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FRAMEWORK FOR THE MULLASSERY CANAL PRECINCT
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Table of contents Introduction
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Chapter 1:Vision for the Mullassery Canal 1.1 Existing Scenario of the Mullassery Canal Precinct 1.2 Constraints and Opportunities - Precinct Level Precinct Level Challenges: (Based on the limited data available and Site analysis) Precinct Level Opportunities: (Based on the limited data available and Site analysis) 1.3 Planning Principles 1.4 Vision Statement Concepts underlying vision document
6 6 6 7 9 9 13 15
Chapter 2: Framework for the Mullassery Canal Precinct: Adapt, Connect and Empower 2.1 Sponge Framework - Adapt 2.1.2 Existing Scenario: Waterlogging in the Canal precinct 2.1.3 Sponge Approach for a Resilient Kochi: Investing in a Blue-Green Network to mitigate flooding and improving the public realm 2.1.4 Principles of the Sponge Approach: 2.1.5 Key typologies of cloudburst network blue-green streets and open spaces: 2.1.6 Framework 2.1.7 Scenarios: 2.1.8 On-Site Implementation of Sponge toolkits 2.1.9 Expected Outcomes 2.2 Mobility Framework 2.2.2 Approach - Prioritizing motor vehicles Vs Prioritizing People: 2.2.3 Principles: 2.2.4 Key components of mobility framework: 2.2.5 People-prioritized mobility scenario: 2.2.6 Expected outcomes: 2.3 Community Framework 2.3.1 Introduction 2.3.2 Challenges and Opportunities 2.3.3. Approach - Existing scenario Vs Canal community scenario 2.3.4 Principles: 2.3.5 Key components of community framework: 2.3.6 People-prioritized community scenario: 2.3.7 Expected outcomes:
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Chapter 3: Canal Edge Masterplan 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Canal Rejuvenation Strategies Landscape Mobility:
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Community: 3.3 Comprehensive Canal Edge Masterplan 3.4 Canal Edge Scenarios Stretch A - Near KSRTC Bus Stand Stretch B - Karikkamuri Neighbourhood Stretch C - Fashion Street Stretch D - Padikathukulam East colony Stretch E - KMC Waste Collection Centre Stretch F - Karunakaran Lane, Outside Jewish Cemetery Stretch G - Canal Mouth Chapter 4: Participatory Planning 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Implementation 4.2.1 Implementation - Sponge framework: 4.2.2 Implementation - Mobility framework: 4.2.3 Implementation - Community framework: 4.2.3.1 Post-implementation Community Waste management Strategies 4.2.4 Glimpse into Pilot Projects 4.2.4.1 Subsite B 4.2.4.2 Subsite C - Pilot project 4.2.4.3 Additional Pilots 4.2.4 Phasing of Pilot Projects and Long-term policy initiatives 4.2.5 Funding opportunities, existing initiatives 4.3 Serious Gaming ECOLOGY: MOBILITY: Annexure 1. Background of Flood Mitigation Efforts in Kerala Esteem Report Recommendations 2. Best Practices Sponge Framework Canal Cleanup Strategies C. For collaborative governance and community participation D. An Integrated approach 3. Stakeholder Engagement 4. Glossary
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Introduction Ente Kochi - Context The Entekochi Urban Design Competition under KMC seeks to create a project that leverages Kochi’s natural assets, monsoon culture, and social capital to make the city more resilient, vibrant, and inclusive. One of the key objectives of this project is to demonstrate an alternative approach to building resilience against the adverse effects of climate-induced risks by taking a comprehensive approach towards flood mitigation and waterbody management. In order to maximise the impact of this project, it is essential to consider a precinct-level framework for flooding rather than one that is narrowly focused on a single water channel viz. The Mullassery Canal. This report therefore presents key strategies for a Mullassery Canal Precinct Framework Plan.
Kochi - Context The Kochi metropolitan area is home to an estimated 3 million people who inherit a unique cultural and environmental legacy characterized by the calm backwaters, networked canals, and rich biodiversity. The city spans a low-lying monsoonal estuary that is soaked by rainfall. Water is integral to Kochi’s unique identity but climate change and unsustainable patterns of urbanisation threaten the balance between nature and society, land and water. Over the last couple decades, Kochi and its adjoining areas have seen tremendous growth at the expense of its lush green cover and the concretisation of its natural waterways (Figure 1). Canals that once linked waterways are concreted over, compromised by gray infrastructure, polluted or clogged by waste. This has left Kochi more vulnerable to the present and future impacts of climate change. As Kochi’s metropolitan population continues to grow at a rate of about 4% every year, the city and other urban centres in Kerala need to consider land and water-sensitive development paradigms that are more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Figure 1: Kochi’s urbanisation has rapidly expanded into surrounding forests or farmlands turning porous land cover into impervious roof and asphalt (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report predicts higher occurrences of extreme rainfall events due to climate change. According to the IPCC Fifth Assessment, it is very likely that there is an increase in frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events in wet tropical regions. One such example of an extreme rainfall event is the one that occurred in Kerala in August 2018, where the rainfall for the week of 9th August to 15th August was 155% over the average.1 This extreme rainfall event overwhelmed transport and power infrastructure in the state, resulting in waterlogging, loss of life and damage to property and livelihoods, in some cases resulting in lasting damage to livelihoods. Kochi already faces intermittent patterns of rainfall and the past monsoons on record have witnessed unusually intense cloudbursts that brought the city to a standstill. In 2018, Kochi experienced historic levels of flooding as more than 230mm of rainfall fell within a period of 24 hours. Cloudbursts bring a high-intensity of rainfall over a short duration. Kochi is likely to experience increased annual precipitation and increased recurrence of cloudburst events (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Climate change is likely to increase the rainfall range and extreme rainfall events including cloudbursts like the one witnessed by Kochi in 2018 (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Due to increasing development and reducing natural groundcover, there are fewer open spaces that can allow infiltration of water in case of an extreme rainfall event. In the event of an extreme rainfall event such as the one that occurred in 2018, the existing water channels and reservoirs have proved unable to contain the deluge. As illustrated in Figure 3, the current development paradigm has resulted in a decrease in natural groundcover, resulting in less infiltration, concurrent with an increase in the likelihood of extreme rainfall. Both these factors, taken together, constitute an increased vulnerability to flooding due to extreme rainfall events, and thus poses a serious risk to the future development of Kochi.
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https://graphoverflow.com/graphs/kerala-flood-2018.html
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Chapter 1:Vision for the Mullassery Canal 1.1 Existing Scenario of the Mullassery Canal Precinct
Figure 3: (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
Mullassery Canal sits at the heart of Kochi as one of hundreds of waterways and canals that characterize the city’s fabric, history, and future trajectory. We take inspiration from the proximity of a green city to the rainforests of Western Ghats and traditional practices that sustain these landscapes. Kochi is hydrologically linked to its larger basins as the Periyar and Muvattupuzha rivers emerge from the foothills of the Ghats. These rivers and the aquifer are the city’s main source of drinking water. The monsoons generously renew and recharge these resources. However, contemporary development patterns disrupt the linkages between forests, water bodies, and the aquifer. Kochi faces multiple issues of flooding, aquifer depletion, saltwater intrusion, and coastal erosion. These interlinked risks are amplified by urbanisation. COVID-19 and the recent floods have exposed compounding socio-economic vulnerabilities as well as the resilience of Kerala’s social institutions and local communities. We propose a nature based solutions (NBS) approach inspired from traditional forms of natural resource management and reinterpreted for the dense, cosmopolitan city of Kochi. We believe that investments to improve climate resilience should leave nobody behind and create co-benefits in well-being, placemaking, and biodiversity. To this end we propose a comprehensive toolkit of strategies: ADAPT, CONNECT, EMPOWER.
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1.2 Constraints and Opportunities - Precinct Level The city’s aging stormwater infrastructure and concretised canals are not designed to handle extreme events. The change in Kochi’s land cover leads the gray infrastructure network to often fail under moderate rainfall during the monsoons. Kochi’s stormwater capacity was designed for a landscape that has changed dramatically as green cover was replaced by built-up area and tree canopy within urban areas decreased. Simultaneously with an increase in likelihood of flooding due to extreme rainfall events, there is the potential for an increase in drought-incidence due to irregular rainfall and insufficient groundwater infiltration, which points to the likelihood of permanent changes in the hydrological cycle.
Precinct Level Challenges: (Based on the limited data available and Site analysis) 1.
