter is designed to or degradation of the lake. provide a toolkit that can be used to some degree in each scenario. Figure 7.1.1 below
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lists each of the public participation implemented as an element of each activities, indicating whether they are scenario, building to the completion of the ongoing or directly apply to one or more of project. Additionally, the strategies and the scenarios. If the four scenarios are steps can also stand alone as separate considered linear steps or building blocks pieces of the scenarios. on a single timeline, then the public participation program might be Figure 7.1 .1: Public p Participation y Toolkit p
Public Involvement Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3 Scenario 4 Notes Activity TIME:
KEY: • Landmark Activity • • Ongoing Activity Define Project Management Team, Better to do in • Stakeholders and the beginning Advisory Board
Individual Groups Occur • • • • • • • • throughout Meetings Project
Project Overview Occur • • • • • • • • throughout Presentations Project
Thaltej Community Can be utilized for each scenario Assessment and Area • • • • but are needed Surveys early on
Opening of Thaltej Fits with Community Info • Scenario 2 (see Center Ch.8)
Community Fits with Scenario 2-3 but Leadership Training • • • • has benefits for Program 4 also (see Ch. 8)
Most potential Present Community negative impact • • • • Analysis to AUDA occurs in Scenario 3-4
Presentation of Intensive redevelopment/ Alternatives to • • • • change occurs in community Scenario 3-4
Impact Evaluation Community will Community • • • • • • need education Workshops on Scenarios 3-4
Identify/Develop Mitigation more • • • • necessary in Mitigation Tools Scenario 3-4
Community general Community Education • • • • • • • • education throughout
Feedback Presentation to AUDA Feedback on • • relocation and Mitigation Tool alternatives Recommendations Thaltej Village: An Incremental Approach to Urban Encroachment | p.43
7.2 Preliminary Consultation 7.2.1 Level of Interest Information on the existing conditions and The expected level of interest of each of the context of Thaltej Village will need to be stakeholders is assessed below. collected. The best methods to obtain this information should be devised by the Highest Interest organization administering the public participation program. Strategies could Thaltej Panchayat and Thaltej Village include door-to-door interviews with the residents village residents, site visits and window The potential delivery or upgrading of city surveys, existing data collection analysis, services or any developments, especially mapping analyses, and conversations and relocation of hutment dwellers from the correspondence with community leaders, site, should spark tremendous interest from city officials, CEPT, AUDA, etc. This the Panchayat and the village residents, as information will be essential in any scenario informal interviews with the residents that attempts to service, upgrade or indicated. In a community-centered redevelop the area. redevelopment, the potential upgrading and delivery of sewer and water services to Additionally, information on the the area would likely be better designed characteristics of all interested groups around input from the community in order should be collected to inform the process so to shape the services to best meet their that any project might take the needs of the needs. Also, the prioritization of the larger community into account. The list of provision of housing, schools, clinics, or stakeholders should at a minimum include: other community resources represents vital feedback from the community. > Thaltej Panchayat > Thaltej Village residents AUDA and AMC As the lead authorities initiating the project, > Neighboring communities AUDA and AMC have interest in assuring > Neighboring business community the success of the project in terms of their > AUDA goals of environmental remediation and > AMC economic development, while providing improved living conditions to current Additionally, advice in the upgrading, residents. It is also in the interest of these servicing, or redevelopment of slum areas two entities to minimize negative public might be solicited by brining one or more of perceptions of the project, therefore the following groups to the table as a significant interest in minimizing stakeholder or advisory board member. controversy is expected. Public participation could be effective in maximizing the success > Gujarat Mahila Housing SEWA Trust of any project while helping to inform the > CEPT University mitigation of negative impacts. > SAATH – Initiatives for Equity in Development Significant Interest > Residents of the City of Ahmedabad Neighboring residential and business > Gujarat Centre for Environment community Education (CEE) Neighboring communities may be interested in the opportunities that lake revitalization create for them, namely in access to new recreational features and
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construction of new retail and housing water care, sanitation and hygiene that developments. Their perceived potential target women and children. Secondly, CEE is and relative desire to influence re- engaged in facilitating NGO and community development project outcomes that initiatives, as well as in working with school positively affect their quality of life is likely systems, and would likely be an invaluable to create interest in the project. consultant in this program. The organization’s interest would likely have to SEWA be sought out through the public As a previous partner with AMC during the participation program rather than it coming SNP, SEWA provided services to slum to the table independently. But considering communities, such as development, the linkages between their mission and the surveys, design, and providing individual project, it is expected that CEE would have toilets. SEWA would be an expert advisor as some interest. part of an advisory board or stakeholder member, or possibly in the role of public 7.3 Program Management participation facilitator. It is recommended that management of the Thaltej Village Project’s Public Participation SAATH Program be contracted to an independent SAATH, as an organization that creates non-governmental entity. For the purposes public, private and citizen partnerships to of this report, the organizations SEWA and transform slums in to equitable living SAATH are used as an example of the type environments, may be interested in helping of potential program partner that may fill to shape partnerships between the this role. municipality and the community during the redevelopment project, as well as offering The public participation program could be expertise in this area . conducted independently by this organization, under a contracted agreement Some Interest with AUDA. AUDA could interact with CEPT SEWA/SAATH through an advisory board, As the leading urban design and planning which should include one representative school in India, coupled with its location in from AUDA and one representative from west Ahmedabad, CEPT University’s interest each of the identified stakeholder groups. in the project is evinced in its studio SAATH should address the issues and the projects that have focused on studying and areas where conflict is perceived as a top contributing to the ongoing development of priority of the program. The main task of the Comprehensive Lake Redevelopment SEWA/SAATH should be to deliver Project, specifically, its unfolding at recommendations to AUDA on the project Vastrapur Lake. based on public participation program outcomes. Additionally, SEWA/SAATH CEE should work to establish a community CEE, an international organization, has been support organization that incorporates local involved in the water conservation and leadership into its programming so that the sanitation in India since 1986, with a focus organization and information sharing can on community participation in planning, continue long after the project is complete monitoring, constructing, operating and in order to support programming that may maintaining and community-government be implemented as part of the project, such interface. CEE also engages in education as work-share networks or a clinic. The efforts over the importance of awareness of perspective from which the NGO should lead the program should be guided by
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established Guiding Principles that seek to > Incorporate recommendations for address the issues and conflicts previously mitigation efforts and options for outlined in Chapter 5. Thaltej hutment dwellers for each alternative to reduce negative social Guiding Principles impacts, including loss property, way of The following guiding principles may be life, earning potential, and social capital incorporated into the public participation as a result of redevelopment projects as program in any redevelopment scenario in a continuation of public participation order to keep negative impacts to the slum program through a community support dwellers to a minimum. organization.
