Sustainability Newsletter Issue 3 / August 2019

A compilation of independent projects by students under Sustainability specialization, MA Development

1 Contents

3 Foreword 19 Analysis of stakeholders’ perspectives on restoration at wetland ecosystem, Nivedita Ravindranath 5 Where’s our waste: Perceptions of how the municipal Solid Waste Management system works in Mumbai Ayesha Mehrotra 22 Farming the Cities: Bridging the rural-urban rift Shruthi Suripeddi 8 Do floods damage drinking water quality? Assessing the impacts of floods on drinking water quality 25 Impact of the proposed Villupuram-Nagapattinam bypass In Kerala Highway on local landowners around Auroville, Pondicherry Deepankar Venkata Reddy Tara Braganza

11 Renewable energy and urban lifestyles: Compatibility between 27 Impact of Mining : A case study of Singareni renewable energy and energy demand in Delhi National in Yellandu, Telangana Capital region (ncr) Vavilala Durgaprasad Kiran Bhagavatula 29 Socio-ecological study of ponds in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh Vimal Kumar Mishra 16 Socio-ecological impacts of urbanization on East wetlands, West Bengal - A Case Study Madhureema Auddy 32 Links and Resources Foreword

We are happy to present the third edition of the Sustainability Newsletter from the School of Development. This edition presents nine stories from the two months long independent projects done by the Sustainability specialization students of MA (Development) 2017-19 batch.

As in the previous three years, Sustainability students studied a variety of issues. This newsletter presents nine cases among them, including the impact of unprecedented floods in Kerala, displacement by coal mines of Telangana, ponds in Shahdol, new highway usurping farm lands near Chennai, wetland ecosystems of Kolkata and Chennai, waste management in Mumbai, renewable energy in Delhi and urban farming in . The analyses in the stories presented here reflect the interdisciplinary lens that the specialization imparts.

Hope you find this newsletter interesting and informative.

Sustainability initiative, Azim Premji University Image credit: Raghvendra S. Vanjari

3 Issue 3 / Aug 2019 Sustainability Newsletter

Image credit: Raghvendra S. Vanjari

4 Where’s our waste?:

Perceptions of how the municipal Solid Waste AYESHA Management system works in Mumbai MEHROTRA

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) is formally responsible for the management of waste in the city. The prevailing approach has been one of collection and disposal, garbage is collected from communities by the municipal authorities and disposed off at the three main dumping sites that are currently servicing the city. With fast growing population and urbanization, waste has become a serious problem of the city. Mumbai generates waste to the tune of 7,025 tonnes per day (Iyer, 2016). The waste consists of: 5,025 tonnes of mixed waste (bio-degradable and recyclable) and 2,000 tonnes of debris and silt. The goal of this research was to understand the perceptions of the population on the topic of Solid Waste Organic waste in an apartment complex

5 Management(SWM) in Mumbai. I also tried The SWM Rules of 2016 is said to be a well- to understand the policies designed and elaborated and inclusive policy, however implemented on waste management in Mumbai. the implementation is not up to what is The research focused on two questions- expected in terms of the outcomes. This could possibly mean that there is a lack of flow of a) how effectively, in terms of disposal are the communication between stakeholders - the SWM rules, 2016 being implemented by the MCGM officials and the residents of slum and MCGM, and apartment communities. The challenges faced by communities, government bodies and b) what are the challenges faced by the workforce within SWM depended on the role stakeholders of Solid Waste Management in the they played in the process. The communities disposal process? faced the challenge of how to manage the waste, The locations and participants were purposively the government bodies felt a lack of response BMC truck parked on the road sampled from among slum communities despite claiming constant communication with and non-slum communities, to get a full the communities and the workforce faced the utilized differently upon disposal. About 60% of understanding of the topic. The participants of challenge of health issues and overwork. the respondents interviewed focused on waste the study included residents and association management as an important part of their lives, members of the communities chosen for the b) Waste segregation and recycling are central and a dominating subject in terms of social study, MCGM officials and staff and garbage narratives around SWM. stratification. truck drivers. A total of 18 semi-structured interviews were carried out, where 5 were MCGM These terms were in the vocabulary of most c) Definitions and perceptions of waste by officials, 6 residents, 4 slum dwellers and 3 truck participants during the research and seemed to various stakeholders are different in the context drivers. The participants were asked permission remain important processes in terms of waste of waste management. to be recorded before the interview was carried management. In residential communities, out. segregation was being carried out due to Definition and perceptions of wastes varied municipal mandates, but slum communities vastly between stakeholder categories. Key findings viewed recycling as means of income. What Perceptions of waste reflected he strata to a) Implementation of policy reflects lack was waste to upper-class communities might which respondents belong and their level of of processes in the management of waste, not be considered the same by slum dwellers. involvement in SWM process. MCGM officials questioning the feasibility of the system in place. It highlights the value of waste and how it is maintained a high regard for their work in

6 terms of collection, transportation and disposal. Although there are many challenges (most spoke of the high population rate being a large cause for mismanagement), the officials spoke positively in terms of efforts and process implementation from their end. They also had a differing perspective on waste, as they adhered to the SWM Rules of 2016 as their point of reference for defining what waste is. Truck drivers were all on the MCGM’s payroll and seemed to be indifferent to many questions and a few did not have opinions in the context of waste and its disposal and transportation. They also had indifferent reactions towards questions related to the MCGM, where they seemed more or less satisfied with their duties and salary.

The study points to the need of better communication and equal involvement of stakeholders in the process. Community initiative and government compliance are also helpful focal points for a smoother process. Involving non-governmental organizations working in this field could be another option to look at.

References: Iyer, H. (2016). Case Study of Mumbai: Decentralised Solid Waste Management. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 35, 101-109.

Composter in a residential area

7 Do floods damage drinking water quality?

Assessing the impacts of floods on drinking water DEEPANKAR quality in Kerala VENKATA REDDY

Water is an invaluable resource and is part of life. Many cultures and civilizations evolved on the banks of water sources

The motivation behind this research was my memories associated with drinking water. As we live in a drought prone area, I have witnessed my mother walking around 1 km to get drinking water from a well. Though water was available in the flooded area in Kerala during September 2018, how that became unconsumable moved me deeply and made me to inquire this question.

