Spaces & Flows: Ninth International Conference on Urban and ExtraUrban Studies

Abstract

As a result of globalisation and industrial development, the Indian economy is being shifted from agrarian to industrial. Setbacks in rural agriculture promote migration to urban centres in search of employment, affecting the urban economy. Uncontrolled migration results in the expansion of slums in the meagacities of India, leading to socio-economic and environmental issues. Things are worse in Mumbai where half of the population lives in slums. Most of these are unaccounted poor without access to basic facilities. In terms of the population exposure to the coastal environment, Mumbai is at a high risk. Thousands of illegal migrants from neighbouring countries also arrive in Mumbai. The city is not well-designed or planned to accommodate such a large population. Administration fails to provide basic necessities such as water, shelter, sanitation, education, food, clothing, and health care. Development of urban infrastructure becomes very expensive and complicated. The escalating number of vehicles, poorly maintained roads, and the encroachment of footpaths by street vendors create long hours of traffic jams. Poor sanitation together with insufficient basic infrastructure and extremes in climate create serious health issues. Diseases once eradicated return to the city with the inflow of migrants. Industries and urban settlements do not have proper treatment. The rising population leads to several social issues such as conflicts over the allocation of water, food, energy, and land. There is a large disparity in income distribution. There are attempts to legalise resident status of illegal migrants, just for political gains. Population control and urban planning and management have become complicated, as they involve several socio-economic, environmental, and political issues. India has not developed an adequate urban policy to meet these challenges. Measures to eradicate urban poverty often fail because of various socio-economic and political reasons. However, programmes to guarantee rural employment and improve rural livelihood may help control urban migration. This study analyses the impact of the increasing population in the megacity of Mumbai under a changing climate and environment. Existing policies, acts, and management strategies have been critically reviewed. Further migration can be discouraged by expanding rural agriculture and increasing employment opportunities in this sector. There are other options also to overcome the crisis such as satellite cities with all basic facilities, urban poverty eradication schemes, and modernisation of urban infrastructure to cope with the changing demographic and climate patterns. Urban poverty eradication schemes can be implemented with the help of private sector and non-profit organizations. Guidelines for an appropriate urban policy and adaptation strategy have been provided.