> Prioritize solutions to the issues 7.4 Decision-Making Process according to what constitutes the best outcome for all stakeholder groups The decision being made is over which type equally based on that group’s input and of redevelopment scenario and strategy will feedback as a result of participation be pursued by AUDA for improving efforts and engagement. conditions at Thaltej Lake. Ideally, the scenario will make an effort to equitably > Identify project elements that value balance the needs of the current Thaltej equity across different socio-economic Village residents while also achieving to groups, recognizing the essential nature some degree its intended goals of of socio-economic diversity in implementing environmental, social and communities and the importance of economic upgrades at the site. minimizing negative social impacts on the Thaltej villagers. AUDA, in collaboration with SEWA/SAATH and an advisory board, based on community feedback and expert advice, > Develop participation program that would ultimately make this decision. considers the ability of each
stakeholder group to participate. Below, the set of public participation tools
is provided to guide the public participation > Develop alternatives that balance the program in any redevelopment scenario. needs of different stakeholders through Figure 7.1.1 on page 45 illustrates how each the range of equitable solutions. of these tools or steps might apply to a specific scenario or whether they can be > Integrate stakeholder objectives into applied and revisited multiple times recommendations throughout the course of public participation, regardless of the > Look for opportunities where the needs redevelopment scenario being pursued. of multiple stakeholder groups can be Below, each step is discussed and explained met, or where one stakeholder group’s in detail. needs do not require the undue sacrifice of another. 7.5 Steps in the Public Participation Program > Evaluate alternatives through public RFP for NGO feedback. The first step is identifying the NGO that would facilitate the public participation program. The role of the NGO would be to:
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> Mediate communications between The NGO facilitator would be responsible AUDA/AMC and residents and serve as for identifying the stakeholder groups and a source of information as well as a selecting the advisory board, as well as receiver of community defining its purpose, duration, guidelines feedback/responses to proposed for membership, how it contributes actions; knowledge and skills. > Create a strategy for community organization and that would eventually Individual Groups Preliminary support any efforts toward forming Meetings community co-operatives or Small focus group meetings are held to community-based employment gauge the level of interest and primary schemes as a result of the upgrade concerns of each of the stakeholder groups; projects; groups can be briefed on the upcoming > Work to establish tenure security and timeline and purpose of the public other barriers to qualifying residents participation plan, and the background and for social services; agenda of the NGO. Time for questions and > Organize information gathering and discussion is allowed. Objective is to learn analysis in Thaltej Village in order to about the group and to introduce them to gain an understanding of the the project and SEWA/SAATH. community’s social and cultural institutions and beliefs and other Project Presentation and relevant characteristics; Initial Meetings > Discuss project alternatives, and Public information/Open House style organize meetings; meetings can be promoted in the > Negotiate any resettlement issues and community center, with flyers, posters, organize relocations to temporary print and online media, distributed and/or permanent homes; throughout the community. > Build capacity of the Thaltej residents to Representatives from AUDA, AMC and participate in the project at appropriate SEWA/SAATH would be present to discuss levels; the project with the community. > Builds the trust and cooperation between community and stakeholders Thaltej Community that is necessary for successful Assessment and Area Survey implementation of the project; and A community assessment can be used to > Create a foundation for a community document the relevant existing social, support organization that remains environmental and economic conditions in intact as a resource for social impact Thaltej Village and the entire project area, mitigation and successful including: implementation of the project but also > successful community organization as a Demographic factors way to mitigate the effects and > Socio-economic factors affecting strengthen the sustainability of the income and productivity, land tenure, community. access to jobs, family composition, social capital, and travel patterns; Selecting NGO facilitator, > Social organization and capacity at the identify stakeholder groups, household and community level, and select advisory board networks, institutions, access to services and information;
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> Socio-political relationships with Presentation of Community outside groups, such as perception of Analysis to AUDA AUDA based on experiences and The specific findings about the community relationship with other stakeholder should be communicated and presented to groups; AUDA with enough time for this > Needs, values, and attitudes on information to inform any development of development, municipal services, scenarios. AUDA might use this information interventions, change, and capacity of to make decisions about needs in the the community to adapt to these community and balance those with its own changes; and goals and the goals of other stakeholders. > Activity patterns for the villagers, such as where do they work, where do they Impact Evaluation Community shop, where do they go for Workshop Series education/medical attention, what networks are essential for maintaining Initial alternatives developed by AUDA their social capital and livelihood. should be evaluated for their impact to the community and stakeholder groups and Opening of Thaltej Community prioritized based on guiding principles in a Info Center workshop-style meeting format and public attendees are organized into small focus Establishing a headquarters for community groups. The goal of this step is to identify information drop-in center, where meetings and balance the social, environmental, and can be held and feedback for the project economic impacts of each alternative. can be collected would give the program facilitators on-the-ground access to the Identify/Develop Mitigation community. The center would also establish Tools a space lays the groundwork for community-led, co-operative initiatives Based on the results of the impact after the project is complete to manage evaluation, specific tools and adjustment programs that are ongoing as a result of the recommendations to the alternatives can project. Additionally, printed materials on be developed in order to mitigate any the project can be distributed via this negative impacts. These can be developed center. by SEWA/SAATH and the advisory group based on community needs assessed in any Community Leadership preceding surveys, community analyses and Training Program workshops.
This program’s goal might be to identify The following impacts might be addressed: community leaders and gatekeepers, and > Lifestyle impacts – on the way people establish a framework for successful behave and relate to family, friends and community-led organization following the cohorts on a day-to-day basis; project’s implementation. Such a network > Cultural impacts – on shared customs, can encourage ownership and establish or obligations, values, language, religious maintain community or worker co- belief and other elements which make a operatives, as well as enable the social or ethnic group distinct; management of programs that were > Community impacts – on infrastructure, initiated as a result of the project. services, voluntary organizations,
activity networks and cohesion;
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> Quality of life impacts – on sense of each. Final round of feedback should be place, aesthetics and heritage, collected and referenced in order to guide perception of belonging, security and this step, which is conducted by livability, and aspirations for the future; SEWA/SAATH with help of the advisory and board. > Health impacts – on mental, physical 7.6 Review Process and social well-being, although these aspects are also the subject of health The review process for this public impact assessment. participation program should occur throughout the program as well as Community Education and following the implementation of all levels of Feedback on Mitigation Tools any scenario redevelopment project. The review process can also serve as a transition In an intensive redevelopment scenario, a process for transferring community second tier set of workshops might be leadership and organizational scheduled to discuss the mitigation tools responsibilities to community leaders from developed by SEWA/SAATH and the SEWA/SAATH to retain communications advisory group. If these mitigation tools are throughout the project’s implementation presented to the community, certain and to assist with development mitigation elements may require educational efforts, relocation, and work programs. components to ensure that the community understands how these might interact or Ongoing Reviews reduce the negative impact of the alternatives. The surveys and community feedback activities should utilize those opportunities Presentation of AUDA’s to assess the success of the program via Updated Alternatives to direct feedback from participants, such as Community gauging their perception that the program is effective and the outcomes are meeting Public information/Open House-style their expectations. Performance metrics, meetings might be used to present any such as attendance rates and their formal plans or decisions that AUDA has increased ability to communicate and made. These can be coupled with a public organize as a group should also be assessed. feedback period that can be conducted by allowing the public to submit either written > Has the capacity of the Thaltej residents comments on a form or through the web. A to self-organize or communicate period of time should be established for effectively AUDA been increased? accepting these forms of feedback on the final alternatives through drop-ins at the > Is the center being utilized? Center. > Has trust and cooperation between community and AUDA been Modify Impact Evaluation of established? Alternatives > Where have conflicts arisen and what has been the cause? What has been the If updated alternatives are made by AUDA solution? What techniques for based on community feedback, an participation have worked best and evaluation of the social impacts of the final what needs to be adjusted? development plans should be updated, as well as the mitigation tools that were Review Process previously recommended to be applied to
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Final Reviews A final social impact assessment should be conducted based on the actual outcomes of the redevelopment and the participation program. Post-development surveys and comparisons of initial goals to outcomes should be conducted following the redevelopment. The following questions towards self-assessment may help in the final review:
> Were the objectives of the mitigation efforts implemented and did they achieve their desired goals? > Did the residents establish tenure security and their prioritized social services? > Have the community’s social, economic and cultural institutions been negatively impacted? > What is the retention rate of any resettlements? > Has the capacity of the Thaltej residents to self-organize or communicate effectively with > AUDA been maintained or increased? > Has trust and cooperation between community and AUDA remained? > Has the community support organization remained intact? > What is the community’s perception of the outcome? > What is the community’s perception of the participation program?