Water hyacinth moved towards the settlements (Near Thannerumukkam bund)

8 This study was conducted during the months Key findings of November and December 2018, at the flood Although the total usage is modest, people in The real threat would occur in a drought year affected places of Kottayam, Aluva, Kuttanadu. many areas have not been using well water for where people try to use well water which is The study had three objectives; to understand drinking purposes for many years now. Of the untouched for many years, if piped water supply various sources of drinking water and find the water actually used, about 40% is for domestic is halted. In such a period, the high-density impacts of flood, to understand ground water purposes. It should be noted that much of this urban area would quickly suck the groundwater and drinking water quality and availability (about 70-80%) “returns” as wastewater into the dry. Nonetheless, the places with its large within the flood affected region and to analyse ground. Since wastewater after domestic use is green (unpaved) patches is likely to act as an the expenditure on drinking water per family. not treated, this may contribute to deteriorating important buffer by maintaining a groundwater water quality in some patches. “ridge” and preventing polluted water intrusion. Three primary sets of activities are undertaken: Any efforts to direct runoff from the surrounding a) Identified and geotagged all the water (wells) Many wells appeared to have high salinity above areas into the lake instead of the river, to of the required area, measured depth to water, the 600-ppm recommended by WHO, but no “soak in” and recharge groundwater might be therefore beneficial for long-term sustainability. pH levels and conductivity and mapped these in clear spatial pattern emerged. While the water ARCGIS software. The geo locations were tagged quality data was accurate, the short duration of It is worth interpreting these preliminary results in through Garmin GPS tool (mobile version) the study did not allow to test many samples. in the broader context of Kerala’s water supply and then loaded into the map. The elevations The pH was low (up to 4) in wells rather than situation to understand the limitations of this were recorded from elevation profile map in lake area where the water was untouched very small study which is done after floods. downloaded from Bhuvan, for cross checking for years. There was no evidence about the the GPS records. and to show the elevation in pollution of well water from people. TDS (up Reasons for water pollution: meters when clicked on the map. I did not test to 1845 mg/l) parameters was also beyond microbial quality, because it was infeasible to consumable levels at certain points. Reason There are many ways in which water is getting ship samples to labs. Moreover, all drinking for this could be floods in low lying areas, polluted, water of Kottayam is being treated while in higher elevated areas people left the 1) Industrial wastes: Industrial wastes from water untouched in wells for years. All other Ernakulam are directly dumped into Vembanad b) Mapped all the sources to various use of water chemical elements are mostly seen in higher lake and that further carries the water down to estimate water consumption per day which concentrations in low lying areas where water stream, the other rivers which pumps water into has increased after floods was mixed with agricultural chemicals that the river also getting polluted through various are used for paddy crop as the drainages are c) Identified the quality of drinking water after waste dumping into it. This makes water getting connected directly to the lake water. the floods. polluted. 9 2) Tourism: Dumping of plastics and other time was that the flood brought more polluted wastes, diesel and oil spilling from the house water. Until the above pollution is mitigated, boats also pollutes water. the impacts on drinking water will remain high, affecting the health of users 3) Sewage: As this area is below sea level there is no way of keeping any sewage pipe lines, as they are fragmented islands. So, people made small holes at some places and used them as toilet pits, which has great possibility of dissolving into water.

4) Agriculture: Kuttanadu grows paddy twice a year and the pesticides and fertilizers sprayed Mud brought by floods deposited on land (2km away on them is close contact with the river water from lake, Kumarakom) Apart from the above, Thannermukkam bund which is constructed to prevent salt water from the sea entering the paddy fields also has an effect on water quality. Actually, salt water used to control natural hyacinth and was also good in getting fresh minerals from the sea through tides. After constructing the bund, the salt water was halted entering into the river which increased the growth of natural hyacinth, slowly impacting aquatic life.

The communities are well aware of the situations of the flood and impacts as they are not new to the floods. They believe that floods Elevational profile of water sampling points, blue colour are useful for flushing out polluted water and represents lake area (Map created in ArcGIS) bringing in fresh water. But what happened this Paddy crop submerged by the floods (Kuttanadu)

10 Renewable energy and urban lifestyles:

Compatibility between renewable energy and energy KIRAN demand in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) BHAGAVATULA

I. Introduction Energy (in various forms like transportation fuel, building energy, workspace energy or cooking fuel) is an important factor that governs almost all our daily activities. If we look at per capita energy consumption among countries, USA and Australia have high per capita energy consumption. People living in cities tend to lead high energy consuming lifestyles (Arbabi and Mayfield, 2016).

Urban human settlements are responsible for 76% of total energy consumption worldwide, and 60% of this energy consumption comes from fossil fuels. Over 71% of the total energy consumption by urban settlements is also related to direct CO2 emitting sources majorly coal, natural oil and gas (Arbabi, 2016). With growing economic capacities, lifestyle of urban population is changing and energy demands are increasing (The World Bank, 2011).