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Increased flooding: The increase in impervious ground cover due to development generates more runoff after rainfall events. This generates peak runoff with very little lag time and overwhelms the stormwater system and canals. In traditional stormwater management, this runoff is quickly conveyed towards the backwaters or sea. The rush to flush away water increases flood risk while stressing the canals and reducing the potential for aquifer recharge. Increased water contamination: Lapses in solid waste management and unregulated sewage outfalls into waterways contaminate surface and subsurface water systems. Periyar and Muvattupuzha rivers as well as the aquifer are the main sources of drinking water that are threatened by the waste loop. Collection of solid waste debris and silt also compromises the efficacy of the stormwater system. Increased aquifer depletion: Over-extraction of groundwater along with zero groundwater infiltration, results in depleting the groundwater levels. This induces saltwater intrusion along the coast and seeps deeper into the region. This renders most of the present groundwater wells redundant and can induce drinking water scarcity during years of weak monsoon or extended droughts. Increased coastal erosion: Ernakulam and Kollam districts are placed second in position for coastal erosion among other coasts of Kerala. Climate change will increase the intensity of storm surges that further wash away coastal soil. Due to climate change and frequent storm surges most of the soil gets eroded. The construction of seawalls hastens coastal erosion as they amplify wave dynamics towards unwalled edges and prevent sediments from aggregating on coastlines. Unsafe streets for women: Although there are many institutions in the precinct, the streets are poorly lit and lack visibility from the community. Students and women feel unsafe using the streets at night, which further result in them dissociating from the city’s public space. The empty streets and open spaces also reduce the footfall for local businesses in the area. Inaccessible footpaths: Broken and fragmented footpaths make the streets a nightmare for vulnerable groups, including women, the disabled, and children. The dense network of streets in the city have been taken over by private motor vehicles and parking, leading to traffic congestion and an 8% increase in road deaths from 2018 to 2019. According to the Evangelical Social Action Forum’s study on Walkability and Pedestrian Facilities in Kochi, 2016-2017, 60% of the respondents expressed fear while crossing roads. Poor solid waste management:The city’s waste management system has not yet tackled residential, commercial, and medical waste despite the presence of organisations like Kudumbashree and Haritha Karma Sena. Solid waste is dumped into the canal, clogging the waterways or dumped on the streets, making it unattractive.
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Figure 4: When natural ground cover over permeable soil is replaced completely by impervious built-up area, runoff can increase by more than five times. Historic stormwater networks were not designed to handle this excess runoff. (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Figure 5: From Linear Model of Water Wastage, Extraction and Pollution to Circular Model of Water Management, Recharge, and Regeneration (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
There is, therefore, a need for a change in approach when dealing with extreme rainfall events at all levels of policy and governance, particularly one that is focused on adaptation and resilience.
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Precinct Level Opportunities: (Based on the limited data available and Site analysis) 1.
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Rethinking open spaces and streets under the Sponge Framework by integrating climate-resilient bluegreen urban infrastructure, such as bioswales, rain gardens, stormwater drains, and tree pits, with co-benefits such as a better public realm and urban greening. Integrating the Mullassery Canal into the urban realm by opening up the canal where possible, widening, and naturalising the edge and the canal bed. Foregrounding the Mullassery canal in the public realm and re-establishing a link between the citizens of Kochi and the city’s waterways. Creating a better public realm and enhancing biodiversity with existing landscape assets such as the Maharaja’s College Ground, Priyadarshini Park, the wetlands on the eastern side of the railway and enhancing biodiversity by improving the health of the canal through solid waste management strategies. Creating a well-connected transit system by integrating the KSRTC Bus Stand, Maharaja’s College Metro Station, and Ernakulam Bus Stand through last-mile connectivity in the form of walking and cycling infrastructure, Public Bike Sharing (PBS) systems, and IPT stands. Ensuring gender sensitive and barrier-free streets that allow the vulnerable members of the community, including women, children, elderly, and the disabled, to safely and comfortably access public transport nodes, education, and work opportunities. Enhancing livelihood opportunities through placemaking on the streets and in neglected open spaces which can activate the urban realm, increase footfall, and augment economic activities. Improving local governance through neighbourhood models consists of a citizen-driven approach to resolving civic issues. By empowering community members to manage waste, conserve water, monitor natural assets, the neighbourhood network will foster social ties and formulate community-led solutions. Managing solid and liquid waste by improving transparency into the process, involving local organisations, and introducing incentives for the residents. Kochi can demonstrate a waste management system which empowers low-income communities to look at waste as a resource, which can yield economic and ecological benefits.
1.3 Planning Principles This report presents a precinct-level framework that considers and proposes landscape, mobility, and community interventions. A precinct-level framework ensures integrated development in the vicinity of the Mullassery Canal, which can be a demonstration project that tests out best practices and sets benchmarks for city-wide transformation. In the specific case of the Mullassery Canal Precinct, the water system is envisioned as the connecting medium that holistically ties together public spaces, streets, social amenities, mobility systems, and communities living along the canal. Therefore, understanding and layering blue-green systems, communities, neighbourhoods, governance structures, infrastructure networks and local economic nodes at the precinct scale has resulted in a deeper understanding of the relationship between the urban fabric and the canal, and resulted in an integrated and comprehensive design proposal for the canal and open spaces/mobility networks surrounding the canal. The following section outlines some overarching principles to consider when framing policies, planning guidelines, and conceptualising design pilots and masterplans in the precinct:
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1)
Creating a local institutional framework for a climate resilient, water-centric, integrated urban development model for Kochi: Given the ubiquity of water in the city of Kochi, any integrated approach needs to consider the interplay between water and land use, and the ensuing relationships with livelihoods and infrastructure. There are several central, state and local government schemes with the specific focus of protecting local livelihoods and building a robust infrastructural framework to strengthen resilience against climate change, but not many that link the two, especially at the local level. There is a lack of a common vision, integrated thinking and coordination between various agencies and schemes. Creating the institutional framework at the ward or district level that can allow local government agencies to streamline investments, prioritize reforms, and nurture cross-collaborative integrated development practices through various types of partnerships and funding mechanisms will play a key role in paving the way for robust development. This is where the precinct level framework comes in, as it provides a template and vision document for local governments to use to secure funding and gain buy-in, while providing the flexibility that is required as more data and community buy-in comes in.
Figure 6: The current trend in urban development looks at projects in isolation (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
Figure 7: Integrated, water-driven approach to development will position water at the center and articulate projects in a synchronised manner. (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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Figure 8: The comparison between current paradigm and proposed paradigm (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)(Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
2) Investing in infrastructure for the long-term involves a multi-sectoral approach: Justice Devan Ramachandran of the High Court of Kerala has pointed out that given our vulnerability to extreme climatic events, designing, building and embracing sustainable ecosystem and resilient infrastructures are the only solution for survival2. To achieve such climate-responsive urban development goals and restore the cultural connection between people of Kochi and water landscapes, it is paramount to rework the current development paradigm predicated on a political economy that is focused on short-term returns, both political and economic. Long term approaches to climate adaptation, resilience, social cohesion, and community empowerment require designing infrastructure systems for extreme events such as flooding. This, in turn, requires a risk-based multi-faceted approach that focuses on social and ecological factors. This requires widening the scope beyond the narrow bounds of the Mullasserry canal. Climate adaptation for flood mitigation in the Mullasserry canal precinct requires resolution of multiple issues and stakeholders, including community participation for maintenance and upkeep, mobility infrastructure and transport planning in the vicinity of the canal, and effective solid waste management and termination of illegal dumping into the canal and other water bodies. Understanding flood mitigation through a precinct level framework is more likely to result in a successful implementation strategy for the long-term. 3) Integrated resilience planning for multiple co-benefits: Focusing on a more integrated approach, which includes the design of open spaces and streets results in multiple co-benefits, such as flood mitigation, an increase in biodiversity due to greening, provision of public amenities and parks, promotion of non-motorised transport routes along canals, enhancing women’s safety, and stronger community involvement in public spaces resulting in better solid waste management outcomes. By widening the area under investigation from the immediate bounds of the canal, it is possible to make recommendations that can improve the long-term ecological health AND community cohesion of the Mullasserry canal and the entire catchment area. 4) Integration of urban planning and water management to deal with extreme rainfall events According to an expert member of the jury, Dr. Mohanasundar Radhakrishnan, who is an expert on climate adaptation of urban areas to increase their flood resilience in the Netherlands, and was brought in to evaluate this proposal, the integration of land and water management is essential in order to cope with exceedance flooding. While there has typically been a focus on leaving the design of roads to engineers, rather than bringing it under the umbrella of urban planning, which has led to a reluctance to tamper with 2
In the recent ‘International Conference on Impact of Climate Change on Hydrological Cycle, Ecosystem, Fisheries and Food Security (ClimFishCon 2020)’
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the profiles of roads under the Indian Roads Congress guidelines, this has resulted in missed opportunities for flood resilience through street design. Seconding this view, Professor K.T. Ravindran, senior academic advisor, RICS School of the Built Environment of urban designer and Head jury member of the EnteKochi Urban Design Competition, counsels that it is necessary to rethink roads as important channels for conveying runoff during extreme flooding in the future. Dr. Mohanasundar particularly mentioned the importance of designing not only for the seamless flow of water from street to drain in normal rainfall events, but also from drains to open spaces/designated flooded streets in extreme events. While it is important to have roads be motorable and free of water at most times, this may not be desirable during extreme rainfall or extreme flood events, when all channels are necessary to allow runoff, especially when the choice is seen against damage to life and property. He also mentioned the possibility of re-classifying streets on the basis of their importance as a water channel in the case of an extreme rainfall event, and taking a strategic view of low-risk floodable versus non-floodable roads and open spaces. 5) Transport & Pedestrian Planning to enhance interaction with canal: The framework positions the Mullassery Canal as a connecting spine between three important transit hubs - the KSRTC Bus Stand, MG Road Metro Station, and the Ernakulam Boat Jetty. By not constraining to only the canal corridor, this principle is adopted to look at the larger mobility network that prioritizes walking and cycling to help achieve a compact, 15-minute neighborhood. The framework will define the street hierarchy, assign speed limits, specify recommendations for walking & cycling infrastructure, and identify potential locations for supportive transit facilities (Public Bike-Sharing, IPT stands, and pick-up/drop-off zones) to enable multi-modal integration. 6) Open public space planning for resilience and liveability: Open public space planning will respond to the street network, canal system, and associated community activities. Especially in correlation to the mobility network, it will help in activating the streets and making them safe for women and children. The pedestrian-only trails within the open spaces are also connected to the larger street network. New pedestrian connectors across the canal will bring the communities closer to public transit. 7) Integrating utility management with street design: Urban utility networks at the precinct level—consisting of water, waste, electricity, gas, sewerage, and telecommunication systems—underpin the economic, social, and environmental resilience of cities and communities and make them future-proof. As the project looks at an integrated water-driven approach, it provides a wonderful opportunity for the city to realign the utility management practices for the needs of the present and future. 8) Nurturing sustainable livelihoods: The framework positions the Mullassery Canal as an opportunity to improve the lives of people living around including the Padikathukulam colonies, street vendors, and Kudumbashree workers. The scope is not restricted to the canal edges. The blocks adjoining and intersecting the canal are also included as part of the framework. As much as the focus is on social value & benefits, the importance of safeguarding the local economy and benefits for the community is also considered. The larger goal is to bring lifestyle changes, promote self-sufficiency, and embed systems to ensure social and economic resilience at the community level. Integration of affordable housing and access to the city for local communities as well as migrant workers against the background of the CoVID-19 pandemic, too, is an important consideration to be integrated into the larger policy framework that can be addressed at the local level.