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development scheme. It represents the most minimal improvements to advance 8 Scenario the quality of life at the site. The scenario will combat contamination of the water Alternatives bodies and promote appropriate waste management practices. There will be no modifications to the location of existing
infrastructure. This only requires modest In order to work through the stated issues resources to implement. at the project site, the following scenarios were constructed. They approach these Building Blocks issues with increasing levels of intensity. The first scenario offers the least Scenario 1 employs minor upgrades to aid intensive developmental forms while the the environment and potentially advance fourth and final scenario consists are the public health in the local area. With the aid most intensive. These scenarios can work of complementary educational programs, in concert with one another in a ‘building the benefits may be furthered to ensure block’ fashion for incremental changes, or that the impacts are lasting. they can work independently of one another if preferred. Environment/Public Health
This scenario considers the issues of water 8.1 Scenario 1: Environmental quality and waste management. Improvement With respect to water quality, it seeks to improve the filtration and storage of water. Due to the low oxygen content and > Public Health contamination of the water bodies, these ecosystems are highly stressed. While Overview these issues can be solved through Scenario 1, a low impact environment- engineered solutions, this scenario seeks to based development, is the least intensive undertake natural methods that can restore
Figure 8.1.1: Scenario 1 Rendering Thaltej Village: An Incremental Approach to Urban Encroachment | p.51
the littoral environment and overall water rolled if it were too heavy as long as the tap quality over time. These methods include is not permanently connected, similar to a the introduction of native plants, such as non-pressurized keg. trees, bushes, and grasses, near the water edge that can manage under the current Figure 8.1.3. Waste collection with large blue waste conditions to act as a buffer between the bins hutments and the water bodies to uptake nutrients and hold down sediment that may otherwise flow directly into the water. Aquaculture could further improve the active filtration of the water bodies themselves; however, water surface-based plants provide excellent mosquito habitats when there is little movement in the water as is the case in these tanks. Thus, filtration must be limited to a natural buffer in this Scenario. In addition to these attempts at natural remediation, a person may be employed to clean out the trash from the tanks.
Figure 8.1.2: Oxfam Bucket
The design of the buckets with taps assures that the contents do not get contaminated through use, while the lid helps to keep pests out of the water as well, where transmission of disease often occurs. This program would be in conjunction with a public participation program in which residents without water connections must Source: http://www.oxfam.org.uk register to receive such buckets, which In response to the stated need for greater would have unique IDs to help ensure water storage, the scenario proposes the rights. creation of a crude program of providing five-gallon water buckets with tight-fitting With respect to waste management, it lids and taps, similar to the Oxfam bucket, seeks formalize and increase awareness of to households that can be carried to approved waste collection sites. individual residences to lessen the number Convenient waste bins placed at the of trips that residents must make to and gateways to the site where traffic is from present water connections.2 A barrel- heaviest and where public services can shaped design would allow the bucket to be easily collect the waste can improve current access to waste facilities. While there exists
2 and informal waste collection and Oxfam, 2012. incineration, this process has not proven to http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/content/ethicalcollec tion/oxfambucket/default.html manage the issue of public sanitation
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satisfactorily. Centralizing trash collection inconvenience that affects hutment families sites makes trash sites less ambiguous and who live onsite and do not have access to can begin a process toward stigmatization private taps. of littering. This process can be made much more effective with a community education Strengths program such as one that is integrated into > Low required investment primary school education that involves > High potential ROI in terms of public children and their parents. health > Stabilizes water resources Funding > Sustainable programs through Scenario 1 has low funding requirements, education most of which can be funded directly out of AUDA funds for the native plant buffer and Weaknesses AMC funds for the waste bin distribution. If > Limited improvement to environment possible, an NPO that specializes in water > Does not address other high-priority access may be found to help assist with the issues (e.g. land tenure, access to water bucket program; otherwise, working community facilities) with the Panchayat to release local funding Opportunities for the project would be appropriate to its > Bottom-up public education campaign scale. through schools
> Top-down public education campaign Scenarios Analysis through village leaders, NPO, Panchayat The development of Scenario 1 relies on Threats input from residents. An informal stated > Lack of engagement in process Figure 8.1.4: Scenario 1 Funding
preference survey was conducted, from unsustainable programs which we were able to discover the > Corruption/Abuse of water storage importance of water infrastructure to the distribution program if not monitored community. Limited water distribution closely service to public taps restricts the amount and frequency of collection. This is a basic Anticipated Outcomes
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Scenario 1 is expected to result in a cleaner setting the stage for a focus on community environment with less refuse on the ground priorities and plans to execute those needs and in the water bodies. Over time, if that have health and social implications. improved conditions can be sustained, this can lead to improved water quality and The recommendations from this alternative lessen the likelihood of surface and fall into four categories: community groundwater contamination in a city and organizing, land tenure, public state where water resources are precious. infrastructure projects and prioritization, The entirety of the scenario is made more and urban design. effective when it coincides with education campaigns for both adults and children. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING While adult education can create community leadership and accountability, Thaltej hutment residents would benefit child education can create a new culture from a formal community development over time, both are essential to sustaining organization that identifies community positive change. leaders. The role of community leaders would include representing residents’ needs to the relevant governing body, such 8.2 Scenario 2: Community as AMC and AUDA, and interacting with the Initiatives Thaltej Village Punchayat. The community leaders would also play a role in prioritizing > Public Health any objectives the community wants to meet. > Community Development
The community organization should Overview approach the Thaltej Village Punchayat to This alternative for guiding change in share space in their offices that are located Thaltej focuses on two components: public on the east side of Thaltej Lake. Sharing this health and community development for the space would encourage communication existing community. The recommendations between the two representative bodies and made in this scenario concentrate on the help to formalize a relationship with the need to help stabilize the current Punchayat, the City’s agencies and the community under the pressures of new hutment residents, and possibly any non- growth, including a new metro station and governmental organizations that would public housing that will add hundreds of partner with Thaltej hutment residents. new low-income residents to the site area. This representative body would also be Building Blocks responsible for coordinating future public participation among hutment residents for
AUDA or AMC-led projects that will impact As mentioned, the approach to this current residents, as will be outlined later in alternative includes public health and the report. community development. The public health
building block includes that which was LAND TENURE described in Scenario 1, with some additions that are supported by the needs Thaltej hutment residents would benefit of the Thaltej hutment community. The from land security. Not having land security community development building block encourages disinvestment in the expands on the needs of the community by community both socially and physically.
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Residents will not want to put any money by households, NGOs, and other industries, savings into home or community AMC is responsible for toilet provision at a improvements at the risk of having to move cost of Rs. 5800 ($113.68) per unit. off of their land and losing their investments. Therefore, residents, with In dialogue with the residents, water supply AMC, should come to an agreement on a is another urgent issue. While community strategy to provide them with some land taps exist and provide water for two hours a security. One possibility for land security is day, it is often difficult for residents to carry a land lease. This option would allow and store enough water for the day’s residents to rent the land from the chores. The exact nature of the difficulty is government under agreed upon terms, such unknown, however. Further communication as a lease length of fifteen years in is needed with residents to determine exchange for rental payments. This gives whether water supply is an issue of volume, the community some stability to live on distribution, or both. Depending on the their land, while allowing the local problem, a solution may be either 1) government to plan ahead for 15-year time increase water supply to the taps at various frames and maintain ownership of the land times throughout the day or 2) provide for long-term changes. resources to improve residents capacity to transfer and store water from the taps to PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND their private residences, such as through PRIORITIZATION the container-transport method recommended in Scenario 1. Talking with the Thaltej hutment residents revealed four short-term essential needs. In A new public school should be funded and order of priority need, these include private built in a location with easy access for toilets, increase water supply, access to Thaltej hutment residents. A lack of space in public school, and access to a health clinic. existing public schools force current residents to travel further to and pay for a The community has one community toilet private school. Often this option is and shower facility and a sprinkling of unaffordable, and results in no schooling. private toilets. The private toilets were New demands for public schools will be provided by AMC in a previous scheme. increased when the public housing is However, not all of these toilets are occupied in the near future. Without a new connected to the sewer, and thus are not school, these new residents too will be used by residents who do not have an forced to bear the financial burden of alternative method for removal or storage private school or result in no education for of waste. There are several toilet drainage their children. They will also be competing connections from hutments to the smaller with the Thaltej hutment residents for lakes surrounding Thaltej in the site area, classroom space, which would not which is a health hazard. AUDA, as the encourage healthy community infrastructure arm of government, should relationships. work with the residents to obtain more private toilets that have a method for A site for a new public school is suggested disposal in the short-term. In the Slum on the Scenario 2 map. This site is currently Networking Project initiated in 1996-97, to vacant land. The site was strategically improve the physical and social chosen as it is accessible from the planned infrastructure facilities, AMC and AUDA metro station on SG Highway and the coordinated with communities to bear the construction cost. Despite the portion paid
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Thaltej hutments. It is buffered by private homes on most sides and accessible by a residential road, which will encourage safety and reduce nuisance of nearby traffic and noise. AMC should purchase this property for a new public school.