Solar pV at one of the residential society

11 At one side there is increase in energy demand, In the case of locally produced electricity like occupants, age of the occupants and the role of on the other side there is growing consciousness the roof top photovoltaic cells, it is important head of household in energy appliance choices. on global warming and human induced climate to analyse what is the area required to meet Dwelling factors include number of rooms, change. As a result, there is a need to shift to the demand and adequecy of the area available heating\cooling systems and the building renewable forms of energy. in urban spaces. Transition of fossil fuelled construction. Cultural factors add another civilization to renewable sources of energy perspective on how religious sentiments and When we talk about transition from non- would mean higher fixed land requirement festivals drive the energy choices (Jonas et renewable energy forms to renewable energy (Smil, 2010). al.,2015) forms, power density plays a huge role. Power density is defined as power generated by source With increasing urbanisation and population, II. Research question and method for a given area. The table below compares there is demand for more dwelling spaces and What is the gap between the power densities power densities of different energy sources people now prefer living in high rise dwellings of renewable energy generation and loads in (Smil, 2010)- (The World Bank, 2011). With shrinking different socio- economic categories in Delhi? residential spaces in cities, buildings with higher Several sub-questions were framed to address FAR (Floor Area Ratio) are coming up (Times this overarching question. of , 2018). The question is can renewable energy cater to the growing needs of the cities? a) What are the daily load profiles of energy 2 Power Density (W/m ) If yes, then to what extent? What is important to consumption across socio-economic classes in Power Source analyse is the space availability in urban areas. Low High Delhi? The other defining factors that I want to bring in, Natural Gas 200 2000 apart from spatial availability, are various socio- b) What is the available roof top area and economic, cultural and dwelling factors that Coal 100 1000 capacity of solar panels? govern the energy choices. Electricity usages Solar (PV) 4 9 in domestic dwellings are result of occupant’s c) What are the energy consumption activities choice of energy needs like lights, comfort, that are performed during peak and non- peak Solar (CSP) 4 10 entertainment which shows in the interlink hours? age between socio-economic, dwelling and Wind 0.5 1.5 cultural factors. Socio-economic factors include d) What is the correlation between space Biomass 0.5 0.6 the income of the family, attitude towards available for PV installation and electricity electricity consumption of occupants, number of consumption?

12 e) What socio-economic factors govern their of people and analyse the data in broader their needs but in case high income families, energy choices? themes of attitude towards use of energy large rooftop plus high financial capability saving equipment, financial capacity, attitude allowed them to expand their energy needs. This f) How does family composition affect their of household responsible person, number of finding was directly reflected in power density of electricity consumption? rooms, cultural and religious sentiments. solar pV which was higher than what literature had to offer. The average power density of g) How does dwelling aspects like number of I used convenience sampling method for solar pV was 10 w\m2 in the case of individual rooms, building structure, lighting patterns creating sampling frame from secondary household and 28w\m2 in the case of societies. define their lifestyle and energy choices? sources. Sample frame consisted of 30 individual Even though in this case, it is difficult to arrive households and 20 residential societies that at a formula to calculate the power density, h) How cultural sentiments shape energy were running on solar pV. Out of the sample factors like efficiency, structural arrangement choices? frame I randomly selected 7 residential societies of the panels, the maintenance and mainly the and 10 individual households (85 respondents) business models are reason behind the huge Recently Delhi witnessed increase rooftop for data collection. The total number of difference in poor densities. solar PV connections. As per BSES Rajdhani respondents were 92. I also took perspectives (Bombay Suburban Electric Supply) records, of vendors who were involved in installation on total of 604KW, 262KW and 178KW rooftop solar solar pV across Delhi-NCR. The motive behind net metering has been installed in residential, meeting them was to get general perspective institutional and commercial areas (The Times on different class of people who opt for solar pV of India, 2018). and how various other factors like government policies play an important role in energy access. Research design was cross-sectional where more than one case i.e. different socio- III. Findings economic class was analysed at one point of As many as six out of seven household residents time. Quantitative approach was used to collect doubled their solar panel. Financial capability and analyse basic statistics related to monthly was the empowering factor that gave high electricity usages, available rooftop area, cost of income family enough roof space and access to installation, family composition, family monthly high efficiency solar panels to meet their energy income (Alan Bryman, 2008). Qualitative demands. In terms of roof top area, upper approach was used towards collective narratives middle class had enough roof top area to meet Panel capacity vs Roof top area 13 Under government policy, there were two compared to RESCO model as it involves only All the respondents expressed that there should business models for solar power installation and fixed cost of installation. RESCO model includes be subsidies on solar panel installation however operation- fixed charges as well as maintenance charges. this did not stop them from shifting to solar pV In case of CAPEX model, the maintenance as they had the financial capacity. However, in 1) Renewable Energy Service Company was poor as individuals who had no technical case of lower middle-income class and lower (RESCO) - The household serviced does not own knowledge were doing the maintenance. income class absence of government subsidies the generation equipment, which is owned by were the major hurdle for shifting to solar pV. an external organisation such as a Government Families with teenagers and senior citizens were agency or the RESCO. The user does not found to consume more electricity than others. IV. Policy Implications and way forward carry out maintenance, all maintenance and However, with the given sample size it was The findings show that privilege of roof top repair service are provided by the RESCO. The difficult to generalise. This relation was arrived availability and capacity to expand the solar user pays a service charge that covers the by comparing families with same number of panel capacity is only with high income classes. capital repayment requirement and the cost members. A better approach that can be taken Most high-income societies opted for RESCO of providing for maintenance and repairs. up later will be, to study per capita energy model which is a better business model in terms Generation may be distributed among many consumption. In terms of change in choice of efficiency on the longer run. For middle households instead of being centralised at a of household equipment and solar pV, there income and lower income classes, roof top area power station. was no significant relationship found between them. Families had opted for energy saving 2) Capital expenditures (CAPEX)-In this model, equipment long before they shifted to solar the entire investment comes from the power pV. Respondents did agree that their electricity consumer, consumer generally hires a solar EPC consumption increases during festivals like company who provide turnkey installation of Diwali and Christmas, but there was not enough entire solar power system and hand over assets data to substantiate it. to consumers. EPC also do annual operation and maintained (O&M) of plant on mutually agreed 85% of the respondents performed high power cost per annum consuming house activities between 7pm-11pm The general observation was that residential of the day. Most power consuming activities societies with middle income and upper middle- during peak hours included washing and drying income classes opted for CAPEX model whereas of clothes, ironing clothes, use of dishwashers, residential societies of higher income class geysers, microwaves, cooking. Panel capacity vs Monthly income opted for RESCO model. Capex model is cheaper 14 was the major hurdle. Given the available roof References top area, cost of efficient solar pV that could Arbabi, H., and Mayfield, M. (2016). Urban and Times of India (2018). By year-end, 2,000 meet their energy needs was the challenge for Rural—Population and Energy rooftops in Delhi to have solar energy: BSES. middle income families. Hence government Consumption Dynamics in Local Authorities (2018, September20). Retrieved from https:// policies like steady solar subsidies are important within England and Wales. Buildings 6(3), 34; timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/by- to make sure that there is penetration of solar pV https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings6030034 year-end-2000-rooftops-to-have-solar-energy- and energy access to economically weak strata bses/articleshow/65877981.cms of the society. It is also important to analyse Jones, R. V, Feurtes, A. and Lomas, K. J (2015). different policy models that can increase The socio-economic, dwelling and appliance World Bank (2011). Urbanization in India: penetration of solar pV and make it accessible related factors affecting electricity consumption Integral part of economic growth. Retrieved to all. Such families should be encouraged to in domestic buildings. Renewable and from shift to Solar energy under RESCO model by Sustainable Energy Reviews.Volume 43, 901-917. http://web.worldbank.org/archive/ giving subsidies on fixed and operational service website01291/WEB/0__CO-22.HTM charges. Kumar, A. J. (2018) . Now, floor area ratio in Kerala among highest in The findings also showed that providing access India. Times of India. Retrieved from to solar pV is not enough. There should be also https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ awareness and mindset change regarding power thiruvananthapuram/now-floor-area-ratio-in- consumption and lifestyles. Otherwise shifting state-among-highest-in-country/ to renewable energy will be just a source shifting articleshow/62372362.cms pressure on renewable sources of energy to meet the rising demands. Smil, V. (2010). Power Density Primer: Understanding the Spatial Dimension of the Unfolding Transition to Renewable Electricity Generation. http://vaclavsmil.com/ wp-content/uploads/docs/smil-article-power- density-primer.pdf Solar pV at one of the individual respondents house