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9) Delivering high-quality public amenities & Services: Considering a precinct-level framework also allows for the provision of basic public conveniences within 10-minute walking distance. These amenities are an important link in the chain of enhancing public health and social well-being. Potential locations for clustering public convenience such as - Bio-toilets, drinking water kiosks, inclusive seating, vendor zone, trash bin, shaded shelter - are marked out with relative walkshed as part of the framework. The present state of the Mullassery canal is a clear evidence of the failure of existing unregulated solid waste management practices. The framework also proposes a decentralised solid waste management mechanism by giving spatial definition and involving the community as a key actor.
1.4 Vision Statement This report consists of two major components, which are linked by a common vision: The Framework for Mullassery Canal Precinct in Chapter 2, which considers the entire neighbourhood within which Mullassery Canal is situated, and the Comprehensive Canal Edge Master Plan in Chapter 3, which considers the canal and the immediate bounds of the canal with a buffer of approximately 3 meters on either side. This vision for the Mullassery Canal precinct in downtown Ernakulam leverages Kochi’s natural assets, monsoon culture, and social capital to make the city more resilient, vibrant, and inclusive by means of a set of comprehensive principles and strategies: ADAPT, CONNECT, EMPOWER.
Figure 9: Toolkits of ADAPT+CONNECT+EMPOWER and their respective stakeholders (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
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Figure 10: Map showing the Mullassery Canal Area as the extents of the Precint level Framework plan (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
The ADAPT strategy is presented by means of the Sponge Framework in Section 2.1 , which highlights the potential of nature-based solutions and blue-green infrastructure (NBS: refer glossary in Annexure) as tools for catalysing open spaces, streets and waterbodies in the canal precinct to act as flood mitigation assets in the event of an exceedance rainfall event, while also acting as community assets at other times. The CONNECT framework is presented by means of an Integrated Mobility Framework in Section 2.2 , which seeks to put pedestrians first by prioritising last-mile connectivity and non-motorised transport infrastructure in the Mullassery Canal Precinct and along the canal bed. By integrating the canal into the city’s existing mobility infrastructure, it can be transformed into a connecting spine that focuses on pedestrians along with safety for women and children. The EMPOWER framework is presented by means of a Community Framework in Section 2.3 which prioritises community participation and community governance in implementation. This framework also views civic issues such as women’s safety, solid waste management and a lack of public amenities as opportunities for communities to participate in local governance, and seeks to create a spatial structure for greater social cohesion and collaboration between civil society and local government. The Comprehensive Canal Edge Masterplan which is presented in Chapter 3 presents a vision for an integrated water-driven framework, Weaving with Water, that acknowledges the critical intersectionality of the ecological/adaptive, infrastructural/mobility, social and governance dimensions of integration of the Mullassery Canal into the urban framework alongside the pressures of rapid urbanisation. The resulting stress on the ecological networks of which the Mullassery Canal is a part, too, is considered. e A comprehensive framework for implementation of the Adapt, Connect, and Empower and Weaving with Water is presented in Chapter 4, which considers a set of toolkits that incorporates key stakeholders, governance structures and capacities, funding mechanisms, phasing of pilot projects, and data required for implementation.
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Figure 11: Map showing the extent covered as part of Canal Edge Master Plan (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
Concepts underlying vision document In order to achieve this common vision across agencies and sectors, planning, policy and design considerations have to be considered together at the precinct scale to ensure that there is an integrated approach to the Mullassery Canal Precinct Framework development strategy, and design strategies at the scale of the canal masterplan level as a starting point for the development of pilot projects that cohere to a holistic vision. Some of the toolkits and strategies that this vision will consider are as follows: ●
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Nature based solutions as a basis for canal rejuvenation: Showcase best practices for canal rejuvenation, bioremediation, and eco-restoration through nature-based solutions (NBS). This also involves shifting the focus of municipal and state governments from disaster risk reduction to resilience through NBS and blue-green infrastructure. Circular resource paradigm: Understanding the Mullassery Canal precinct from the perspective of a circular resource paradigm, one that considers processes and networks to create circular strategies to minimise and mitigate the carbon footprint of the precinct. Circular economy principles: Generating solutions for safeguarding livelihoods, undertaking solid waste management, resources, local economy and demarcating land use using a circular economy paradigm. 15-minute city - The idea of the 15 minute city, which seeks to provide access to all citizens, including the most vulnerable and economically weak sections, to basic public amenities within a 15 minute walking/bicycling or public transport radius, puts access to the city and mobility at the forefront. This is a concept that has been adapted into the Mullassery Canal Precinct Framework. Collaborative governance - The framework points towards a collaborative governance model for implementation, with built-in community participation mechanisms to identify sewage outfalls and formulate a solid waste management strategy in the precinct, transparent decision-making and multilevel stakeholder perspectives.
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Restore the canal edge and bring visibility to the waterway to create an engaging space for its citizens, preventing neglect and apathy. This will innovate on the role of citizens in ownership and maintenance of the canal and its allied public spaces. Creating affordable housing in the precinct: By putting in place a foundation for future development of community-developed affordable housing integrated into the canalscape in a healthy symbiotic relationship with its surroundings. Creation of an Inclusive public realm:The design of streets and open spaces along the canal and in the precinct will be designed to be accessible to all, with a special focus on the needs of persons with disabilities and gender.
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Chapter 2: Framework for the Mullassery Canal Precinct: Adapt, Connect and Empower
Figure 12: An integrated approach for the Framework using toolkits of ADAPT+CONNECT+EMPOWER (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
The Mullassery canal framework consists of three approaches: Adapt - Sponge Framework, Connect- Integrated Mobility Framework and Empower - Community Framework. ADAPT mainstreams Nature-based Solutions through the Sponge Framework that leverage the landscape to re-establish the linkages between urban greenery, monsoons, water bodies and the aquifer. CONNECT describes an integrated mobility framework that includes redesign of the public realm and mobility systems to improve access to transit, lively places, and safe spaces. EMPOWER outlines a community framework that lays out how citizens can participate in the improvement of their neighbourhoods and build inclusive communities by facilitating the formation of social networks. The implementation of these strategies moves Kochi towards integrated climate-proofing. This approach is an effective way to integrate multiple systems within site-specific interventions. In the subsite master plans and pilot projects we showcase how the ADAPT+CONNECT+EMPOWER framework can be successfully implemented to reinforce each other and create multiple co-benefits at the level of a site intervention. Mullassery Canal is a strategic ecological spine linking the wetlands at the confluence of the Perandoor Canal to the Marine Drive waterfront. The ADAPT principles are used to make surgical interventions such as parklets, infrastructural moves like daylighting and canal bed naturalisation, and strategic moves like opening up public spaces to a naturalised edge. It also provides a template for transforming existing streets into green infrastructure and open spaces into multi-functional, floodable landscapes. We propose a network of green streets and open spaces that slows down runoff. During cloudbursts or excessive rainfall, water can be managed within the urban fabric to slow down, stay, and replenish the aquifer when possible. Using the gray stormwater infrastructure to flush water away as quickly as possible is a wasted opportunity and aggravates flooding.\We recognize Kochi’s unique groves as natural assets and strengthen them as community resources. Community groves empower residents to sustainably manage and monitor natural resources like trees, rainwater, and groundwater. Green linkages between community groves weave into organic neighborhoods and informal settlements to improve residents’ health and well-being.