Finally, Thaltej hutment residents voiced need of a health clinic that is close enough for their access. Currently, it is difficult for residents to access the nearest clinic that they can afford. Similar to the need for a new school, the impending population growth from the public housing will create more demand for this basic need. A suggested locating for a public health center should be decided with existing residents, however, a suggested site is shown below. The property is currently vacant.
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URBAN DESIGN The area between the lake and the street should be grade separated for safety, and Along with the improvements in water should be minimally developed to provide quality for the lake in Scenario 1, this open space between the market along the Scenario suggests some physical changes to street and the lake. This open space would the landscape around the lake to further also offer a visual and physical connection improve environmental quality and to the Thaltej Village residents south of the transform it into a visual amenity for the site. The rendering and sketch below offer community and visitors to Thaltej. the possible orientation, feel and general design for such an open space on the south The immediate area surrounding the lake side of the lake. should have a buffer of native plant species of varying heights, including trees. This offers several benefits, including a physical barrier between the lake and people, which should minimize solid waste additions. Another benefit is to help reduce erosion as the lake expands and shrinks during rainy and non-rainy seasons. It will also be a visual amenity and create shady micro- climates for community members, the temple, Punchayat offices, and visitors along Thaltej road. View looking east from Thaltej Road
Physical access to the lake should be formalized through well-defined paths and openings. One such opening could be created by tearing down the wall along the section of the lake’s southern periphery fronting Thaltej road. Tearing down the wall and adding a more formalized landscape, orienting people toward the lake, would take advantage of this natural resource as an aesthetic. View looking north from Thaltej Road
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Funding the aforementioned community development organization (CDO) will
manage these newly constructed amenities. Funding for this scenario will mostly come Lessons from Mumbai indicate that the from AMC or AUDA. Covering a huge area public or community suffers from poor of 1295 square km, AUDA is likely to face a management and dysfunction quickly after number of technical, capacity, and resource the initial construction. One cause of due to constraints in carry out their planning public departments falling short of mandate. In order to ensure the providing sufficient funds for efficient sustainability of public investment, the upkeep and maintenance. In this scenario, Financial Operating Plan (FOP) from AMC’s the CDO would be given the right of Development Plan sets two financial collecting an entry fee for access to the criteria. One is a year-to-year positive existing community toilet and bathhouse. Opening Balance during the plan period. The revenue can be used for operation and The other criterion requires debt servicing management. For those unable to afford a expenses not to exceed 25 percent of membership, they can volunteer hours for revenues. As such, we suggest that AUDA cleaning or maintaining in lieu of payment. not undertake the project alone, but rather create an enabling environment attracting Another funding option is to require impact other potential funding. fees for any new development around
Thaltej Lake within a radius of 1 km for In Ahmadabad, informal labor creates commercial and multi-story residential generates large amount of revenue every developments. New development will bring day. Residents living near Thaltej Lake are more users of the existing and planned active and hardworking, despite the fact infrastructure, and potentially of that they are not well organized and lack community facilities. An assessment can be working capital. AUDA can partner with and made on the value of the development and authorize a non-profit organization to the impact fee can be collected and applied coordinate and manage the construction to capital costs for new infrastructure and work. During the process, slum residents facilities – such as the school and clinic – are encouraged to be engaged either by that are proposed in this scenario. Ideally, monetary support or labor supply. AMC would pass legislation that would
allow AMC to assess the impact fee and Along with the help from AUDA and NGOs,
Thaltej Village: Figure 8.2.1: Scenario 2 Funding An Incremental Approach to Urban Encroachment | p.58
authorize the Punchayats or other small- > Thaltej Lake can be enhanced as a visual scale representative body to collect and and communal amenity with open manage part of the fee for facility space design operations. The bulk of the fees collected > Visual enhancement may encourage should stay with the governing authority more commercial development and and distributed through AUDA or other create economic opportunities department responsible for new projects requiring capital. However, revenues Threats collected from impact fees in a certain > As development continues near the geographic boundary, such as around site, resident displacement may still Thaltej lake, should be obligated by law to become a reality go back to projects within that same boundary. 8.3 Scenario 3 Community Although “public-private participation” was Centered Redevelopment considered, a lack of economic incentives from the city reduces the likelihood of involvement by a private investor. An Overview example of lake privatization from a Scenario Three, a community centered Bangalore case study suggests that redevelopment, is the second most investment and maintenance by private intensive development scheme. The companies would result in over-use, scenario incorporates the remediation of eventually leading to severe loss of the lake for environmental and public ecological integrity and social value. health purposes, as well as incorporating the needs of the existing residents. In Alternative 2 Analysis addition, this scenario considers how to attract new residents to the area in order to capitalize on the amenity of the lake and Strengths deal with the pressures of increasing > Existing residents’ needs for toilets, urbanization from an inclusive standpoint. water, school and health clinic are This scenario will create a new footprint for prioritized the lake, allowing for new greenspace and > Community Development Organization residential projects, while incorporating and land tenure strategy will help policies and services for the revitalization of sustain existing community and the existing community. encourage self-investment > Micro-economy of hutment jobs in Building Blocks nearby community and businesses go undisturbed Scenario Three is an attempt to phase new greenspace and real estate development Weakness into a community revitalization plan. The “Public Health” building block will > Additional funding mechanisms for incorporate Scenario 1, as well as adding infrastructure projects will need to be more engineering-based environmental sought remediation. The “Existing Community” > Non-traditional sources of funding and building block will incorporate Scenario project implementation may require Two, building on the community new laws to be established by AMC development strategies already in place,
and adding more housing and economic Opportunities
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development strategies. The “New The dredging would allow for bank Residents” building block will provide new reclamation and significantly increase the residential development and amenities. steepness of the slope from land to the Scenario Three will have a major effect on water. This can increase the storage the community, but aims to keep most of capacity of the tanks, reduce evaporation, the existing population in place. It can be and mitigate vector risk. Some of the seen as an incremental step towards recovered earth can be used for re-grading Scenario Four, as it begins to build a paths and surrounding land to design structure for new property development to channels for surface runoff during the take place. It is inevitable that increased monsoon season that would reduce flood real estate development so close to the risk to buildings. core of Ahmedabad will take place; Scenario Three provides a means for existing residents to transition from slum housing to new housing while making their concerns heard. It also begins the process of building new housing, and moving new residents into the community. As existing structures age, they can be replaced by new structures that move in more residents, perhaps of a more diverse income level.