15 Socio-ecological impacts of urbanization on

East Kolkata wetlands, West Bengal: MADHUREEMA A case Study AUDDY

Urban commons including wetlands constitute important socio-ecological systems providing valuable ecosystem services. However, unplanned rapid urbanization has resulted in large-scale decline and transformation of covering an area of about 12,500 hectares, the commons, adversely affecting the traditional wetlands are spread over 37 mouzas (rural and vulnerable users. Conducting surveys in administrative units) in the districts of North and Bengaluru and reading articles including those South 24 Parganas in West Bengal. Traditionally of ecologist T V Ramachandra triggered my maintained by the conventional wisdom of the interest in this field. It made me ponder over urban poor, EKW provides a range of valuable what gives rise to such problems. Who are ecosystem services. Often considered as the the losers and winners in the process of rapid kidneys of Kolkata, they provide livelihoods change around lakes? Despite rapidly improving for many. The low-cost traditional recycling insights, many questions remain unanswered practices undertaken by the fishermen and relating to the complexity of transformation in farmers in the area have led to mainly three wetlands as a result of urbanization. eco-environmental practices viz. wastewater fisheries, sewage-irrigated paddy cultivation East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW), a network of and vegetable farming on garbage substrates. natural and manmade wetlands, constitutes an However, with rapid urban sprawl, constant important but neglected ecosystem of Kolkata. pressure from real estate and with illegal Illegal construction of high rise buildings at EKW Located on the eastern fringe of the city, and conversion of the wetland area for leather 16 processing units, housing complexes and sewage, cleaning the water through applying road construction, the area under the EKW is lime and oil cakes (referred to as khols) and declining at an alarming rate leading to changes kerosene, protecting the embankments through in its use and management. In the process of water hyacinths to allowing the sufficient time such transformation, this study examines the to ensure conversion of the waste into fish perceptions of different stakeholders of EKW feed- the fishermen do everything, Such close over the value of wetland, their response to such association with the fishponds (locally called change and its impact on human-water resource bheris) and the mastery of the traditional users relationship. over the resource recovery activity is indeed noteworthy. A qualitative study was carried out through Dredging activities carried by Charchariya Fishery purposive sampling in Bhagbanpur and Kharki Transformation in status, land use and co-operative to deepen Bheri water depth mouzas under Sonarpur block and Hadia mouza perspectives around EKW under Bhangor I block of EKW, which are the Several projects have been sanctioned by the The major challenges witnessed have most threatened areas of EKW. This involved government in the form of flyovers and widening been reduced sewage availability owing conducting semi-structured interviews with 45 of roads through the core of the ecologically to construction of new roads, siltation of individuals including EKW users (fishermen, sensitive wetlands. Such beautification projects bheris and change in water quality due to the farmers), and non-users including local have adversely affected the valuable ecosystem untreated effluents disposed by the nearby residents, government officials and activists. services including provisioning services Kolkata Leather complex. This has added to the (through fresh supply of fish and vegetables), burden of farmers and fishermen as increasing Role of indigenous knowledge systems of the regulating services (through natural wastewater incidence of fish disease over the years and urban poor treatment) and recreational facilities. In the consequent investments in medicines and Dr Dhrubojyoti Ghosh, a United Nations Global process, the worst affected have been the additional fish feed from local markets have 500 laureate, used to say, “It is not policies but communities dependent on EKW. Uncertainty led to high production costs. However, problem the traditional wisdom and love of the people in dooms their lives whereby they are confronted emerges, as those with small plots cannot afford EKW, which protects it” This very fact becomes with a choice between selling their lands or to buy such expensive medicines and thus suffer evident when one visits EKW and talks to the continue farming given the rapid incidence of losses due to reduced fish catch and resulting people there. From excavating the ponds to the land grabbing. low incomes. In many cases the fishponds correct depth, mixing the suitable quantity of are often dredged by fishery cooperatives

