MSc Programme in Urban Management and Development Rotterdam, the Netherlands September 2019 Thesis title: The effect of landuse change in urban riverfront eco- restoration projects on land drawn capabilities. Case study of the Cooum, Chennai, India Name: Ahmed Tarek AlAhwal Supervisors: Dr. Maartje Van Eerd, Dr. Banashree Banerjee Specialisation: Urban Land Governance Country: Egypt Report number: 1274 UMD 15 Summary The ongoing Integrated Cooum River Eco-Restoration Project aims to improve the state of the polluted river, and improve the situation and alleviate the risk of surrounding residents. Yet, it is being criticised for the large amounts of distant resettlement it has caused, and for targeting the urban poor. Much unclarities exist within the public project descriptions, and press articles writing about it. The unclarities include what the components of the projects are, what are their benefits, how are they going to be applied, who is included in the process, which groups would be the disadvantaged, and why would such groups sacrifice most for the described public interest. The unclarities also extend on the relations between water bodies and encroachments in Chennai. An issue that is especially relevant after the severe flood of 2015, announcements and rulings were released for the removal of water bodies’ encroachments. Through a study of one of the project’s proposed park areas, the thesis examines the effect of the landuse changes on the capabilities of land resources for the resettled residents, the surrounding residents, the river, and public interest as described in the project. The analysis follows a political ecology entitlements approach that disaggregates rights and entitlements of land resources. Moreover, it analyses agency to socio-ecological structures and how it affects choices made within the project to mostly affect the land capabilities for the urban poor. The study compares with literature on dispossession of the urban poor in several Indian cities, based on development, or disaster induced displacement. The case study methodology serves to generate useful insights as a part of the existing academic literature and policy analysis of similar processes in other Indian cities. The study uses interviews with affected residents and users, government officials, academics, activists, and experts. Additionally, it includes an analysis on project reports, and other relevant reports and laws. The project is not completed, which limits the findings that can be concluded. However, the study shows how certain capabilities, related to river services and locational proximity are prioterized by groups and have stronger links to landuse change decisions. It also examines how different use designations lead to different levels of control over land rights. Ans how the bias against the urban poor results from the unclarity around the river / encroachment dialectics and other differences in the agency to changing socio-ecological relations. Another discussed issue is how the parameters for slum definition and rehabilitation action are neither sufficient, nor are cases of slums clear. Keywords Riverfront, Displacement, Water, Land Rights, Encroachment 2 The effect of landuse change in urban riverfront eco-restoration projects on land drawn capabilities, Cooum river Acknowledgements The thesis is a result of the inspiration and support that many people gave through my life, and through my study at IHS. Most of all, I’d like to thank the thesis supervisors, professors Maartje van Eerd and Banashree Bannerjee, for their guidance, patience, and connections. Also, the team of the Anna University, Department of Media sciences, especially professors Suntiha Don Bosco, and Velayutham Chandrasekaran, as well as teacher assistants, Rekha Elaya Kumar, and Lavanya Langarajan, for facilitating connections with governmental officials, and permits for conducting research. Media science students and interview interpreters, Keerthi Hassan, who helped introduce me to the city, its activities and communities, and Madhan US Kumar, whose connections facilitating conducting many of the interviews. I’d also like to thank my fellow UMD colleagues who conducted their research in Chennai at that time, Lilian, Sarah, Atika, Ishita and David, whose company and support eased the fieldwork process. Importantly, a thanking is due to the welcoming and open officials of the governments of Tamil Nadu and Chennai, as well as experts on urbanism as Dr. Karen Coelho, Vannessa Peter, and Nityanand Jayaraman. I’m grateful for inspirations of teachers, bosses and colleagues in HIS and before. Professors Ore Fika, Carlos Morales, Paul Rabe, and Jan Fransen from HIS, and all the UMD 15 supporting colleagues. Professors Nabil El Hady, and Heba Khalil from Cairo University’s Architecture Department, as well as urban professionals in Cairo, May al-Ibrashy, Omnia Khalil, and Vittoria Capreci and other colleagues within the urbanism field in Egypt, with whom we’ve grown, Ismail Moneer, Hesham Gamal, Ahmed Badr, Yusuf Halim, Heba Mousa, Omar Kassab, Omar alQousy, Ammar Taher, Abdelrahman Emad and Abdelrahman Ibrahim. Last but not least, I’d like to thank my parents, sisters, Yasmine and Nada, uncles, aunt and cousins for being a close supportive family, beyond what I can ever thank. 3 The effect of landuse change in urban riverfront eco-restoration projects on land drawn capabilities, Cooum river Abbreviations AIADMK All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam CAG Citizen consumer and civic Action Group CMA Chennai Metropolitan Area CMDA Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority CMWSSB Chennai MetroWater Supply and Sewage Board CRRT Chennai River Restoration Trust CRZ Coastal Regulation Zone DIDR Development induced displacement and resettlement DMK Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam DPR Detailed Project Report GCC Greater Chennai Corporation GoTN Government of Tamil Nadu HC High Court HBU Highest and Best Use HLRN Housing and Land Rights Network ICRERP Integrated Cooum River Eco-Restoration Project IRCDUC Information and Resource Centre for Deprived Urban Communities JNNURM Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission kfw Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau MIDS The Madras Institute of Development Studies MoEFCC Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change OBC other backward classes PAF Project Affected Families PWD Public Works Department ROW Right of Way line SRD Sabarmati Riverfront Development project TNPTEEA The Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachment Act TNSCB Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board TNUDF Tamil Nadu Urban Development Fund TNUIFSL Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited 4 The effect of landuse change in urban riverfront eco-restoration projects on land drawn capabilities, Cooum river Table of Contents Summary .................................................................................................................................... 2 Keywords ................................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... 3 Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................. 4 Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................... 5 List of Boxes .............................................................................................................................. 8 List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ 8 List of Maps ............................................................................................................................... 8 List of Photographs .................................................................................................................... 8 List of Tables ............................................................................................................................. 9 Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................ 10 1.1 Background .................................................................................................................... 10 1.2 Problem Statement ......................................................................................................... 10 1.3 Research Objectives ....................................................................................................... 11 1.4 Provisional Research Question(s) .................................................................................. 11 1.5 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................... 12 1.6 Scope and Limitations.................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 2: Theory Review ....................................................................................................... 14 2.1 State of the Art of the Theories/Concepts of the Study ................................................. 14 2.1.1 The capability approach .......................................................................................... 14 2.1.2 Benefits of Land resources.....................................................................................