The recommendations from this alternative Figure 8.3.1. Natural Buffer fall into five categories: environmental and public health, new infrastructure, new The constructed wetlands create an intense residential construction, increased buffer of native plant species to reduce greenspace, and activation of new erosion and sedimentation, while also commercial nodes. capturing nutrients in runoff that may otherwise lead to algal growth and, later, Environment/Public Health hypoxia, reducing water quality and the viability of life in the water bodies. Figure This category of the scenario considers the 8.3.1 shows an example of constructed issues of water quality, waste management, wetlands on a small scale. To aerate the air quality, sanitation, exposure, and water other than through capillary action roadway safety. In part, Scenario Three from plants and course bubble systems as builds on the improvements set up in described in Scenario Two, Scenario Three Scenarios One and Two, incorporating those utilizes the subtly different altitudes of the schemes into this one. water bodies to move water to each of the
local water bodies through rocky channels With respect to water quality, Scenario of constructed wetlands to increase the Three addresses the filtration, storage, and turbulence of the flow, which increases the aeration of the water bodies. Different exchange of oxygen with the water. The from Scenarios One and Two, this scenario process harnesses the stormwater involves much greater investment, management program that has linked the complete with dredging, constructed water bodies to the Narmada Canal, which wetlands, aquaculture, water cisterns, and makes the tanks perennial. If grades allow stormwater connections throughout the for the element, small waterfalls that lead site. into each water body further promote
aeration, while creating an aesthetic
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amenity. All of these improvements, make water during the monsoon season, aquaculture viable. The introduction of fish lessening the potential for sewer overflow. and other animal species that consume With respect to waste management, the mosquito eggs should curb vector risk in the methods from Scenario Two are continued, wetlands. including waste containers on the perimeter of the site and on the interior Water cisterns can be found throughout along alleyways. India including within Thaltej itself. This scenario would expand the number of New Infrastructure facilities with cisterns to include new New infrastructure will improve public public/community facilities constructed health, environment, and the economy of under this program. The goal of increasing the community. This infrastructure will water storage in the local area is to reduce build on that suggested by Scenarios Two dependence on the Narmada Canal and and Three, while potentially paving the way reduce the amount of water that is for Scenario Four. discharged into the Sabarmati River, where it may then be taken downstream out of One of the larger infrastructure issues to be the Ahmedabad water supply. addressed in this scenario is the The water bodies work as stormwater connectivity of streets, roads, and management systems for Greater footpaths. As seen in the map in Figure Ahmedabad. However, Scenario Three 8.3.2, this scenario calls for an increased connects the areas within the development street network, emphasizing more via paved street gutters to natural channels connectivity and node-oriented that lead to the water bodies to build a development. This is in place to begin to stormwater management system for the create a connected network, contrary to site. This system would not be connected the more dendritic streets that are being directly to the wastewater/sewer system to constructed as Ahmedabad continues to prevent any mixing of effluent into the expand. In addition to the improvements to water bodies. This infrastructure reduces major streets, alleys (not shown) can add to the load on the sewer lines to transmit the street network, and provide a means to
Thaltej Village: Figure 8.3.1: Scenario 3 Rendering An Incremental Approach to Urban Encroachment | p.61
collect waste, thereby solving some portion intersection, and delineated as such by of the sanitation problem. pedestrian infrastructure such as crosswalks and wide sidewalks. Furthermore, With respect to air quality, Scenario Three boulevard structures such as pedestrian builds on top of Scenario Two with islands and signals may be needed as the additional pavement along all roadways and area develops. This area should also include urban paths and gravel alongside street lighting to increase perceptions of greenways next to connecting stream safety in the area. channels. These investments further reduce the amount of dust that can be A key issue for public safety is adequate released into the air; however, increased lighting. This improves the perception of accessibility for automobiles may increase safety, and is especially needed with exposure to vehicle emissions. revived public access to the lakefront. As mentioned, public lighting will be added to Another strategy to improve public health is the newly activated commercial area and to prioritize walking and biking areas. The the market pavilion. For increased safety, installation of a boardwalk around the lake public lighting should be installed around will facilitate enjoyment of the newly the boardwalk as well. cleaned lake, as well as increased exercise area. Those streets that connect directly to Residential Construction the boardwalk around the lake should have Large portions of the existing community sidewalks clearly delineated by street trees will remain in place, while those located in and raised curbs. A market pavilion with the flood plains of the existing lake will be covered stalls for vendors on the southern moved in order to expand the lake’s side of Thaltej Lake fronting Drive-In Road footprint. The households that are will incentivize use of public space by disrupted by the new development will be providing shade during the day and lighting moved to a site north of the original slum at night. settlement. This site is within walking
distance of the community, so as to The intersection of Arham Bungalow Road, minimize disrupting the social network. The which runs north and south, and Drive In communities that will stay in place are Road should be a key commercial
Figure 8.3.3: Incremental Improvements Thaltej Village: An Incremental Approach to Urban Encroachment | p.62
highlighted with an overlay in the showcase the designs that were most accompanying map. As mentioned in feasible in the context. previous pages, there is already public housing constructed here; our recommendation is that the existing community members be relocated to this area.
The portions that stay in place will be upgraded through a series of steps that build off of Scenario Two, while considering that one of the goals of this scenario is providing for the recreation needs of a new Figure 8.3.4: Filipe Balestra and Sara Göransson's population. The needs of the community Design for Pune and the needs of this new population can be balanced through public participation.
Implementing a guideline for incremental improvements will help to ensure the visual cohesion of the neighborhood. In addition, improving the quality of existing housing may make the area more appealing to middle income homebuyers, who will be the target demographic for new housing. Figure 8.3.3 shows the incremental Figure 8.3.5: Vedang Bagwe's Model for Pune Housing improvements typically made on a slum dwelling. As the slum housing improves incrementally, Scenario Three assumes the In these designs, the ground floor is left implementation of private toilets for all open, to be used as living space, storage, households. This creates an opportunity to commercial space, or a garage. The second redevelop community toilets into other floor has a veranda, incorporating open uses and provides residents with secure space. The slum residents played a major means of improving personal and public part in directing the design effort, pointing hygiene. out their need for underground storage tanks, and their preferences for outdoor The design of the newly resettled space. communities will depend in large part on public participation from the families who Figure 8.3.6 illustrates the proposed will be affected. As mentioned above, development under Scenario Three. As in preliminary interviews with households Scenario Two, a health clinic and a school indicated that current relocation housing are included in the plan, because these did not fit their lifestyle. Indeed, Lauren services are currently not available to the Farrow’s article addresses the disconnect slum community. Adding to these amenities that architects, especially from different is a public barn for cattle. The barn is cultures, experience when designing houses situated at the north tip of the lake. This for slum dwellers. In a very informative area is closest to the resettled hutment, blog post, journalist Lauren Farrow follows households, who are expected to gain the the process of designing new slum housing most use from the facility. It is located in at in Pune, India. Figures 8.3.4 and 8.3.5 the intersection of two green space areas,
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so that animals from all areas of the dwellers are not “gentrified out” of their hutment settlement can use the facility. The homes, and also fill a niche in the market barn is an essential piece to the that is not currently being served. An resettlement of part of the community. In article in national newspaper The Hindu, our informal interviews, residents cites Mr Patnaik D. R., General Manager of expressed their desire that housing Ramky Estates & Farms, a major real estate accommodate their livestock and their developer. He explains that there is an extended families. In Figure 8.3.6, a increase in demand for apartments, prototype for a barn used by the non-profit especially the ones which are compact— group Food for Life Vrindavana in Utter below 1500 square feet, rather than those Pradesh. This design takes up one acre of which are big (Kumar, 2011). The upward space, and houses about 150 cows. This surge in demand for middle-income group should serve as an example, rather than a and affordable housing is forcing model. developers to look at this segment, away from luxury villas and larger apartments.
Figure 8.3.7 shows the market sector for lower middle income families. According to the source article for this graphic, a report from the Monitor Group, a flat that is 500 square feet can cost Rs. 450,000 to 500,000 thousand (Karamchandani, Shenoy, Soman, Venkatachalam, and Jain, 2008).
Households making Rs. 11,000 to Rs. 12,000 per month can afford this price only with Figure 8.3.6: Community Barn financing. Although a 500 square foot unit is among the smallest being built today, due The new housing that will be built will to price, it would be out of bounds for over target lower middle class and middle class 80 percent of India’s households, as shown families. This will ensure that current slum in Figure 8.3.7.
Figure 8.3.7: India Urban Households Thaltej Village: An Incremental Approach to Urban Encroachment | p.64
The same Monitor Group report explains Increased Greenspace that families who are lower to middle In a city as dense as Ahmedabad, a major income are interested in purchasing new concern is access to green space and housing in the square footage range of 250- recreation. As in the case of Vastrapur Lake, 350 square feet, at a price point of Rs. increased green space can mean increased 250,000-320,000. If this demographic were economic activity as the area becomes a to consider moving, they would prefer to draw for new development. Green space live somewhere with safe and plentiful attracts new commercial and residential public space, access to schools, shops and development, and facilitates community healthcare, and, most importantly, access gathering. The challenge is balancing the to public transport (Karamchandani, needs of the existing community with Shenoy, Soman, Venkatachalam, and Jain, additional population from new 2008). development.
