Open Spaces & Water Bodies in Greater Mumbai
Inventorisation of Open spaces & Water Bodies in Greater Mumbai PREFACE Mumbai, the largest metropolis of India and the third largest in the world, is a unique city. It enjoys both, a dense and multi cultural demographic diversity as well as a varied range of environmental features. There are rivers, natural drains, lakes, hills, forests and coastal features like beaches, rocky outcrops, mangroves and creeks. However, growth in population and changes in the State policies, in the past few decades has resulted in phenomenal construction activity adversely affecting all the environmental features. While the natural water bodies are fast disappearing through negligence, and uncontrolled development, the open spaces meant for recreation and sports are grossly inadequate, both in their numbers and in their areas, to address the bare minimum needs of Mumbai’s growing population. The Open Spaces, marked as Reservations on the Development Plan of Greater Mumbai, as Recreational Grounds, Play Grounds, Gardens etc, account for only 6% of the land area. On the other hand the locations of the existing water bodies are not even indicated on the Development Plan. This Development Plan was prepared in the 1980s, for which the survey was undertaken in 1980. Needless to say, that the ground reality of these reservations, after 30 years, is enormously different. The current reality therefore needs to be thoroughly examined on two levels: a) with respect to their deficiency and b) with respect to their current status and conditions. Only after such an assessment that an appropriate strategy can be devised; a strategy which will ensure the provision of Open Spaces that are both, adequate and accessible to all.
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