2017 synopsis sanjyot

Management of areas affected by Urbanism, Case: Lakes in Vasai-Virar Sub Region

Synopsis

Sanjyot Pradhan

Guided by Prof.Sandip Patil Co-Guided by Tapan Modi

Masters of Landscape Design Faculty of Architecture

May, 2017

Management of areas affected by Urbanism, Case: Lakes in Vasai – Virar Sub region

Synopsis Abstract Indian metro cities have gone under rapid growth of urbanization. Along with the increase in human population, the cities are unable to cater to the needs of all. This has given rise to the development in the satellite towns present around the metro cities. To cater to the human needs, the ecology, the natural resources are in danger and are being harmed and destroyed.

The Vasai-Virar region is the northernmost periphery of greater Mumbai, and historically the growth of the Vasai and Agashe group of Islands predates the growth of Mumbai. With the development of the colonial port town in the island city of Mumbai, this region was transformed into its agrarian hinterland. However, in the last three decades the region is experiencing a process of rapid urbanization. Ongoing urbanization of the VVSR (Vasai Virar sub-region) has threatened significant natural resources and assets in the region.

The region faces water scarcity problem even after receiving adequate amount of rainfall.

The region has a shore line on its western end, due to which, the groundwater in the area is also high in salt content and thus it cannot be used for drinking and agriculture purpose.

The water-bodies in the region (lakes and ponds) are now treated as objects of commodity with various beautification schemes implemented affecting the ground water discharge.

The new development plan has proposal for developments near these water-bodies which are threat to the water system.

Need for study With the impact of rapid urban sprawl, there is a direct effect on the ground water table.

Due to which area with high rainfall also face the problems of water shortage, which further has its own negative impacts.

The need for the study is to identify water resources within an area before urbanization takes over, which will be disturbed by human influences, leading into a stressed condition and to integrate them with proper understanding of the factors which can affect them & to retain its natural order before development takes place. With proper planning these natural resources can be taken care of and can be made reversible.

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Management of areas affected by Urbanism, Case: Lakes in Vasai – Virar Sub region

Research Question What is the importance of water-bodies in a developing region?

Should the natural resources be neglected while developing any region?

What is the impact of rapid urbanization on the natural resources of the region?

Aim The aim is to understand the effect of rapid urban sprawl on the waterbodies of the region and to try and integrate the water-bodies in the region which is under the pressure of urbanization.

Objectives Identify the water bodies which need to be protected & interpreted in Master Planning of the expanding city and understand the role of water-bodies & its value within a developing area before the future development takes over.

Identify and analyze the human influences that lead to degradation of the resources.

Preserve the natural areas which are part of the eco-sensitive zone and suggest measures that would help in maintaining the ecosystem.

Scope Water bodies like lakes & pond have become important tools to address the issue of water scarcity & ground water depletion.

They even act as breathing lungs in an urban environment besides being tools to conserve biodiversity in that particular region.

They become important public spaces, being attached to religious structures or public areas like markets, increasing the social connectivity between various communities.

In fact, in a majority of the older settlements, the talavs have been sited at strategic locations where they become landmarks or have been used as strategic architectural devices that organize the built fabric of the settlement – thereby having immense significance even during contemporary times.

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Management of areas affected by Urbanism, Case: Lakes in Vasai – Virar Sub region Limitations The study would include only the water bodies in the region in detail and would not concentrate on the other ecological systems such as estuaries and mangroves.

Methodology ❖ Introduction •

Understanding the importance of water

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Classification of water-bodies

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Present situation of water-bodies in developing areas

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Effect of urbanization

❖ Aim, Objective ❖ Identifying the Region The study will begin with a broad understanding of the regional context and setting, will look at the impacts of development patterns and policy on the ecology of the region. ❖ Evaluation of natural resources •

Geology

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Geomorphology

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Hydrology

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Slope and elevation

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Vegetation

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Soil

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Land use

❖ Evaluation of natural resources •

Ground water recharge potential

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Critical zone

❖ Issues and analysis ❖ Literature study ❖ Proposal •

Guidelines for future development

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Management of areas affected by Urbanism, Case: Lakes in Vasai – Virar Sub region Vasai-Virar Sub Region (VVSR) Introduction Vasai-Virar Sub-Region is situated in the north-west corner of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The Vasai-Virar Sub-region is separated from

Map 1 VVSR Location on map of Maharashtra

Greater Mumbai and Mira-Bhayander by the Vasai Creek.