17 in response to such reduced wastewater to abandon their livelihoods. Again, while Way forward availability. However, the viability of dredging fishery cooperatives have been created to In the face of such immense productivity of EKW, activities, which involves deepening of water in protect the bheris, party politics at the top level the larger question arises: Are people willing to fishponds, can be questioned given the fact that tend to squeeze out money from the bheris let go of this valuable resource? With growing it disrupts the natural cycle and that fishes have by misleading the fishermen to take wrong incidence of illegal encroachment, unraveling always thrived in shallow waters in EKW. decisions. What makes the urban poor more such complex issues becomes necessary vulnerable is the lack of opportunity to shift to understand the impact on human-water Perceptions of different stakeholders on the to other occupations due to lack of required resource relationship with urbanization. social, ecological and political aspects of education and skill. In an era of urban sprawl and increasing transformation. generation of urban wastewater, the EKW helps Most of the people who did not depend on The interviews also revealed that with advent us reimagine the way we look at wastewater the wetland and worked elsewhere in the city of modern employment opportunities, the and the extensive potential to reuse it for a had supported the filling up of sewage-fed perception over the value of the wetland and the variety of purposes. The immense significance fisheries for building roads, industries, houses incentive to maintain the ecosystem is changing. of this ecosystem, thus, needs to be recognized and educational institutions as they believed The younger population often prefers to engage and recorded. It must be noted that decline of that such development activities provides in jobs in cities or in the nearby Kolkata Leather EKW would not only threaten the livelihood better livelihood opportunities, improves Complex, which would ensure higher income of thousands of fishermen and farmers, but transport amenities and ensures better places and thus better lifestyle. would also mean loss of the city’s natural to stay. A general trend of ignorance about the waste water treatment plant which otherwise wetland was evident among the commuters the municipality of the city would have to set and non-users where majority were migrants. up. Breaking the existing power and political On the other hand, the fishermen and farmers dynamics, the need of the hour is a joint effort dependent on the wetland for livelihood by all the relevant government ministries opposed the idea as the wetland formed their together with civil society organizations and the primary source of livelihood. citizens of Kolkata to protect systems like EKW in a meaningful manner and deliver environmental The larger political and power dynamics and social justice. became evident as some fishing families alleged that ponds are being deliberately sabotaged with channels blocked up mainly to force them New roads built around the wetland

18 Analysis of stakeholders’ perspectives on restoration at Pallikaranai NIVEDITA wetland ecosystem, Chennai RAVINDRANATH

Wetlands are extremely important ecosystems that recharge ground water, regulate floods when precipitation rates are high and manage micro-climate. Pallikaranai in Chennai is a wetland that is severely impacted by urbanization. The wetland ecosystem that was once 7000 hectares is now merely 670 hectares (Opili, 2019). This wetland shapes and contributes to the hydrological activity of 3 major basins in Chennai namely the Kovalam basin, Coovam basin and Adayar basin. Studies conducted showed that the swamp drains the entire area west of it and about 10,000 cubic foot per second of water drains into this large wetland from these basins. However, this wetland has witnessed severe degradation Pallikaranai marsh(Photo source : Wikipedia)

19 over the decades due to the growing garbage Key Findings water supplies. Almost all residents in urban dumps, infrastructural developments and Data collected from various reports show that areas had water filters in their houses. 42% of flourishing real estate business with the IT boom the Solid waste management Rules, 2016 was the urban respondents experienced increased in Chennai. not followed and that the corporation, although headaches and migraines that they attributed owned 154 acres of the land did not receive to water and air pollution. 28.5% believed this The research was aimed at understanding the permits to dump garbage in these areas (Remya, to be significant cause for deteriorating health social ecological changes at Pallikaranai and the 2010). Further toxicity reports also indicate that along with change in lifestyles and other reasons role of various stakeholders and their views on groundwater levels are extremely contaminated. such as hereditary patterns while 28.5% of the restoration of the wetland. The rationale behind The toxicity levels are highest at 4m depth in respondents didn’t notice any health impacts. selecting the area of research and the topic was the old dumping ground sections (Shanti, 2010). because of the interest in learning how best to Primary data collected indicates that state There are around 40 associations registered conserve productive ecosystems like wetlands, departments have not efficiently managed and under the Pallikaranai Welfare Association. the lack of language as a barrier and also conserve this land. It was previously viewed They belong to different categories – some are because of witnessing the land use and land as Kazhiveli i.e wasteland by the revenue involved in sports; the others are involved in cover change over a duration of five years. department until the forest department took public issues that need immediate attention over the reigns of managing 670 acres of the and only 5 of them are involved in any work that The methodology included qualitative and land. Further field observations have shown pushes for this wetland to be conserved. These quantitative data collection, through interviews that it is the marginalized sections of the society 5 groups are involved in talks with corporation among stakeholders contacted through residing in slums who have been worst affected officers, municipal authorities, PWD officials snowball sampling. The total sample size was 32 as they have not had access to clean drinking etc. They have posted numerous letters to the which includes members of urban households, water and rely on contaminated water for the mayor’s office and also to corporation offices semi -urban households, vendors, experts from same. requesting for issues to be solved. However, different backgrounds (government officials they receive replies much later and also nothing from different departments – forest, PWD, Public The Department of Public health and moves forward. health and Preventive Medicine, members Care Preventive Medicine records that there is only earth, Professors from the Centre for Water one Primary Health Centre in the area and no Despite environmentalists and scientists Resources Management, and Secondary Health Centre in the area to treat pressing for the need to protect the wetland, IIT Madras, members of the Pallikaranai Welfare those affected by diseases. Private hospitals nothing much has been achieved realistically. Association and journalists). in the area also did not divulge details on the Various tanks have been cleaned and number of people affected by contaminated restored and sections of the land fenced to

20 avoid disturbance from the public. However, Broader issues impacting the wetland Image source construction debris is still dumped and so Many of the problems with wetland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallikaranai_ is sewage. The dump yard has only been conservation and restoration are symptomatic wetland#/media/File:Pallikaranai_marsh.jpg increasing in size and garbage is now dumped of larger issues of governance, overlapping from various parts of the city at night. jurisdictions of departments and urban References Infrastructural projects have not been halted development planning. The master plans are Opili, P. (2019). Grass threatens Pallikaranai and businesses – small and large have opened not available to the public and therefore it up. marsh. Times of India, Chennai, February 2, becomes difficult for concerned stakeholders 2019 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ to deliberate and improve the planning and Almost all restoration work has come from areas chennai/grass-threatens-pallikaranai-marsh/ development process. There was a huge delay in articleshow/67802150.cms where real estate has not flourished. Migrants the implementation of master plans in Chennai. who have various livelihoods are actively part In fact, the second master plan presses for Shanthi, S. (2010). Analysis of leachate quality of this and in the beginning when Care Earth developmental projects and infrastructure in (an environmental NGO) started restoration in dumpsite, Unpublished ME thesis, , which is where Pallikaranai is Anna University, Chennai. work, they received maximum support from located. The political stability of a region like women in slums in the lower classes of society. Tamil Nadu and also the fact that the various Around 36% of the urban stakeholders were Remya. S. (2010). Compliance to rules governing processes and decisions taken are opaque and Solid Waste Management Masters thesis, in aware of some ongoing restoration activities. not in view of the public contributes to adding All the respondents from urban households Centre for Water Resource Management, Anna difficulty in planning and implementation of the University, Chennai believed that awareness is key to solving issues plans. Urgent steps for a more democratic and such as this. Around 36% of the respondents participatory urban planning process in general believed that the area of focus should be waste and an inclusive approach to restoration of segregation and 29% believe that the focus Pallinkaranai recognising the poorer sections’ should be on law enforcement, public action perspectives and uses will prevent further through means of demanding justice and also degradation of this valuable ecosystem in working with the government. Chennai.