Sited between the KSRTC bus stop, Mahatma Gandhi Metro station, and the ferry connection to Fort Kochi, the canal edge is transformed into a continuous walkway and bike path. The CONNECT principles create a network of pedestrian-friendly arterial roads, neighbourhood streets, and open spaces of which the Mullassery bikeway becomes a centrepiece. This bikeway connects to a proposed waterfront trail along Marine Drive linking Subhash Bose Park to the Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary. These connections make the area an ideal site to pilot Kochi’s bike-sharing programme. The collective strategies ensure last-mile connectivity to important transit nodes and
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safe access to new vibrant open spaces. This network is further activated by a set of cultural and tourism trails that renew heritage sites like the Jewish Cemetery and connect to proposed public spaces. We understand solid waste management along the canal as a proxy for several civic issues. Through the EMPOWER principles, we have addressed ways to mobilise communities to push back against the problems that plague the canal in its current form. In order to build up trust and social capital amongst various stakeholders, we propose design strategies and spaces that allow different groups to deepen their social ties and networks, and bring about a greater sense of community. The primary purpose of the community-centric toolkit is: to inform and engage all stakeholders, collaborate with stakeholders to formulate community-led solutions, and provide instrumental support in the form of funding, agency and capacity building. Each of these strategies play out at three scales: the household, neighbourhood, and city scale to create lasting systemic change.
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2.1 Sponge Framework - Adapt The Sponge Framework applies the landscape approach to address flood mitigation through multi-functional blue-green infrastructure and strategies that improve the biodiversity, ecology, livability, and wellness of the urban environment. The framework leverages nature-based solutions in the form of enhanced open spaces, integrated streets, and retrofitted buildings that are respectively called Sponge Open Spaces, Sponge Streets, and Sponge Buildings. The Sponge Framework builds a network of these solutions to build resilience to flooding and improve the public realm. This framework responds to and builds upon the recommendations made in the Esteems Report in 2004. A summary of the key recommendations of the Esteems report can be viewed in the annexure. The framework offers a more resilient and cost-effective blue-green hybrid alternative to a strictly gray infrastructure approach to stormwater management and flood mitigation. 2.1.2 Existing Scenario: Waterlogging in the Canal precinct The factors that result in waterlogging in these areas have been identified as follows based on the limited available data: 1) Stormwater Drainage along Mullassery Canal: All the stormwater drains in the precinct empty into the Mullasserry canal as per Fig. 5 below. However, not all sections of the canal are prone to overflowing. Based on initial inputs, it appears that the waterlogging in these areas is due to improper network of surface drainage and not due to overflowing of the canal in the middle portions between the mouth and the junction. This needs to be further verified with a detailed site survey on canal carrying capacity during different rainfall events.
Figure 13 - Stormwater drain directions and flood prone zones. Railway culvert (no. 219) as the highest flood prone site in the district. (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
2) Canal Drainage: The canal drainage, too, exacerbates the situation: the canal flows from east to west from MG Road to Marine Drive, and from west to east from MG Road to the KSRTC bus stand, eventually emptying into the Thevara-Perandoor canal via a culvert running under the railway track, which forms a bottleneck for the large volume of water that flows from west to east.
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Figure 14 - Site topography section. (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
3) Site Topography and Surface Drainage: As per the schematic site topography section laid out in Fig. 6 below in accordance with the Esteems developers report, Chittoor Road, TD Road and the railway track act as ridges, with all the drains between them sloping into the canal. As a result, MG Road and the KSRTC bus stand are prone to waterlogging because they are in a valley. The KSRTC bus stand, in particular, has been reported to be vulnerable to waterlogging even in normal rain. 4) Blockage of culvert: The opening to this culvert is usually blocked due to indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste, worsening the waterlogging issues along the KSRTC bus stand. The above analysis has been gleaned based on the Esteems report and verbal input from KMC Engineers. As a result of the site topography and the bottleneck created by the Railway culvert, there is waterlogging in these areas even during normal rainfall.
Figure 15 -.The Mullassery Canal near the KSRTC bus stand is polluted by solid waste (Image Credit: Times of India)
5) Reduction in carrying capacity of Mullassery canal due to tidal flow: The Esteems Report highlights that the effective depth of the Mullasserry canal, which is the available depth above the maximum High tide Level is approximately -+0.44m. The current average invert levels are less than +0.158, making the
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discharge through drains/canal inefficient. The portion of the canal below high tide level will be stagnant and hence not considered for discharge. Therefore, reducing the total carrying capacity of the canal during storm events accompanied by high tide has resulted in overflow and flooding in the region, particularly at the junction with the T.P canal on the west side of the railway culvert. For effective discharge at all times the invert level has to be kept above the high tide level of +0.44 during rainy months. Constraints in expanding the stormwater drain network: As per the Esteems report, most streets in the Mullassery Canal precinct area, and indeed most of downtown Ernakulam, are not wide enough to permit large enough stormwater drains. Even the Esteem report recommendation that Mullassery Canal be widened to 3m to increase its carrying capacity would result in disruption in access to businesses and homes along narrow portions of Mullassery Canal road in the Karikkamuri neighbourhood, where currently the canal is covered by concrete slabs which are used for parking. Moreover, the focus on a purely engineering solution in the event of an extreme rainfall event would result in overwhelmed stormwater drains, an increased runoff coefficient due to the high number of impermeable surfaces and hence less infiltration into the ground, tidal influx during high tides, lateral flooding due to tidal influx, and polluted runoff entering the Vembanad lake. Opportunities: The potential of open spaces and streets While desilting the mouths and increasing the carrying capacity of the canal, or creating more stormwater drains as per the Esteems report recommendations might be feasible in the immediate and medium-term for normal rainfall events, it may still not be sufficient in case of extreme or exceedance flooding.
Figure 16 - The underutilised space under the AL Jacob railway overbridge and KSRTC bus stand (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Figure 17 - Jewish cemetery covered with vegetative overgrowth (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
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Figure 18 - The underutilised spaces near Law College hostel and PWD park (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Potential open spaces in the Mullassery Canal precinct In the Mullassery Canal precinct area, there are several publicly and privately owned open spaces which are underutilised, and which have potential to become water retention areas in the case of an extreme flood event. Some of the underutilised spaces are discussed below: 1. Priyadarshini park abutting the mouth of the Mullassery Canal 2. Government Law College grounds 3. The Jewish Cemetery (currently under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India and in a neglected condition) 4. The Maharaja’s College Grounds 5. The PWD Park adjoining the Maharaja’s College Grounds 6. Privately owned vacant plots along the Karikkamuri college grounds 7. The GCDA stadium 8. The wetlands adjoining the KSRTC campus 9. The KSRTC bus terminus An additional pathway for water, in addition to the widening of the canal and stormwater drains, is therefore necessary for effective flood mitigation. The potential of open spaces and streets to perform flood mitigation functions, as yet unexplored, is the key to the Mullassery Canal Precinct Framework plan.
2.1.3 Sponge Approach for a Resilient Kochi: Investing in a Blue-Green Network to mitigate flooding and improving the public realm Sponge Approach Based on the above, we propose an alternative approach to waterlogging, which considers protecting existing open spaces which act as retention areas, particularly wetlands and low lying regions, while redesigning open spaces and streets to effectively hold and delay a greater quantity of water from entering the stormwater network so that the drains are not overwhelmed, and water can be diverted away from non-floodable access points, junctions and arterial roads. This approach can be overlaid on top of the current engineering solutions proposed to make gray infrastructure investments like canal widening and stormwater pipes more resilient to extreme cloudburst and excessive storm events. There is the added advantage that a focus on appropriate design of open spaces and streets results in multiple co-benefits, such as increasing biodiversity, ensuring the activation of public spaces, converting previously neglected open spaces to parks and playgrounds, with access to public amenities for the larger community, and creating a sense of ownership over the public realm and flood mitigation infrastructure by the public at large. The
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strategies and tactics behind such an approach range from the design of street profiles as water-conveying channels in extreme rainfall events, naturalising the edge of the canal to reduce runoff coefficient, creating central and localised retention areas or “sponge landscapes”, retrofitting public buildings to have green roofs, and creating temporary/floodable or “sponge” landscapes in existing open spaces. There is a broad scientific consensus for the government to take action towards risk mitigation and climate change adaptation within the specific context of Kochi. We offer a landscape based strategy called a Sponge Framework to build Kochi’s urban resilience by holistically managing water as a resource and investing in blue-green infrastructure to supplement gray infrastructure. In the face of existing and emerging environmental challenges, Kochi needs to build upon its culture of innovation to invest in a different paradigm of infrastructure. The dominant paradigm of stormwater management in Indian cities relies exclusively upon a historic network of gray infrastructure such as channels, culverts and canals. Flood mitigation in this paradigm is about flushing water towards this gray infrastructure network as quickly as possible so the rainfall ends up in rivers or backwaters. With designed capacities that are no longer sufficient to the new urban condition, this approach can no longer support regular monsoon rain and will inevitably fail during extreme cloudbursts. The Sponge Framework uses a landscape approach to supplement existing gray infrastructure by leveraging existing blue-green systems like wetlands, ponds, parks, and urban forests and constructing hybrid blue-green infrastructure that mimics the hydrological function of natural systems within urban streets and open spaces.