The report includes a floorplan of a 229 A public space for cattle grazing and food square foot house, shown in Figure 8.3.8. cultivation is located to the east of the This floor plan was built in a housing resettled community, north of the public development in Mumbai, and has received barn. This space connects to a greenway for enthusiastic reviews from the buyers. cattle grazing and food production. It Though the target demographic is lower should incorporate a watering facility for middle to middle class households due to cattle, and strategic access to the lake. strict class divisions in Indian society, and to Specifics of the layout of this green space appeal to marketability, the new housing is should be directed by the community. If the carefully situated to avoid views of hutment community decides to pursue agricultural settlements and the cattle barn. Access to products, there is the possibility that other the new housing is offered through several green space areas around the lake could be points, so that new residents can avoid cultivated as well. It is feasible to put in hutment settlement areas, which can be place an entire agricultural program, seen as unsafe or unsavory. Additionally, it utilizing the park-like space around the lake is recommended that screening trees be to create economic opportunities for incorporated at the bordering edges current residents. A partnership with a between the new housing and the existing university or the Ministry of Agriculture settlements. would be beneficial to this program.
The portion of the green space that would serve as recreational facilities for the general public is accessed at the southern end of the lake. The informal market area along Drive-In Road would be formalized with a market pavilion that would serve as the gateway for a “beach-like” park and access to the lake via a dock. This dock would extend around the perimeter of the lake as a boardwalk. A depiction of the proposed boardwalk, pavilion, and dock is Figure 8.3.8: Floor plans for 229 sq ft dwelling shown in Figure 8.3.9. Additionally, the dock could facilitate small businesses such
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as paddleboat rentals and small street food facilitate the surrounding neighborhood vendors. using the boardwalk to access the market pavilion. This decreases travel time to As the boardwalk extends around the lake, access this new recreational facility, and it will connect uses such as the Punchayat encourages local use. building and the temple on the east side to the lake. At the northeastern corner, the Activation of Commercial boardwalk will be connected to a small Nodes greenway between the lake and newly developed bungalow homes. As it Along with the creation of a market pavilion continues, the boardwalk will become a bordering Drive-In Road, medium-scale bridge over the floodplain areas that are commercial development should be now the wetland area and waterfall pursued to create a commercial corridor connector area of the three of the lakes. At serving Thaltej Village, hutment the tip of the peninsula, the boardwalk will settlements, and new residents. Since there connect with an additional pedestrian is already heavy-scale commercial outlet that primarily serves the new development along the SG Highway housing. This connection enables residents corridor, the development in the Drive-In of the new housing on the peninsula to Road corridor bordering Thaltej village walk to the market pavilion and commercial should be smaller scale, and more suited to corridor without using roads, or walking neighborhood development. through the hutment settlements. Traveling west on Drive-In Road, the first The boardwalk continues to circle around indication of a commercial corridor will be the lake, ending back at the market the market pavilion. The existing vendors pavilion. Whenever possible, street will continue to sell their merchandise in connections meet up with the boardwalk to the stretch of road between the market
Figure 8.3.9: Boardwalk, Pavilion, and Dock
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pavilion and the newly developed Arham previous lake development at Vastrapur, Bungalow Road/Drive-In Road commercial new commercial development consisted of node. For the vendors’ safety, a raised curb a multi-story mall and cinema complex. The could be installed, but this infrastructure mall’s stores include a grocery store, improvement may be cost prohibitive. clothing shops, and restaurants. In other A mixed-use development at the areas, fresh and prepared food, clothing, intersection of Arham Bungalow Road and and all manner of other merchandise is sold Drive-In Road should be encouraged. There by vendors from carts on the street. There is already commercial development on the is a lively market already in place in Thaltej. east side of the road, and along Drive-In Encouraging large-scale commercial Road. Currently, there is a library housed on development would diminish the market the west side of Drive-In Road. The area share of street-vendors, many of whom are around the library can be expanded into a housed in the surrounding communities. social services hub. As in Scenario Two, a Furthermore, a large-scale development new school building/ community building would not serve the needs of the existing and a new clinic are needed. These new population, or the new low to middle class facilities can be incorporated into a campus population. with the library, to provide a protected, walkable environment serving hutments Funding and new low middle class clients. Funding this scenario requires cooperation
and creativity. Cooperation is required On the east side of Arham Bungalow Road, because a non-governmental organization and bordering Drive-In Road, a small (NGO) should be recruited to assist with collection of retail shops already exists. slum upgrading, as was the case for the These buildings should remain in place, and Slum Networking Project (SNP). The SNP if more density is needed, owners should be was a partnership between SEWA Bank, given the option of expanding into a second AMC, and other local NGOs, and is known story. Similarly, the commercial as an innovative partnership model for development on the southern side of Drive- slum-upgrading. In the SNP, SEWA and AMC In Road should remain, with the option of provided a bundle of services to slum increasing density. communities who agreed to take part in the
program. The bundle of services included The key to making this commercial area physical development, community succeed and thrive will be installation of development, physical surveys, design and traffic calming measures. A three-way consulting, networking with existing mains traffic light needs to be installed to control system, and providing individual toilets (Das motor vehicle traffic. On each of the three and Takahashi, 2009). access points, raised crosswalks should be installed, with raised pedestrian islands in The AMC contributed approximately 80 the medians. The pedestrian islands should percent of the funds needed to install this be sloped to accommodate carts and bundle of services. Beneficiary households bicycles. were expected to contribute the remaining
20 percent. This 20 percent was either The purpose of creating a walkable saved, or borrowed from SEWA Bank. Loans environment and encouraging existing made through SEWA bank for this purpose businesses and social services that cater to are called Parivartan loans. Through the the current residents is to ensure that the SNP scheme, the AMC provided Rs. 8,000 development does not usurp the business per participating household for slum segment of the informal sector. In a
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upgrading. Participating households provided a counterpart contribution of Rs. The most contentious issue in slum 2,000 for a total investment of Rs. 10,000 upgrading programs worldwide is the issue (City Alliance, 2002). of tenure. Residents are unwilling to commit their meager resources to improve Physical improvement of the slums was the their community if they have no ownership main goal of this project, but community rights. Some successful slum upgrading development was also included. The projects, like the Baan Mankong initiative in community development portion was Thailand have national government support facilitated by a non-profit arm of SEWA that allows for land tenure takeover by bank, called the Mahila Housing Trust slum residents. In Gujarat, the authority to (MHT). In the SNP, the MHT was charged extend formal tenure rests with the state with educating communities about the government , which has never allowed program, and with organizing community upgrading on state government–owned groups, made up of mostly women, to make lands (Das and Takahashi, 2009). In the SNP, decisions about the services being AMC was able to provide for a 10-year implemented. These community security of tenure for upgraded slums. This organizations worked to promote SNP in ten-year “grace period” was renewed for their communities, and to convince the participating communities who reached the entire community to pay for the upgrades. end of the ten-year period, but in general, In subsequent years, MHT has worked with AMC viewed the SNP as a catalyst that these community groups to teach them residents could leverage to improve their how to apply for national government living situation and leave their communities grants and how to file complaints with local (Das and Takahashi, 2009). governments. Utilizing the power of these community groups to implement upgrading One idea that could be implemented to add in the Thaltej hutment settlements would more value to the SNP 10-year land tenure build on the community organizations in model is to grant development rights to the Scenario Two, as well as being the channel residents, and allow them to sell these through which AUDA works to implement a rights to developers who are interested in resettlement program. purchasing them at the end of the 10-year
Figure 8.3.10: Scenario 3 Funding period. On private lands, residents could