21 Farming the cities: SHRUTHI Bridging the rural-urban rift SURIPEDDI

My winter project drew inspiration from the idea of a rural-urban rift being the cause for many of the urban environmental and social issues today such as pollution of water bodies, the energy spent and wastage involved in transporting food from long distances. The latter is even more jarring in the context of the persistent hunger and malnutrition among the urban poor stemming from the commercialisation of agriculture which prioritises profits over access and nutrition. This led me to the question of whether an alternate conception of the city taking into account this idea of a rural-urban rift be able to address these issues?

My research project focused on urban farming in my hometown Hyderabad, where growing one’s own food is gaining popularity. The idea was to identify and understand the various facets of urban farming in Hyderabad and how they were addressing the problem of the rural-urban rift. Two of the facets, terrace gardening and sewage irrigated farming along the Musi river were focused on, for the purpose of the project. Sewage irrigated fields growing paddy and fodder grass

22 Terrace gardeners were approached through the irrigation. Based on approximations, the three Facebook page ‘intipanta’ and were interviewed villages stated would use around 6474 ML per trying to gain an understanding of how growing season which implies around 18.5% per cent one’s own food was linked to healing the rift. of the sewage generated per season goes back A couple of farmers using sewage water for to these fields. These figures would only imply irrigation in the village of Kachivani Singaram a rough estimation as a river is a very dynamic situated along the fringes of Hyderabad were entity. An estimated 9309 ha is irrigated by Musi interviewed to understand the kind of crops water (Amerasinghe et al, 2012). grown, irrigation methods used and where the crops were transported to while also Farming with wastewater, and thereby recycling understanding how their practices contributed nutrients, comes with its own hazards. Such towards healing the rift. farmers are consistently at risk of being infected with pathogens or hazardous chemicals Channels to route Musi water Wastewater irrigators and terrace gardeners from industrial effluents. These farmers Though the reasons for cultivating their own Around 354 ha in Kachivaram Singaram, are also drawn from amongst marginalised food is more of an individual concern (such as Parvatapuram and Qutubullapur depend upon communities, so they have minimal choice with health) the effect was beyond the individual’s the Musi river water for irrigation (Amerasinghe respect to their livelihood options. concern. For instance, there was more et al, 2008). Fodder grass, rice and leafy greens appreciation for the value of manual labour are grown in this area, though the latter are On the other side of the story, there is a new which prompted one to consume what was cultivated on a tiny fraction of the land under wave of tech savvy ‘urban farmers’ who required. There was also an understanding cultivation owing to the profitability. Most of communicate and share ideas over internet that growing one’s own produce required a this is transported to markets in Hyderabad platforms to cultivate organic produce at planning at community level and not individual but some amount of leafy greens cultivated is home. Around 40000 households in the household level. For most, this became a way kept for consumption at home. An estimated Greater Hyderabad region out of 2200000 of life, more of a ‘duty’ towards society and 1250 MLD of sewage is released into the Musi practice terrace gardening (taking into account environment and not a mere hobby. These out of which 652.8 MLD are treated while the estimates, intipanta subscribers and changes are crucial towards addressing the rest is untreated (Starkl et al, 2015). A mixture the Telangana Statistical Yearbook, 2017 for problems created by the rural-urban rift because of this treated and untreated sewage is used number of households) meeting close to at the root of it is the individual’s alienation for irrigating the fields, through mostly flood 4.5% of the vegetable demand of households in Hyderabad. from their fruits of labour and society. Some

23 to a middle-class urban farmer who has gone References: through a permaculture course offered by the Amerasinghe, P., Weckenbrock, P., Simmons, local NGO. R., Acharya, S., & Drescher, A. (2008). An Atlas of For starters there isn’t a clear policy and Water Quality, Health and Agronomic Risks and implementation towards urban farming, even Benefits Associated with “Wastewater” Irrigated though encouraged by the local governments. Agriculture. And how would such a policy help? Amerasinghe, P.; Jampani, M.; Drechsel, P. There has been an observed development, (2012). Cities as sources of irrigation water: An even though rare, towards community gardens Indian scenario. IWMI-Tata Water Policy Res. Harvest from respondent’s terrace garden (pic credits to Highlight, 53, 1–8. respondent) during the course of the study. This could be encouraged further and would have the added benefit of keeping the waste local since Kumar, S., Smith, S. R., Fowler, G., Velis, C., these gardens would demand compost which Kumar, S. J., Arya, S., ... & Cheeseman, C. (2017). respondents also seemed to have a strong would come from the wet waste of the locality. Challenges and opportunities associated with understanding of them being just a small part Presently, these 40000 terrace gardening waaste management in India. Royal society of a larger system which allowed them to, for households compost a little above 2% of the open science, 4(3), 160764. example, see the merits of natural pollinators biodegradable waste using the per capita waste and, as Sai (name changed) states, a “10% estimates by Kumar et al (2017). This presents Starkl, M., Brunner, N., Amerasinghe, P., Mahesh, natural tax” in the form of produce loss to an unexploited opportunity to help solve the J., Kumar, D., Asolekar, S. R., ... & Sarah, S. insects was a given and had to be accepted. biodegradable waste woes of Indian cities. (2015). Stakeholder views, financing and policy implications for reuse of wastewater for Is the ‘rift’ healing yet? Owing to water scarcity, there have been irrigation: a case from Hyderabad, India. Water, Considering all of the above, a hesitant yes. But demands for urban sewage to be effectively 7(1), 300-328. for a large part it is only a faint scratch on the treated and recycled. Won’t this lead to surface. It is ridden with its own complexities betterment of livelihoods of the Musi farmers? and the motivations or capacity to take up urban In other words, understanding the idea of the farming aren’t equal for all. The poor would find rural-urban rift, the causes behind and the how it difficult to access space or water, in the case of it may be addressed does present a radical view Musi farmers, practice urban farming compared of how cities can develop. 24 Impact of the proposed Villupuram-Nagapattinam bypass highway on local landowners around TARA BRAGANZA Auroville, Pondicherry