The city is termed as the dormitory of Mumbai as it has helped

VVSR

in decongesting the main city.

The sandy shores along the sea coast are linked to a marine ecosystem, and the inland waste bodies are part of a rich estuarine ecosystem, replete with mudflats, creeks and salt pans.

Mangrove growth is prevalent among the major creeks and water channels where tidal effects are experienced. These

GREATER MUMBAI

provide excellent habitats to a variety of organisms.

Location of VVSR (source: google earth)

Landscape character of the region

Beaches along the western edge (Source: Author)

Banana plantations (Source: Author)

Mudflats along the creek (Source: Author)

Salt pans (Author)

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Agriculture fields (Source: Author)

Lakes in the region (Source: Author)

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Management of areas affected by Urbanism, Case: Lakes in Vasai – Virar Sub region Study area delineation The major criteria for defining the study region is the existing geographical boundary of water on the three sides, viz. the Vasai creek on the southern end, the Arabian sea on the west and the Vaitarna creek in the north. The eastern edge is defined on the basis of the watershed boundary and the rigde of Tungar hills.

Limit of the land until the coast in the south, west and north combining with the watershed along the eastern edge form the study region.

Map 2 Factors for delineating the region (Source: Google earth, GIS)

Map 3 Study region (Source: Google earth, GIS)

The Vasai Virar Sub region, that lies to the north of Mumbai, forms a part of the Bombay Metropolitan Region (BMR). The Sub-region is about 380sq.km which includes 65 villages and 2 municipal councils. The region is a narrow coastal belt, fringed with dense thickets of coconut trees, farmlands and forest.

The VVSR is termed as the ‘green belt’ of Mumbai.

Prior to 1975, the plan of the region was such that the strips of land along the coast line and the Western railway where to be given for development which was about 2% of the total region and the rest of the remaining area to remain under green zone. Until this period, the region had avoided the attention of the builders due to lack of infrastructure. Soon the towns in the VVSR (Vasai, Nalasopara, Virar) observed increase in the population mainly because of the growing pressure on the main city of Mumbai. Due to this, the Maharashtra government in 1983, increased the urbanisable zone from 2% to 6%, decreasing the area from the green zone. Further in 1988, the earlier sanctioned regional plan was modified by converting 8500 ha green zone area into urbanisable zone. Later in 1990, an additional 2000 ha were taken away from the green zone, making the urbanisable zone almost one fourth of the total region which initially was only 2%. This attracted the builders to buy land in the region and start development on a rapid scale without considering the natural resources of the region and thus affecting the ecology of the region.

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Management of areas affected by Urbanism, Case: Lakes in Vasai – Virar Sub region Urban character 22% of the area in Vasai-Virar is urbanized.

The remaining 78% of the area remains free from Urbanization.

These occupy the salt pan lands under CRZ I (around17%), mangrove cover and Reserved forest.

Settlement pattern of this sub-region is such that larger villages are located along the coastal belt to the west of the railway line.

The villages in this belt have good agricultural, horticultural and fishing base and therefore, they are distinct from the villages in the eastern part of railway line situated along and near the National Highway.

Study of natural layers.

To understand the region, natural areas were to be studied. The study includes understanding of the topography, soil, geology, geomorphology. The study of these layers further help in the analyzing the ground water recharge potential and the critical zone of the region. They help in understanding the issues occurring in this region.

Issues of the region After analyzing the natural layers, the study suggests that the region is losing its character due to: a. Rapid growth of urbanization b. Salinity ingression degrading the primary aquifer. c. Shortage of surface water d. Depletion and pressure on Ground water e. Increase in Surface runoff f. Death of biodiversity at micro level g. Influence of water bodies on micro-climate

Threat to ecology: The narrow coastal belt known as 'Uthalpat' is richly fertile with sweet water resources. It is extensively used for growing paddy, vegetables, fruits and flowers.

The fertile land is only 2 to 3 feet above the saline land, known as 'Kharpat' which runs from Chikkal Dongri in the north to Naigaon in the south.

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Management of areas affected by Urbanism, Case: Lakes in Vasai – Virar Sub region The railway line divides this belt which is hardly 3 to 4 feet above the sea level.

These saline lands are the natural flood plains of the tides surfing in from the Arabian sea, providing the precious wet lands that prevent erosion of the coast line. It is this area that the builders are seeking to build upon, by filling up the land.