Figure 19: From catchment-oriented gray infrastructure approach to watershed-oriented blue-green infrastructure approach (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Figure 20 below illustrates the challenge of stormwater management and flood mitigation in Kochi’s current urban context. During an extreme cloudburst event, rainfall quickly becomes runoff upon hitting the built-up areas and directly makes its way towards the stormwater channels or canal. Without any resistance, the neighborhood generates peak runoff with little to no lag time. The gray infrastructure may or may not be designed to handle the peak runoff levels, but with little lag time stormwater channels or canals quickly meet their capacities and begin overflowing. As rain continues to pour, runoff can no longer enter the overwhelmed gray infrastructure network and the neighborhood gets flooded. Often, existing waste or debris washed during the rain clogs the inlets into the gray infrastructure channels. This leads to ponding around inlets and low-lying areas begin to flood. An over-reliance on the canal as the main conveyance to flush water out can also be hindered if a cloudburst event
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coincides with high tide. Therefore, a resilient stormwater management strategy needs to provide multiple pathways for rainfall to slowly circulate, linger on, percolate, and finally be released so no single choke point or failure of conveyance contribute to devastating floods.
Figure 20: An illustration of how cloudbursts become runoff that quickly overwhelms the gray stormwater infrastructure in urban neighborhoods (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Figure 21 below illustrates the performance of the Sponge Framework for stormwater management in a similar cloudburst event. In a Sponge City the neighborhood does not strictly rely on gray stormwater infrastructure to immediately convey rainfall. Rather a network of Sponge Streets and Sponge Open Spaces are built within the urban fabric to intercept, delay, detain, and release stormwater runoff before they end up in the canals or stormwater channels. Sponge Streets are redesigned sections that integrate natural systems like bioswales, rain gardens, and treepits so the cloudbursts do not generate peak runoff as quickly and the water has somewhere to slow down or stay. These constructed systems are designed to replicate the conditions of natural ground cover within constrained urban fabric. Similarly, Sponge Open Spaces introduce grade changes, constructed ponds, wetlands, and retention or infiltration areas that channel or store water for the duration of the storm or beyond. When Sponge Streets and Open Spaces are strategically implemented they can form a resilient network with multiple inlets and pathways. This network reduces the level of peak runoff and greatly increases lag time so by the time rainfall ends up in stormwater channels or canals the same volume of rainfall enters the conveyance channels more slowly. This effectively increases the capacity of the gray stormwater network without physically increasing its capacity through expensive retrofitting of dredging.
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Figure 21: An illustration of how cloudbursts are handled by a network of Sponge Streets and Open Spaces so the runoff ends up in gray stormwater infrastructure at reduced volumes over a longer period of time (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Figure 22 illustrates the functional benefits of the Sponge Framework through a simple diagram. When a typical urban neighborhood generates high volume of runoff that ends up in stormwater channels very quickly during a cloudburst event, there are two options to upgrade the infrastructure. The city can embark on a prohibitively expensive project of increasing the size of the stormwater channels, dredging or deeping canals, and building new channels or culverts because the existing capacity is no longer sufficient for increased runoff due to urbanization and climate change. Alternatively, the city can embrace the Sponge Framework where capital allocated for traditional stormwater drainage upgrades or upkeep is channeled towards creating a network of Sponge Streets and Open Spaces. This approach reduces the peak volume runoff and increases the lag time i.e. the amount of time rainfall takes to end up in the stormwater conveyance channels. Thus, a network of blue-green infrastructure effectively increases the capacity of gray infrastructure without any significant or expensive interventions towards stormwater channels or canals. While this approach is less expensive in the long-run, the initial implementation requires strategic planning and changes in municipal financing, construction, and maintenance protocols which requires time, interdisciplinary collaboration, and political will.
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Figure 22: Comparing the hydraulic runoff diagram after a storm event within a typical urban neighborhood exclusively using gray infrastructure and a Sponge neighborhood using a blue-green infrastructure as well as gray infrastructure (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Finally, the benefit of the Sponge Framework approach is not restricted to flood mitigation. While this approach is primarily geared towards flood mitigation, the integration of Sponge Streets and Sponge Open Spaces creates a number of co-benefits that greatly improve the health and well-being of urban residents. Blue-green infrastructure increases green cover, canopy cover, and introduces new habitats or biomes that increase biodiversity. A Sponge City or neighborhood benefits from improved urban ecology, improved air and water quality, improved health outcomes, increased access to open spaces, and increased real-estate or commercial desirability. Through these indirect benefits, investing in the Sponge Framework generates more value than the initial capital. Cities that have followed through on this approach also saw reduced maintenance cost over time as blue-green systems are more resilient and require less upkeep than gray infrastructure. Figure 23 illustrates a critical question all municipalities facing flood issues should ask themselves. As we prepare for increased flood risk, should cities spend large sums of money towards the upkeep and expansion of historic gray stormwater infrastructure that mostly stay invisible to the taxpayer or should that money be invested in more resilient alternatives that address flooding and also improve the quality of life for all urban residents? When faced with this question, many cities in the world including US, Europe, China, and Singapore are adopting the Sponge Framework. Copenhagen decided to invest in the creation of 300 public parks designed to handle cloudbursts rather than upgrading their gray stormwater infrastructure. In doing so, the city greatly improved quality of life while also reducing their stormwater maintenance costs by 70%.
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Figure 23: Sponge Framework opens up the potential of budgets allocated to stormwater management and drainage towards the creation of blue-green infrastructure that are resilient to cloudbursts and improve public life (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
2.1.4 Principles of the Sponge Approach: The Sponge Framework principles present a strategic framework for developing the Mullassery Canal precinct as a vibrant, safe, and resilient neighborhood. Highlighting strategic infrastructural moves and how they function across various storm scenarios. Further, the document identifies specific pilot projects that can be quickly implemented within the next year or so to kickstart an ambitious but rewarding strategy to make Kochi a climate-smart city.
Figure 24 - The Landscape Principles as part of the Sponge Framework highlights Nature Based Solutions (NBS) to make the city climate-resilient (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
There are four basic principles underlying the “Adapt” framework for the Mullassery Canal Precinct Framework for flood mitigation:
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1.Protect existing green systems, surface water systems, and groundwater aquifers: 1) through community mapping of trees, urban forests and groves 2) Putting in place mechanisms to monitor the ecological health of existing water bodies and lakes 3) Community-led aquifer mapping zones and designation of aquifer recharge zones with a set of strategies to protect these designated zones 2.Restore polluted blue-green and groundwater systems through: 1) sustainable soil management and rehabilitation of degraded forests and polluted soils 2)Renaturalisation of waterbody edges, including canals and lakes 3) Recharging polluted and depleted aquifers 3.Enhance the resilience of existing landscape assets such as park systems, coastlines and aquifers to deal with extreme weather events: 1) Reimagining open spaces such as community groves, parks, maidans, and even parking lots or bus depots as key pieces of stormwater management infrastructure 2) Protecting coastal edges against erosion 3) Protecting saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers 4.Construct new blue-green infrastructure 1) Increasing natural ground cover on multiple surfaces to reduce the runoff coefficient through policies that encourage the creation of green roofs and constructed wetlands 2) Creation of decentralised water retention and channels by means of bioswales, curb bulb outs, rain gardens and pervious pavement on existing streets and open spaces 3) Construction of new water bodies, and pits for groundwater recharge.
Figure 25 - Global best practices showcasing Nature Based Solutions (NBS) (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
The framework highlights the potential of a blue-green infrastructure network by upgrading streets and open spaces in order to supplement grey stormwater capacity and improve the resilience of the canal. Recognising the limitations of traditional grey infrastructure to effectively handle extreme weather events, Nature Based Solutions (NBS) are proposed for water management in this precinct.As the groundwater is highly saturated, and with
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limited capacity within the existing storm water drains, landscape strategies to ‘hold and delay’ the water are strategically planned along the adjoining open spaces and street buffers. There are three key components to a Sponge Framework: streets, open spaces, and buildings. The Sponge Landscape Infrastructure toolkit deals with a set of interventions that can be applied to: (1) Sponge Streets, (2) Sponge Open Spaces, and (3) Sponge Buildings.