We all have used highways at some point in our commute. Yet, how many of us have stopped to consider the cost of their construction? Not the monetary cost, but the human one. about the highway. I interviewed a sample The Chennai-Salem proposed bypass Highway of landholders in four villages just outside of has gained a lot of media attention, though Auroville. These communities make a living off this is not the only Highway proposed in the cashew cultivation, fishing and running small state of Tamil Nadu. There are many other shops.Auroville is an internationally recognised shorter proposed bypass routes that would entity, but the people of the study area lack have the same drastic consequences as a big agency to raise their voices. road. One of these is a six-lane Bypass Highway, to be constructed between the Villupuram- The forest and its people are in danger Nagapattinam Section of NH45-A. One of the villages in this study is located in There are already two well-known and the Pichandikulam forest. The forest shelters used highways in very close proximity to these people, provides them with non-timber the proposed Villupuram bypass. So the forest produces and firewood, and is also home question then arises - why create a third road to a variety of IUCN listed rare and endangered between these two? The aim of my study was species (like leopard, barn owl, jackal, loris), as to understand what local landholders feel well as 367 species of unique medicinal plants Farmer at Bommayarpalayam

25 and 289 flora. The forest type is a Tropical enough to meet his expenses. His wife’s family Despite differences in land holdings, caste Evergreen Dry Forest (TEDF), unique to Southern is from Pichandikulam, so she gets some forest groups, and social politics, the majority of India. TEDF forests are only second to tropical produce to eat and sell at the market. Alternate villagers is against the road and the people rain forests in richness and abundance of options of employment for him is labour work. stand more or less united. In protest against the species. The Pichandikulam forest is one of the He cannot become a driver since he doesnt bypass, the villages, through the Panchayat, only remaining 0.01% of surviving TEDF forests know how to drive, and hence is very worried and with the help of Auroville, have written of India. The people of these forests have a and upset that he will lose his livelihood and a letter against the proposed highway to the symbiotic relationship with the forest, and over dignity. Block Panchayat Office, to pass on to higher generations have become integral to the forest authorities. The communities all see eye to maintenance and survival of species. Their The story of the findings eye on the overall impact that a highway has skills and lifestyles (hunting for food, weaving, On analysing the findings further, one on everyday life, and so have cast aside their harvesting fruit and nut from trees,etc.) are understands that there is a strong relationship differences with the understanding that the adapted to the natural environment, and not to between land holding and caste. Those of lower quality of living matters more than faster urban ways. social status have smaller landholdings and are mobility. Land is precious,limited, and the fields more likely to get disproportionately affected by and forests matter just as much (if not more) as Fields will be lost forever the highway. It can also be seen that responses roads. The proposed highway will pass not ony through against displacement varied amongst men and forest, but also agricultural land. My study women. Apart from land and financial concerns shows that there is a correlation between the that both had, men were more concerned with size of the land holding and the participants’ how they would provide for their families and stance toward the bypass highway: the larger women were more concerned about social the landholding, the more in favour of the status; how would they mingle with a new social highway and vice versa. group of women if they were to be displaced? One of many fields that will disappear with It must also be noted that most participants the construction of the highway bypass is the found out about the highway when survey property of Lingarajan, a poor farmer of one officers came to their fields with police of the villages. He is a third generation farmer protection to demarcate the land for the who supports his wife and 3 children through highway. This was intimidating for them since Forest at Kuilapalayam farming. He cultivates ragi, ginger, turmeric there is no police station in the locality; police and banana on 2 acres of land, and earns just interference in issues is very rare.

26 Impact of Mining : A case study of Singareni in Yellandu, Telangana VAVILALA DURGAPRASAD

Mining has been an age old agent of displacement of people, livelihood, ecology and culture. The story of mining is incomplete without the struggles against it in the wake of insecurity and stress that it generates. My own experience of growing up in a mining impacted landscape motivated me to select this topic for my winter project of eight weeks.

My research focused on how mining induced displacement caused considerable social and economic changes to individuals and community as a whole in Singareni coal mines. It also touched upon the impact of mining on the ecosystem and its consequences.

Woman of Adivasi community farming near the mine

27 The research design was qualitative involving spouse and quality of education has suffered. interviews with families selected by snow ball Debts increased and farming community sampling. Thirty families were interviewed experienced loss of traditional practices. They with the help of a questionnaire. Interviewed are still in search of new livelihoods. families included farmers, migrants and people who were affected by Rehabilitation There is a huge ecological destruction as the &Resettlement [R&R]. Selected stories were Yellandu region was known for its flora and used as case studies. fauna. Certain species like Sambar deer, wild dog, wolf, hyena and leopard have become Findings rarer and flora like teak, wild almonds, bamboo, As every other displacement story, the neem etc. were felled. community is unhappy about the R&R package Bottom of open cast mine that they have received. As the displacement Personal Reflection started prior to the Land Acquisition Act Displacement as mentioned in literature [LAA] the R&R package was considered very appears to be negative from all angles. The way unsatisfactory. There are legal tussles with the displacement affects the community differs Government to provide them a new package between individuals and between families. according to LAA. In a way it can drastically change the family circumstances and roles of individuals in the The impacts are different for different families family. This study helped me in understanding from the same community. The families which how education plays a key role in taking were once well settled became vulnerable than decisions to move ahead in the time of crisis. others from the same community by losing their Evaluating forest policies to know how these are land, house and livestock. Their social status has being implemented in Yellandu before and after been entirely reversed. The families which were mining, especially with respect to restoration known for owning land became cattle rearers. of mined areas is an important study to be Young men and women find it difficult to find a conducted. Landscape after mining