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pay the landholder for his development Paki Bhit loans (Cities Alliance, 2003). As rights as their 20 percent portion of the HUDCO guarantees Paki Bhit loans, a larger upgrading fee. This would benefit the agency, such as AUDA, or even the World landowners, and make them more Bank could guarantee larger loans. amenable to the program. The residents would hold the rights, and could sell them Increasing the existing residents’ earning up until the end of their tenure agreement. capacity is one way to ensure they will be This could be structured so that able to invest in new housing. This can be development rights are only marketable for accomplished by hiring existing residents to the last three years, in order to prevent complete infrastructure projects, whenever residents from “flipping” their and the possible. Clearing land for new greenspace, AUDA’s investment. To ensure that building the boardwalk and cleaning the developers would use the development lake, and building new community facilities rights, the program could be structured so can all be accomplished by residents. A that purchasing the rights from residents is training program would have to be the most efficient system in terms of time implemented to teach residents basic and finance. Alternatively, the development carpentry and other skills. This would be rights could be re-purchased by the especially beneficial to youth and women landowner. who are not traditionally employed. The practice of recruiting residents to plan and While AMC has extensive experience in build infrastructure was tested in the case SNP-type projects, AUDA is less study of Kitale, Kenya, and found to be very experienced. AMC should be encouraged to effective in training residents and creating expand their boundaries to encompass jobs. Thaltej, so that a program such as SNP can be implemented. Furthermore, financing programs with SEWA bank can be employed to allow more A program for purchasing new housing and community members to take advantage of improving existing housing can be pursued the public space through informal in partnership with SEWA bank. Currently, businesses like food carts or entertainment. their most common loan for housing, called As shown in the case study from Nairobi, the Paki Bhit loan, is only available at Rs. Kenya, the success of small businesses in 25,000 with a 14 percent interest rate. the informal sector is often tied into the Approximately half of the Paki Bhit loans quality of the infrastructure of the are used for basic improvements such as community they are located in. wall, floor, or roof repair, and half are used for room additions including kitchen or Adding new property, new infrastructure, bathroom additions. It would be advisable increased sources of revenue, and land to partner with SEWA to offer a new loan tenure rights will create a situation like the product that facilitates financing for new one described in Figure 8.3.10, wherein the house construction for current slum expenditure of the city can be covered in dwellers. This could be structured similarly some portion by increased tax revenue. To to the Paki Bhit. A new loan product would keep this tax revenue increasing, it is have to be developed to fund the purchase essential to implement a maintenance plan. of new homes at a price of Rs. 250,000. The management of the new greenspace SEWA is one of the largest microfinance will be charged to AUDA, rather than a institutions in India, and they currently private developer. It is essential that public work with the Housing Development access to the lake remain a priority. Unlike Finance Corporation (HUDCO)to offer the Vastrapur, no fence should be installed
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around the property. A guard rail around Creating a community that targets a lower the boardwalk is a necessity, but a fence and middle income demographic will be would preclude recreational interactions beneficial to the entire city of Ahmedabad. with the lake and give the appearance of Forcing out lower-classes will make labor elitism. costs in the city rise. Although workers could appreciate higher wages, increased Analysis transportation costs will eat into their Social profits. Situating a subsidized middle- In Scenario Three, the quality of life for income community at Thaltej will allow existing residents is improved, and the workers to take advantage of public addition of new residents is facilitated. transportation and easy access to the city. Existing residents receive new housing and infrastructure that is supportive of their Environmental and Health lifestyle. Combining Scenarios One, Two, and Three will lead to a better life for the A study of the SNP scheme found that existing residents, with Scenario One upgrades in slum household infrastructure creating a healthier living environment, can lead to improved health outcomes. Scenario Two improving basic services and Slum upgrading reduced a claimant’s community development, and Scenario likelihood of waterborne illness from 32 Three creating new housing and percent to 14 percent, and from 25 percent employment opportunities. Furthermore, it to 10 percent excluding mosquito-related will lay the groundwork for an incremental illnesses (Butala, VanRooyen, Patel , 2010). stage of growth towards Scenario Four. Added infrastructure will improve the Of course, whenever improvements are health of new and existing residents by made to a community, changes will occur. calming traffic and attempting to keep dust The improvements may put pressure on at bay. Traffic calming measures will make residents to sell their land. The property crossing the streets easier at the newly taxes will increase, which could drive some improved commercial node. residents out of the area. Clashes between new residents and existing residents regarding lifestyle choices such as farming, 8.4 Scenario 4: Redevelopment cattle, and transportation may become an Overview issue. Scenario 4, a complete redevelopment, is
the most intensive development scheme. Economic The scenario will completely reconstruct The existing residents will benefit from the lake and provide Ahmedabad with new more opportunities for employment. public, recreation space surrounding the Formal jobs will be created by lake. Existing residents will be moved to infrastructure-based employment, and new public housing offsite and new private informal jobs will be created by an influx of housing will be constructed on site. This new residents purchasing goods and type of redevelopment will most closely services. Appropriate commercial resemble the Vastrapur model and development will ensure the continued traditional urban renewal. existence of the informal sector. The market pavilion and improved lake will create opportunities for vending and small businesses such as boat rental.
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Figure 8.4.1: Scenario 4 Rendering
discussed earlier in this document, utilizing 8.4.1 Building Blocks natural stone, reinforced concrete, etc. This method creates a permanent landscape Scenario 4 most dramatically affects the that can withstand heavy downpours from local environment, existing and new monsoons with no degradation of the site. community, and broader Ahmedabad. It allows the water bodies to be customized to fit the desires of the development authorities as well as potential developers. Environment/Public Health It also converts the water bodies into public This scenario considers the issues of water amenities, more or less detached from quality, waste management, air quality, nature. This plan does not require natural sanitation, exposure, roadway safety, and buffers as constructed buffers with garden healthcare access. In part, Scenario 4 builds space can provide some, though lower, on the improvements set up in Scenarios 1- level of the same function, while also 3, incorporating those schemes into this providing perhaps a more aesthetically one and has similarities to Scenario 3with pleasing environment for citizens. To some engineering and aesthetically-driven aerate the water bodies, fountains can be differences in the manner in which it placed at their centers for this function. addresses water resources. Therefore, the Finally, rather than utilizing greenways to details of this scenario will only discuss connect the water bodies, the current these differences, for details of the water lines that connect them would be remaining elements, see Scenario 3. sufficient in order to augment the amount With respect to water resource of developable space. These methods come management, Scenario 4 seeks to follow the with environmental trade-offs compared Vastrapur Model of water body restoration, with Scenario 3, however, they present
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developers with a more standard access to water, sewer, and electricity. commercialized beauty for the property. Finally, beyond the specifics of the living quarters of Scenario 4, additional social Existing Community services will be included in this plan to address the needs of the community. A To prioritize the real estate value of a fully public school will be located at, or near, the redesigned Thaltej Lake, the existing site of the new housing, along with a health community would be moved away from the center and community center. existing site. Because the site is relatively small, new housing would be provided for existing residents off site. New Community
With the creation of newly designed Although the entire slum community at recreation land and the clearing of the Thaltej Lake would be moved to new existing slum housing, large portions of the housing, many steps would be taken to land would be redeveloped with private ensure the transition to new housing will be residences. These new private residences— the least disruptive and most equitable. which will likely include a combination of Even (and especially) in this scenario, bungalows and high rise apartments—will community participation will be integral to attract new people to the area. These new influence the design of the new housing, residents will be able to take advantage of the logistics of the final move, and ongoing the new recreation amenities at Thaltej operations of the new housing. Based on Lake and have access to the proposed this community participation, every effort Metro and BRTS. Although it is unlikely new will be made to preserve the existing social residents would take public transportation, and economic networks that are so integral it can provide access for the new residents’ to the community at Thaltej Lake. Although domestic help. there will naturally be disruptions to the existing networks, through careful planning, Bringing in a new community to Thaltej design, and ongoing community presents a number of challenges for the engagement, these disruptions will be surrounding neighborhood. Because the minimized. new community will be middle to upper
middle class, they will expect certain While the actual specifications of the new amenities, such as stores, restaurants, and housing will be the result of the public entertainment, which will affect the participation process discussed in Chapter surrounding area. These amenities along 7, there are a number of likely features. with the newly designed lake and the more First, whatever the final housing scheme, expensive residences will, overtime, cause some type of tenure will be provided for price appreciation in the surrounding residents, which they lack in their current neighborhood. The timeline of these settlement. This could take the form of neighborhood changes will be dependent ownership, but more likely a long term on not only the Thaltej redevelopment, but lease, similar to the schemes tried in also the economic performance of greater Mumbai. Second, the design of the Ahmedabad. buildings likely will be based on modifications to existing apartment Beyond the general effects of gentrification, designs. The new designs will feature space the new community will have significant that is more suitable to the needs of the impacts on the local road network. Rather Thaltej Lake residents. Third, the new than the gradual increase of automobiles in housing will provide residence with better Thaltej that will occur regardless of new