Figure 26 - Details of Sponge Streets, Sponge Open Spaces, and Sponge Buildings (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
2.1.5 Key typologies of cloudburst network blue-green streets and open spaces: The building blocks of the Sponge Framework consist of a hierarchy of classifications that can be applied to buildings, all the open spaces and roads within the precinct area. More information is required in the form of GIS data to understand specific site topography in more detail for final recommendations. Typologies for the Sponge Framework open spaces, buildings and streets are highlighted below:
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Figure 27 - Diagram illustrating typical sections of Sponge framework streets and components (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
1. Sponge Buildings: Rainwater harvesting strategies such as green roofs and detention tanks on public and private property, catch the first glimpse of runoffs, directing it to local sponge spaces or storage tanks that can be recycled for use as grey water. This can be a region wide policy to be implemented on both private and public property. 2. Sponge Collector Street: Designated for street widths varying between 4-5m. This involves redesigning the profiles of some streets in order to convey water more quickly in case of an extreme rainfall event. This is a useful template in the case of a narrow right-of-way which has limited capacity for installation of a high-capacity stormwater drains or retention beds, which is common across many parts of the precinct, particularly in the Karikkamuri neighbourhood. 3. Sponge Green Streets: This typology has been applied on streets with a right of way varying between 6 to 7m with potential for footpaths wide enough to create rain gardens and bioretention planters on sidewalks and curb bulb outs, resulting in less pressure on the stormwater drains, and a greater possibility for retention. 4. Central Sponge Spaces: This typology has been applied to large open spaces of width greater than 25m like playgrounds and plazas, that are adjacent to the canal and sponge green streets in the framework plan. Their function is to temporarily hold water from the larger catchment areas and then safely convey it to the storm water pipes with maximum delay. 5. Local Sponge Spaces- Local sponge spaces of width less than 25m are localised water holding landscapes like the rain garden and strips of parks, that can temporarily hold water before conveying to central sponge spaces and stormwater pipes. 6. Cloudburst+Sponge streets- These are large arterial roads of width between 10-11m with large strips of retention beds like rain gardens inserted along the medians and sidewalks that hold and delay water during normal rainfall. They are then connected to storm water pipes for conveying the overflow in case of exceedance rainfall events. .
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2.1.6 Framework
Figure 28 - Diagram illustrating Sponge Framework at Mullassery Canal precinct level (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
The framework above highlights an integrated plan to mitigate an exceedance event and flash flood at precinct level. The framework is not only assessing the drainage capacity of stormwater infrastructure but also pays attention to the ecosystem services for urban areas and communities as well.
Figure 29 - Diagram illustrating the hierarchy of Sponge Framework components activation during Cloudburst events (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
In case of a heavy rainfall event, the water is conveyed through multiple channels. From on-site mitigation through sponge buildings and sponge streets to local sponge spaces to large central sponge spaces that are
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designed to temporarily hold and delay the rain water. These are then safely conveyed to existing/proposed storm water drains thus reducing the run-off volume and increasing the lag time. Also during storm events accompanied by high tides, when the efficiency of existing drain is highly reduced, these inserted blue green infrastructure play an important role in assisting the existing storm water channels to mitigate flood and reduce property damage. 2.1.7 Scenarios: How the Blue Green Infrastructure in integration to Grey infrastructure plays out during different rain events throughout the year:
Figure 30 - Diagram illustrating the role of components of Sponge Framework during various stages of Cloudburst events (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Average Rainfall Event with runoff matching designed gray infrastructure capacities (~10% of Annual Rainfall Volume)
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Figure 31 - Diagram illustrating the components of Sponge Framework activated during average rainfall event(~10% annual rainfall volume) (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
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Figure 32 - Section across AK Seshadri road illustrating how the components of Sponge Framework perform during 10% increase in Annual rainfall volume (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Average Rainfall Scenario (10% Annual Volume): During the regular rainfall event, on-site mitigation through rainwater harvesting and Sponge retention streets are designed to capture the run-off and hold and delay water to avoid water clogging on adjacent streets. Exceedance Rainfall Event with runoff exceeding designed gray infrastructure capacities (~20% of Annual Rainfall Volume)
Figure 33 -Diagram illustrating the components of Sponge Framework activated during exceedance rainfall event(~20% annual rainfall volume) (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
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Figure 34 - Section across AK Seshadri road illustrating how the components of Sponge Framework perform during 20% increase in Annual rainfall volume (Exceedance event) (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Exceedance Rainfall Scenario (1-year storm or 20% Annual Volume): During the 20% rainfall event, in addition to on-site mitigation through rainwater harvesting and Sponge retention streets, local retention areas like parklets are designed to capture the run-off and infiltrate the pollutants from streets and sites before conveying it safely into the canal/stormwater pipe.
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Figure 35 -Diagram illustrating the components of Sponge Framework activated during extreme cloudburst event(~70% annual rainfall volume) (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
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Figure 36 - Section across AK Seshadri road illustrating how the components of Sponge Framework perform during 70% increase in Annual rainfall volume (Extreme Cloudburst event) (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Extreme Cloudburst Scenario with runoff overwhelming designed gray infrastructure capacities (~70% of Annual Rainfall Volume) During extreme rainfall events larger open spaces like playgrounds and plazas are needed to capture all the run-off from the larger catchment area and temporarily hold the water and delay the run-off. Thus preventing water clogging on adjacent streets and from burdening the existing stormwater pipes. These spaces are placed adjacent to other blue green infrastructure and are connected to main stormwater drains of the city. These large open spaces play a critical role in flood mitigation during storm events accompanied by high tide when the efficiency of the canal and stormwater drains is highly reduced. Thus once the storm reduces these central spaces safely convey the water into the drains thus reducing huge property damages during flash floods. 2.1.8 On-Site Implementation of Sponge toolkits
Figure 37 - Diagram illustrating sponge streets suitability matrix and variables involved in implementing the components of sponge street typology (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
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For all Sponge Street interventions, their respective capacities to handle stormwater runoff should be based on the contributing drainage area and the hydrologic group of the in-situ soil. Runoff reductions will be higher (upto 20%) for USDA soil categories of A and B and upto 10% for soil categories C and D. In most urban conditions, the soil within Sponge Street systems have to be engineered to meet the infiltration potential requirements. The layout of Sponge Street systems should ensure that the contributing drainage areas into the inlet points are evenly distributed. Sponge Street systems should be designed to handle 10 year flood events. Water flow path along Bioswale channels should be designed to maximize the time water spends in the swale. Sidewalk planters or rain gardens require a 0.75m - 1.2m deep planting soil bed, a surface mulch layer, and a 0.3m deep surface ponding area where the ponding area is calculated based on the size and porousness of the contributing drainage area. Tree Pits can meet local drainage if the landscape infrastructure planning considers the storage capacity of the soil voids in the cavity created for the root ball of the tree and the ponding area. The infiltration of the in-situ or engineered soil must be a minimum of 50mm per hour. The suitability matrix and key stakeholders diagram below suggest ideal sites and the network of institutional and financial collaborations needed to realize Sponge Streets.
Figure 38 - Diagram illustrating sponge open spaces suitability matrix and variables involved in implementing the components of sponge open space typology (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Sponge Open Spaces are the most compelling landscape infrastructure typologies in terms of their impact on improving the public realm and the habitat potential of the city. Existing open spaces can be converted into Sponge Open Spaces with strategic regrading efforts, planting designs, and co-ordination with the existing stormwater network. The resulting transformation can create enormous political and community goodwill while improving the resilience of urban neighbourhoods. As such, Sponge Open Spaces should be prioritized as pilot projects when possible. Siting Sponge Open Spaces and determining the typology
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requires detailed topographic understanding and geotechnical surveys. Soils with high infiltration rates are suitable for Bioinfiltration Basins while other typologies could be constructed on any soil type. Constructed Ponds, Wetlands, and Bioinfiltration Basins should maximize the complexity of flow paths from inlet points to outlet points. The creation of topographic and microtopographic variation is important to slow down water during cloudbursts and create diverse niches for different plant species. The planting design should reflect the hydrologic zones of the constructed design with soil stabilizing and salt tolerant species around the entry points, drought tolerant species on the upper (seasonally dry) zones, and flood tolerant species that can tolerate extended or permanent pooling in the lower areas. Since the spatial and planting design of all Sponge Open Spaces play a critical role in its importance as a public space or ecological amenity, their design requires the supervision by qualified professionals. Implementation budgets for these projects should account for the role of design in their success as multi-functional infrastructures
Figure 39 : Cross-sectoral Collaboration between multiple stakeholders with KMC as the foremost lead is necessary for a successful implementation of the sponge framework (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
2.1.9 Expected Outcomes 1. 2. 3. 4.
Benchmarks to measure waterlogging Ability of the system to withstand an exceedance rainfall event of 70% of rainfall capacity Improved groundwater quality with frequent testing protocol Reduction in budget for stormwater infrastructure in vicinity of Mullasserry Canal precinct over a 20 year period 5. Increase in number of community-led blue-green infrastructure projects
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2.2 Mobility Framework Introduction: The framework connecting the transit network and the public realm is dealt with a people-centric approach; where the movement of people is prioritized over the movement of vehicles. The framework sets the principles for transport & pedestrian planning and opens public space planning along with recommendations for utility management and service integration.