28 Socio-ecological study of ponds VIMAL KUMAR in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh MISHRA

Changing global climate and deteriorating water sources create water crises leading to conflicts between people, states and countries. Conservation of traditional water systems of cities and villages are therefore extremely important. I studied five rural and five urban ponds in Shadhol, MadhyaPradesh. The urban Ponds were Mohanram, Gharaula, Bada tala, Devtara and Narsarha. Mohanram pond is surrounded by Hindu, Jain, Sindhi and Muslim religious structures and is situated just 200m away from city’s commercial center. The Gharaula pond was once the most used and the biggest pond situated in very dense part of Shahdol,but is now totally ignored. The

Pollution from cultural practices

29 Badatala pond is one of the controversial ponds Through these interviews I tried to understand for its ownership and is not used by surrounding different issues contributing to deteriorating people. condition of ponds. These interviews were conducted around ponds, or at houses, offices The Narsarha pond is situated at boundary of or temples near the ponds. All these interviews urban area and it is vulnerable to industrial and discussions gave me a fair understanding activities although it has good greenery around. of not just the water scarcity issues pertaining Devatara pond is close to old settlement area to community but also the socio-ecological in the city. Few of these ponds were as large as condition of the entire ponds system of Shahdol s 14-15 acres once, but now reduced to below district. 10 acres. The five rural ponds studies are Sagra, Magri, Karmhayi, Panchmatha and Jamui. Key findings Except Panchmatha pond all are close to city There are so many small water bodies of sizes (within 5km). Panchmatha is 15km away from varying from 3 to 16 Acres. Most of the smaller Map showing the ponds studied (Google Earth) city at Singhpur and due to its religious value ponds are owned by individuals and are used and being state heritage, this pond got some for personal commercial purposes like irrigation attention from people as well as administration. for cultivation of chestnut. These people are Jamui and Sagra ponds are large (15 acres) and largely rich and have large land holding. Various well-used ponds situated in Jamui and Kotma socio-ecological factors contributing towards village respectively. The other two ponds, Magri ponds’ deterioration are caste dynamics of and Karmhayi are small(4-5 acre) and ignored society, modern water uses and irrigation ponds from Kudri gram panchayat. techniques, climate change, pollution, soil erosion and illegal mining. Most of these factors The research involved a total of 53 unstructured are interconnected, but underestimated by local interviews, maximum 6 to minimum 3 around authorities. each pond. Few respondents were interviewed around ponds that are dried up. Also, I Rural ponds in Sagra are found to be used at discussed with researchers from the university large scale, especially by women for washing and Chief municipal officer of Shahdol regarding cloths and bathing. This space facilitates social the history and present condition of ponds. interaction and improve harmony among Marginalised communities are highly dependent on ponds

30 only for them. Plantation around pond was done administration have not been effective. Apart through MNREGA in 2012 which is clearly visible from this pond, individually owned/leased now and the positive effects of plantations ponds are in very bad shape due to lack of include reduced soil erosion from bunds and property rights and disputes. In urban spaces more birds, animals and people using the pond. many ponds were bifurcated due to road construction which also made them vulnerable Urban ponds, are managed mostly by upper to pollution. layers of society or government. For eg. Mohanram pond gets good attention from In conclusion, I have tried to throw some city administration and in every 2-3 years light on not just the need of maintenance receives financial assistance from municipality of ponds in any small city, but also various fund, MLA fund, mineral fund etc. Conflicts factors, especially supply of piped water and between temple trust members affects actions proliferation of bore wells alienating people Ponds harbour rich biodiversity required for benefit of pond but they fight for from traditional water bodies. Rural setting developing infrastructure around their own apparently have more sustainable ponds than area majorly. Due to continuous construction urban areas. In urban areas, schemes similar community. But as the villages have at least around pond, water quantity and quality have to MNREGA for villages should be used for of 2-3 Ponds close to each other, there is clear been affected. In many summers it completely improving ponds. caste division in their use. Villagers used to dries up. Previously both parts were connected, manage these ponds till 1990s but now people but now they are not and has a very wide have become totally dependent on private water road(15-20m). Few children come there for sources and uses of these ponds is declining fishing and picking coins after festivals. Before very fast. Local administration have funds, but festival, the water surface near the temple’s due to lack of monitoring and corruption pond side are cleaned but only for few meters. So, management schemes are not implemented. after festival, lots of garbage can be seen on During interview of Sarpanch and ward member the water surface and near steps. But as every I found that they are not fully aware of schemes full moon and small festivals (almost 2-3 times to rejuvenate such water bodies. Also, close to in a month) are celebrated around this pond, this pond illegal mining was going on for brick administration continuously tries to clean the work. Few nearby ponds have been owned by pond. Anti-littering awareness programmes of local families and sometimes funds get diverted

31 Links and Resources

Online Course Report Articles

Exploring Sustainability in the Sustainability in Higher Education Ecology, Economy and Indian Context for the Global South: Society- The INSEE Journal A Conversation across Volume 2 Geographies and Disciplines Issue 2; July 2019

CONVERSATION: Practising Sustainability Science: Challenges In Teaching And Research

This course is designed for How can sustainability be integrated those seeking an integrated and into undergraduate, postgraduate Editorial Note: interdisciplinary understanding of and professional courses? A Sustainability Education: The sustainability both in theory and workshop with the goal of exploring Importance of Diversity practice. this question was organized by Azim by Harini Nagendra Premji University in January 2015. Read here Learn more about the course here The counterquestions, discussions To be notified of the next session, and potential solutions raised leave your email here during the workshop are presented Sustainability: Challenges in in this paper. Teaching For any queries, write to by Seema Purushothaman Read the entire report here [email protected] Read here