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development, this new development entertainment, playground areas to attract scheme would bring hundreds of new children and young families, shaded space automobiles to the area all at once. for relaxing during the summer months, as Although nearby roads, such as SG Highway, well as designated areas for food vending. have been designed for the automobile, the local road network around Thaltej is made The new urban public recreation space up primarily of winding, narrow roads that targeting citizens throughout Ahmedabad are not conducive to the automobile. will spur economic development in Thaltej Furthermore, these roads are already Village and the nearby neighborhoods. An heavily congested with existing traffic let influx of new residents and visitors will alone the addition of new automobiles. provide opportunities to expand local In addition to addressing the design and businesses and produce jobs in the capacity of the road network, private surrounding areas. While the final count of vehicle parking will be a concern for new jobs will be contingent on the number Scenario 4. Currently, there is little need of new residents and the amount of visitors, for parking infrastructure at the site. In the the new jobs and businesses spurred by a development of Scenario 4, parking for the Thaltej Lake redevelopment will be an new community’s private automobiles and important outcome for Ahmedabad. two-wheelers will need to be incorporated Additionally, there will be opportunities to into the design. Additionally, to attract borrow job training approaches discussed in visitors to the newly designed lake, ample the previous scenarios to improve the local parking will be important to incorporate workforce. into the project’s design. Funding Although Scenario 4 has the highest funding Broader Ahmedabad requirements, the scheme will be mostly In a city that has prioritized increasing supported through increased land values public green space, a redevelopment of and private funds. As was the case with Thaltej Lake will provide new public space Vastrapur, a major portion of the project’s to an area of the city that lacks it. The costs will be dedicated to relocation of the surrounding area continues to urbanize current residents into new housing. Below with dense developments that lack public three general funding structures are space. Especially to the north and west of discussed. Thaltej Lake, lower density, bungalow developments will continue to develop. The first structure is essentially a small scale Although these developments incorporate version of the funding of the Sabarmati greater amounts of green space, the space River. The city will construct the new lake, is private and not accessible to the broader public space, and new offsite housing from public of Ahmedabad. The accessibility is the proceeds of land sales. A portion of the enhanced by the nearby BRTS and a Thaltej Lake site will be used as public space proposed Metro line. with the remaining portion being parceled off and sold or entered into a long term This recreation space ties into the lease. Because of the unlocked value previously discussed environmental and created by the lake redevelopment, the new community features, but there will be parcels can be sold/leased at a much higher a number of features specifically targeting rate than the current market value in the people from broader Ahmedabad. These area. If the timing aligns with the features will include space designed for development of the nearby metro station,
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an even higher value will be able to be Scenario 4 has a number of strengths over achieved for the new residential parcels. the other scenarios. First, the new Although there are many variables involved development will bring new residents to the with the financing, this structure should Thaltej area. Rather than moving to new cover many of the costs; however, a public suburbs, these new residents will be subsidy will probably be necessary to located in an infill site within the city limits finance the project. built around existing infrastructure. Second, the site will be a new recreational A second option is for the sale of the entire amenity for residents from all over Thaltej Lake area upfront and have a Ahmedabad. Unlike the other scenarios, developer lead the development of the which will improve the lake for the lake, public space, and residential residents located in the immediate construction. In this financing scheme, neighborhood, this scenario will create a strict covenants and contracts will be destination for the entire city. Finally, for necessary to ensure the developer delivers the existing residents, the new housing will the product and it is used/operated as be a significant improvement over the intended. existing housing conditions. The existing residents will also have access to a new The development of the new housing in this school, community center, and health second financing scheme could be led center near their new housing. privately or publically. As part of the sale of the site, a requirement could be for the Despite the social strengths of Scenario 4, it new owner to provide new housing for the has a number of inherent weaknesses that existing slum populations. More likely, the should be addressed in the development’s government would lead the development of planning. A major weakness is the the new housing with proceeds from the disruption to the existing community and land sale. In the government-led scenario, social networks within the slum housing. community involvement could, Although the community participation plan theoretically, be better incorporated into works to preserve these networks, the risk the planning for the new housing. remains that a significant amount of these networks will be lost in a move to new housing. Another social weakness is that the new development takes the form of a A third financing scheme is to introduce gated community and will be disconnected some form of tax increment financing to the from the local context. This development project. This scheme is the most variable, could also adversely affect the lower to as tax increment financing does not exist in middle income residents of the surrounding India, and there is no property tax data. neighborhood. The project will increase This scheme is essentially an addition to the neighboring property values, which could first financing scheme, where the city lead to the displacement of existing constructs the lake, public space, and new residents, especially those who rent. housing using proceeds from the sale of the Finally, new visitors to the area could have property. To close any potential financing negative externalities associate with them, gap, new property tax revenue generated such as increase in traffic congestion and from the site could be used exclusively for crime. While these new visitors will surely project financing. have economic benefits, their effect on the
quality of life for area residents will be Scenarios Analysis mixed. Social
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Economic Because of the complete redevelopment of Compared to the other three scenarios, the lake and the surrounding area, Scenario Scenario Four has the potential for the 4 has the potential to have the greatest greatest economic benefits. First, while environmental benefits. For the water there are many options for the final body, the existing causes of pollution, financing scheme, this scenario will, without including wastewater runoff and open a doubt, encourage the greatest amount of defecation, will be fully eliminated in this private investment and has the potential to scenario. For the surrounding community require the least amount of public and the city more generally, this scenario investment. Beyond the private will dramatically increase the amount of investment, new development in scenario 4 green space. Although the other scenarios will create new jobs in the area. In the will have similar effects of reduced short term, many construction jobs will be pollution and increased green space, this needed to build new apartments for new scenario will have the most comprehensive residents, to build new housing for the slum environmental benefits. residents, and to redevelop the lake. Over the long term, local requirements for While the environmental benefits of services and the increase in visitors to Scenario 4 are likely to be immediate, over Thaltej will ensure the creation of new small the long term the intensity of the businesses and related jobs. Finally, the development—if not planned for—will new development will benefit the entire cause new environmental challenges. Many city through a higher tax base through the new residents at the site and visitors to the increased property values at the site as well site will undoubtedly increase the traffic as the surrounding neighborhoods. congestion around the site. Coupled with the increase in automobile use in the city, The major economic weaknesses of the local environment will be adversely scenario 4 relate to the lack of clarity of affected in the future. Second, although who benefits financially from the the design will eliminate the existing causes development. Because private investment of water pollution, if not controlled, the will be important for developing the site, if new residents and visitors could form new not structured properly, this scheme has pollution through littering. Some type of the potential to heavily reward the private trash collection program will need to be sector at the expense of existing residents implemented to prevent this from and the city more generally. The final happening financing scheme needs to be cautious about giving up to many benefits to the private developers and not retaining enough of these benefits for the city. Another economic weakness is the potential displacement of informal businesses and existing residents because of the effects of gentrification. Although new local businesses will certainly be created and new residents will move in, planners need to be aware of what will happen to the existing businesses and residents.
Environmental
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Figure 8.4.5: Scenario 4 Funding
. Figure 8.4.4: Expenditures and Revenues Timeline 1
Figure 8.4.6: Expenditures and Revenues Timeline 2
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9 Concluding Thoughts
While the form and process for redevelopment or upgrading of Thaltej Lake in the near future remains uncertain, the pressure for change and restructuring is mounting due to a rapidly expanding population, physical growth of the city, and the increasing wealth of Ahmedabad citizens and Indians at large. As Thaltej Lake moves up on AUDA’s priority list for redevelopment, a process and form for change will surely emerge. This report addresses how Ahmedabad and stakeholders could reconsider Thaltej Lake as well as the process necessary for transition.
The alternatives presented for the Thaltej lake and surrounding communities address three primary issues; environmental and public health restoration of the area, the land value and economic concerns of AMC and AUDA, and the needs and lifestyle requirements of the current residents living around Thaltej lake. While four scenarios are presented independently, it was determined that each scenario is not mutually exclusive. While projecting the alternatives over a timeline, components of a scenario or a scenario in its entirety could be pursued as one step, followed by components of the next scenario. It is with this in mind that no one alternative was recommended. However, the public participation plan is a critical component to which each scenario or combination of scenarios pursued must address. The success of rebuilding or redevelopment of any form depends upon the engagement of the residents of Thaltej village, the residents of nearby neighborhoods, officials and other key stakeholders.
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