Figure 40 - The Mobility Framework aims to connect the three major transit nodes in the site - the KSRTC bus stand, Maharaja’s College Metro Station, and the Ernakulam Boat Jetty (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
2.2.1 Challenges and Opportunities: The once water-transport-based settlement is today majorly transformed into a land-transport-based nexus. The canal which was earlier navigable has no such opportunity in today’s context. Reimagining and redesigning the street network adjoining the canal and connecting the larger movement loop to promote walking and cycling could be the most optimistic approach. Following are the key opportunity areas for realizing the mobility framework. 1. Mullassery canal geographically connects the KSRTC Bus stand, Maharaja College Metro Station, and Marine Drive Jetty - an opportunity for inter-modal integration corridor. 2. All the three transit nodes listed in the above point have adjoining under-utilized open public space KSRTC depot land, Maharaja college ground & Metro Rail land, and Priyadarshini park - which could be repurposed for multiple uses. 3. Mullassery canal passes through two important roads - MG Road and Park Avenue - which are the biggest opportunities to bring visibility to the canal. The intersections could be redesigned for efficient movement and to punctuate the presence of the canal.
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4. Parts of the canal stretch along Subsite A (Mullassery Canal Road) and Subsite B are covered with concrete slabs. The underground and above-ground utilities are haphazardly laid out with no regard paid to the canal and the overall urban character. Street design exercise is an opportunity to plan and efficiently integrate utility management. The following could be the challenges in implementing the mobility framework. 1. The current Right of Way for most streets within the Mullassery Canal precinct is less than 7m and is constrained to facilitate 2-way movement with parking facilities as per demand. 2. The Mullassery Canal Road along the subsite A has to offer entryways to the properties on the South of the canal edge which further constrains the possibility to open up the canal completely. 2.2.2 Approach - Prioritizing motor vehicles Vs Prioritizing People:
Figure 41: Comparison between vehicle-centric scenario and people-centric scenario for developing mobility network (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
Our conventional street design practices put forth motorists in the center of all decisions. Kochi is no exception. The city of Kochi continues to have a higher number of road accidents in Kerala. Out of 2561 accident cases registered in 2015 in the city, 168 cases were fatal and around 1637 had severe injuries. Walkability is one of the important factors to promote liveability and combat traffic fatality and pollution. The framework prioritizes people over vehicles to ensure citizens of Kochi have access to a safe, comfortable, vibrant, and universally accessible walking-friendly environment.
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Figure 42 - This scenario presents a complete arterial street which is inclusive, vibrant, and caters to all users. Cultural pavilions and vending zones support livelihoods and the public realm. (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
2.2.3 Principles: The CONNECT framework is set on the principles of Access - Include - Activate - Generate that could be linked to arterial streets, neighborhood streets, and open spaces. These principles describe a redesign of the public realm and mobility systems which can be used to improve access to transit, activate spaces, and make streets safer.
Figure 43 - The Mobility Principles outline how arterial and local streets, along with open spaces will be made safer, inclusive, and recreational (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
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The four basic principles underlying the Connect framework are: 1. Access to public transit for all residents of the city by a. Creating well-connected footpaths and cycle lanes, which ensure that pedestrians and cyclists can move around the city safely and comfortably b. Enhancing last-mile connectivity through Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS) systems and frequent Intermediate Public Transit (IPT) zones that allow users to switch between multiple modes of transport c. Redesigning bus stops to ensure they are well-lit, accessible from public spaces, and introducing cycle parking stands on the streets, alongside public nodes 2. Include all community groups while designing the streets, through a. Incorporating tactile pavers, frequent pedestrian crossings, and well-designed ramps which make streets friendly for the disabled and elderly b. Designating shared streets which prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, restrict the speed of motor vehicles, and foster community interaction through parklets c. Ensuring all citizens have easy access to toilets, feeding rooms, and community spaces on the streets 3. Activate the streets to make it vibrant and engaging by a. Reprogramming the street to include pop-up pavilions, cultural trails, and local art exhibitions, which attract diverse groups of people and create a landmark in the city b. Introducing street events, parklets, and seating that allow residents of the neighbourhood to use the street as a public space, an extension of the traditional communal porches in houses. c. Organising community events and service camps which can benefit low-income neighbourhoods and spread awareness on civic issues 4. Generate jobs and boost the local economy by a. Supporting vendors through temporary and designated vending zones on arterial streets b. Regulating the building frontages in neighbourhoods to host commercial activities, which will ensure ‘eyes on the street’ and increase footfall for local businesses c. Hosting weekly pop-up markets in public open spaces, which increase opportunities for informal businesses 2.2.4 Key components of mobility framework: The basic units of the mobility framework are characterized based on the prioritization of sustainable modes of transport. Transport & Pedestrian Planning to enhance interaction with the canal, open public space planning for resilience and liveability, and integrating utility management with street design are the key planning principles that directly influence the development of components for mobility framework. The interventions are to be included as part of the canal edge redesign, street design, or open space design. The framework plan encompasses the following components: 1. Green mobility corridor: The confluence of the Mullassery canal with Backwaters in the West and with Perandoor Canal in the East are anchored by the Marine Drive corridor and the Green Corridor proposal connecting South and North Railway Stations. These corridors shall be designed to prioritize walk, cycle, and IPT modes with dedicated tracks provided for all three modes. 2. Walk & Cycle-only street segments: With the right-of-way of street segments along the canal as the
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biggest challenge, transforming some of them as walk & cycle-only streets shall benefit a larger population and help in reducing air & sound pollution. The streets can be designed as shared spaces with appropriate traffic-calming measures to reduce the speed limit to 15kmph. Walk & Cycle-only trails: The trails passing through the canal communities and open spaces should also be connected to the larger mobility network. These can provide quieter routes along the canal edge to experience the natural landscape and serve as safe linkages for all. Mass Transit corridor: The arterial roads with well-serviced mass transit options such as the Kochi metro rail network or bus services can be articulated to provide dedicated space for footpaths and cycle tracks. The transit stations/stops shall be made universally accessible, safe, comfortable, and provided with real-time travel information. Slow streets: Street segments where cyclists and motorists are expected to share the carriageway space with a dedicated footpath shall be assigned with a speed limit of 20kmph through appropriate traffic-calming elements. Shared streets: Street segments where pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists are expected to share the carriage way shall be assigned with a speed limit of 15kmph through appropriate traffic-calming elements. These streets can be treated with chicanes to reclaim street space for other purposes. Public Bike Sharing station: Universally accessible bike sharing stations should be included within 5-10 min walking distance from the neighbourhoods along the canal. PBS should be available at all mass transit stations. The signages and renting system should be inclusive. IPT stand & Pick-up / Drop-off zone: Intermediate Public Transit modes should be made available in 5-10 minute walking distance from all mass transit stations. In order to discourage park & ride and reclaim street space from parking encroachment, more pick-up/drop-off slots should be provided. ITS-integrated intersections: The major traffic intersections should be installed with ITS in order to optimise signal timing and monitor traffic flow. Real-time traffic information should be displayed and integrated as part of the mobility systems to facilitate trip-planning and trip-chaining. Reclaimed street edge - Parklets: Along the street and canal segments wherever provision of dedicated open public space is not feasible, the street edges shall be converted as parklets with seating and lighting facilities so as to activate the public realm. Dedicated public open green space: The Mullassery Canal precinct has multiple smaller open spaces which could be integrated as part of the canal network to facilitate ecological as well as community purposes. The existing green cover will be maintained and further strengthened in these spaces. Smart-utility corridor: This represents the street along the canal which could be prioritized for smart-utility management by planning and designing the street to accommodate aboveground and underground utilities in a seamless manner.
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Figure 44: Precedents for the key components of mobility network
2.2.5 People-prioritized mobility scenario: The framework plan brings together all principles and weaves together a holistic network that can promote low-emission mobility, well-managed utility, and enriching liveability. All the components listed in the previous section articulates the people-prioritized mobility scenario.
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Figure 45: Mobility - Framework Plan (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
2.2.6 Expected outcomes: 1. The mode share of walking and cycling increases gradually by people preferring NMT modes by choice. The pedestrian and cycling count within the Mullassery Canal precinct will go up by 50-100%. 2. The air and sound pollution levels gradually drop to healthier standards as set by the Central Pollution Control Board. The air quality index will drop down less than 50. (The current average is 80-100) 3. All citizens including women, children, the elderly, differently-abled, and the low-economic group enjoy the benefits of street space and feel safe and comfortable to walk, cycle, rest, and spend time on the streets. More than 80% of the street users feel safe and are willing to spend time along the canal edges.
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2.3 Community Framework 2.3.1 Introduction In order to create sustainable, cohesive, liveable communities along the canal,it is important to activate a sense of solidarity and commitment to civic outcomes in community members through institutional frameworks and public commons that facilitate community cohesion3. Institutional and governance frameworks that leverage the positive power of social networks and relationships between individuals results in the building up of norms of reciprocity and trust between them, which in turn allows for consensus and cooperation on pressing civic issues. Social capital is essential for individual responsibility and behavioural change in light of problems that require multi-level stakeholder engagement at the urban level.4 Solid waste management is an example of an issue that is essential for successful implementation of a precinct-level framework for the Mullassery canal, and can be considered as a proxy for several civic issues such as affordable housing for all, interventions that safeguard livelihoods for street vendors, and women’s safety and empowerment in public spaces, and provision of amenities for essential local groups such as sanitation workers, and migrant workers. This section addresses ways to mobilise communities to push back against the problem of the tragedy of the commons that plagues the Mullassery Canal in its current form. In order to build up trust and social capital amongst various stakeholders, therefore, it is essential to engage with design strategies and spaces that allow different stakeholder groups to deepen their social ties and networks, and thus feel empowered to bring about a greater sense of community to create inclusive neighbourhoods.