Further east, is the ‘Junglepat', the rising hills of the western ghats, the two-thirds of the area covered by forests and inhabited by tribals.

According to the local people and social activists, the building activity in the 'Kharpat' area (saline lands) has already caused serious ecological changes and has disrupted the traditional agricultural based economy in the fertile land ('Uthalpat).

The agricultural parcels in the uthalpat were known as wadis. To cater to these, Bhowkhals (Traditional water ponds) were created. This system looks like an unconstructed well.

Mostly these are owned by families, and the ownership pattern shows that TWPs are at present divided among 5 to 35 families. It served for the irrigation need of farmers as well as a water resource for domestic purposes.

The heavy drawing of underground water for construction and drinking purposes has led to the lowering of water level, and saline water is reported seeping into the wells.

This is bound to destroy the agricultural base of the region. With the hope of making a fast buck, more and more farmers are digging new wells.

This has also reduced the percolation of used water through the land surface for its re-use through the wells and has affected the drinking water.

The wetlands are being reclaimed for the setting up of buildings, the blocked sea waters are moving into the garden belt and have caused water logging, with increasing salinity and depletion of soil fertility.

Urbanization results in formation of concrete jungles which has affected the ecology leading to reduction of many of the water bodies which now remain shadows of their original beauty.

Literature study A study of waterbodies which are under the pressure of urban growth to be studied to understand. For which the; Restoration and transformation of small stagnant Urban Water bodies of Dhaka for sustainability was studied.

The aim was to restore & conserve degraded small stagnant urban water bodies both for functional needs as well as for recreational and aesthetic purposes as they have a great

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Management of areas affected by Urbanism, Case: Lakes in Vasai – Virar Sub region ecological importance in urban environment – from microclimate control to biodiversity.

Five water-bodies of different neighborhood have been selected for the study. The physical, ecological and social characteristics of each water-body was analyzed.

The proposal included sustainable management framework for each ward is required to have better water quality as well as encourage social and economic activities along these ponds. The study of physical, ecological, social aspects of these ponds were useful in making guidelines and recommendations.

Proposal The waterbodies in the region to be marked. Water-bodies located in rural, peri-urban and urban setting each to be studied.

The most critical lake and its watershed to be selected from the analysis study of the natural layers and the proposed DP. Thus, considering the Lake is currently in the rural settlement and falls under the green zone and urbanisable zone, a masterplan is to be created for the watershed of that lake by providing guidelines.

Provide management strategies.

General planning & building design level guidelines: • The relation between the natural landscapes and the urban growth is very fragile and one should understand the importance of the environment while developing any area.

• Every neighborhood should consist of greens in any form viz. parks, community gardens or even village greens.

• Planning, architecture & landscape design should be done after analyzing the climate, topography, history & building practice of that region.

• Streets to be designed as ecosystems where man-made systems interface with natural systems. From pervious pavements & bio-swales that manage storm water runoff to street trees that provide shade are critical to the health of the cities, ecology has the potential to act as a driver for long term, sustainable design.

• All grey & black water to be treated with Soil Treatment Plant.

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Management of areas affected by Urbanism, Case: Lakes in Vasai – Virar Sub region • Minimal use of impervious material should be used while developing.

• Existing vegetation and ground cover should be retained wherever possible • Vehicle access should be restricted and surfaced working areas should be provided.

Development control: • At least 50 m of buffer to be provided around any natural water body.

• Minimum 25% of plot area to be kept green with vegetation.

• Height restrictions to buildings to be given for more accessibility to water bodies and to be given in respect to the distance from water bodies, which area as below: • 200 m radii – 8 m • 400 m radii – 12 m • More than 400 m radii – 16 m and above as per DCR. Bibliography Books & Thesis Sawant, Shraddha. Ecological study of a Tidal creek & Management of progressively altered landscape: Case – Sopara-Bolinj creek, Vasai-Virar, Maharashtra.

Ahmedabad: CEPT University, 2014.

Shah, Kijal. Integration of Water Bodies (Ponds/Talao) in Urban development; Case: South zone, Surat, Gujarat. Ahmedabad: CEPT University, 2014.

Websites Lopes, William. www.vasaiker.com. n.d. www.vasaitoday.com. n.d.

Report R.N.Sharma. "A Hinterland Under Seige: The Controversial Development of Vasai Virar Region of Bombay Metropolis." n.d.

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