Figure 46 - The Community Framework leverages the rich culture of the region and the presence of various institutions to set up different community anchors (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Bijl, R. (2011) 'Never Waste a Good Crisis: Towards Social Sustainable Development', An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 102(1), pp. 157-168. 4 Putnam, R. D. (1995) 'Tuning In, Tuning Out: The Strange Disappearance of Social Capital in America', PS: Political Science & Politics, 28(4), pp. 664-683. 3
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2.3.2 Challenges and Opportunities The following are potential challenges in implementing the community framework. 1. Regulating waste dumping and sewage outfalls in the canal: Currently, there is unregulated solid waste dumping and illegal sewer connections that empty into the canal. This needs to be mapped, monitored and regulated on a continuous basis, and a governance framework must be put in place to deter dumping. 2. Limited ability to influence future development through land acquisition: The project has been conceptualised and planned within the frame of reference to not promote any displacement or relocation or land acquisition. Delivering quality output with maximized impact within such a scenario is a challenge. 3. Need for political will and buy-in through a multilevel stakeholder perspective: Many of the community level interventions require political will and buy-in, which requires a multi-level stakeholder approach, including from civil society organisations, agencies such as the Kochi Metro Rail Limited, and the Cochin Smart City Mission.
Figure 47 - Waste dumping and pollution in the Mullassery Canal
Following are the key opportunity areas for realizing the community framework. 1.
Formalising community groves and rekindling the connection to the canal for local residents: The Padikathukulam colonies and the Karikkamuri neighbourhood along the canal have seen changes in neighbourhood character as a result of rapid urbanisation. There is an opportunity to reconnect these communities to the canal through the design of parklets and public spaces along the canal edge and by activating community groves as hyper local gathering spaces.There has also been a longstanding tradition of “sacred groves” in Kerala, which are protected forests in urban and rural areas, in which neighbouring communities act as guardians of the grove. This is a concept that can be readjusted in the form of “community groves” on open spaces with community stewardship mechanisms put in place. 2. Activating open spaces as community gathering spaces: The open spaces along the canal - Jewish cemetery, Priyadarshini Park, PWD park, Marine drive, KMC waste collection site, and KSRTC complex - are all opportunities to expand the public realm, provide amenities such as public toilets, local markets, designated vending spaces to protect livelihoods, and heritage trails to boost the local economy through tourism. 3. Institutional capacity building: Layering onto existing institutional frameworks, civil society organisations and community bridges such as the Haritha karma sena and Kudumbashree, along with local residents and merchants’ associations to deal with solid waste management in the precinct, and exploring circular economies and resource paradigms. Knowledge and capacity building for implementing and maintaining the Mullassery Canal precinct framework can also be anchored through institutions such as St. Teresa’s college and Government Law College, both in terms of research and stakeholder engagement.
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4. Integrating planning and land use tools into the precinct development framework to further social goals: There is potential to use planning tools to promote changes in land use planning and typologies that could privilege infill development to deliver more affordable housing that can add value across diverse social and economic sections of the society. In addition it can cater to the needs of women, children, elderly, the disabled, migrant workers,, and other marginalised user groups in an inclusive manner. 5. Creating heritage and tourism assets to boost the local economy: Marine Drive with the Priyadarshini park, and the Jewish Cemetery are potential prominent city landmarks with potential for tourism, especially when connected with the Biennale circuit in Fort Kochi through the mobility framework. 6. Sustainable Livelihoods - Upskilling sanitation workers and solid waste management workers, creating vending zones and market spaces for informal street vendors/livelihoods, creating facilities for migrant workers next to KSRTC site
Figure 48 - The city has a strong network of organisations who empower women in areas of sanitation, agriculture, and construction
2.3.3. Approach - Existing scenario Vs Canal community scenario
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Figure 49: Comparison between the existing canal scenario and the projects canal community scenario (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
In the existing scenario, the households and neighbourhoods have limited visual connection to the canal, which functions like a drainage channel. Most household units turn their back to the canal edge. Some have a narrow set back, most of them have encroached the right-of-way of the canal, and together pay no spatial or functional regard to the water system. In addition, some of the private properties discharge their liquid waste into the canal furthering its ecological degradation. Along the entire Mullassery Canal Road of the Karikkamuri neighbourhood, the canal is covered with concrete slabs completely disconnecting the communities. The projected canal community scenario explores opportunities to open up the canal and activate water edges with innovative programming. The household frontages will respond to the canal and enhance liveability.
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Figure 50 - A network of community groves can empower residents to manage waste, water, and urban food production, while making streets safer (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
2.3.4 Principles: The EMPOWER framework is set on the principles to inform and engage all stakeholders, collaborate with stakeholders to formulate community-led solutions, and provide instrumental support in the form of funding, and capacity building. The solutions work at the scales of household, neighbourhood, and city.
Figure x - The Community Principles use solid waste management as a proxy to depict how community networks can be empowered to take charge of civic issues (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
The Empower Framework principles present a strategic framework for developing the Mullassery Canal precinct as a cohesive, inclusive, and safe neighborhood that promotes wellbeing for all by creating a blueprint for stakeholders to participate in their communities through design strategies and spaces that facilitate the formation of social ties and networks. Support households in the form of government subsidies to set up a bio-gas plant, composting unit or kitchen garden at household level, build neighbourhood institutions such as swap shops, material recovery facility and community centres, and spur capacity building at the city level for the creation of green jobs in tandem with the needs of the circular waste management network. The four basic principles underlying the Empower framework are : 5. Inform all stakeholders about solid waste management and canal stewardship by a. Building awareness of how waste can be turned into a resource, by showcasing examples of circular economy in practice at the household level b. Creating community awareness through community education programmes at the level of the neighbourhood by engaging with residents’ welfare associations by walking the neighbourhood and activating public spaces within the neighbourhood for community events and exhibitions c. Creating systemic awareness amongst civil society organisations and government agencies at the city level of the Mullassery Canal Precinct Framework approach.
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6. Engage stakeholders through a. Supporting community-led initiatives such as segregation at source at the household level b. Building knowledge about the canal through interactions with long-time residents and integrating their feedback into the overall framework, creating a sense of ownership of the canal amongst newer residents. c. Alignment of community stakeholders and participatory governance frameworks at the city level. 7. Collaborate with stakeholders through a. Working with on-ground partners to catalyse lifestyle changes, especially in relation to solid waste management at the household level; partnering with women’s groups to catalyse change on the ground in terms of solid waste as well as women’s and children’s safety in open spaces. b. Setting up community stewardship mechanisms including clean-up drives with local partners through particular stretches during implementation of pilot projects at the ward and precinct level c. Knowledge exchange regarding sewage outfalls, dumping points, poor lighting and other civic issues across the canal precinct; creation of citywide digital and analogue platforms for exchange of information. 8. Support community initiatives by a. Directing funds and resources towards subsidies and startup capital for households who are interested in decentralised solid waste management, urban farming, sponge buildings, and other aligned objectives of the precinct plan. b. Creating a network of institutions such as community land trusts, innovation centres, local markets promoting circular economies such as material recovery centres, swap shops, biogas plants, and composting units to effect sustainability transitions; support and funding for affordable housing upgradation and adaptive in-situ construction along the canal c. Capacity building amongst local and government stakeholders to work effectively with community partners to deliver basic services, affordable housing, and accessible infrastructure to citizens and deliver robust green livelihoods that boost the local economy. 2.3.5 Key components of community framework: The basic units of the community framework are characterized based on nurturing sustainable livelihoods and integrating public amenities & services. 1.
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Canal responsive incremental housing: Household-level interventions such as incremental development, guideline for setback design, and open space reservation could be suggested by reviewing Development Control Regulation in order to make the building respond to the water edge. No front setback, additional FAR, and community land pooling methods could be adopted. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): Service delivery of water supply, sanitation, energy distribution, and other civic facilities can be optimised where existing and provided where missing, to improve the LOS, particularly in the Padikuthalam neighbourhoods. Household connections shall be retrofitted. Dense community network: At the urban block-level (Block - a dense cluster of buildings surrounded by streets), by incentivizing development the walking and activity network could be densified. They will serve as walkable shortcuts and accommodate spill-over social activities. Public convenience nodes: Clustered public conveniences - Bio-toilet, drinking water kiosk, inclusive seating, vendor zone, trash bin, shaded shelter - are included within a 10 minute walkshed. Tourism magnets: Improving tourist magnets by building on the existing programmes and natural features
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shall help in attracting more visitors and act as an economic engine. New potential tourist magnets can also be integrated with canal edges. 6. Decentralized SWM unit: By spatially anchoring waste management facilities and decentralising the management processes, the load on the centralised system could be reduced and the process could be made community-driven.
Figure 51: Precedent images for key components of community framework plan
2.3.6 People-prioritized community scenario: The framework brings together all principles and weaves together a holistic network that can improve service delivery and bring in lifestyle changes for the communities living along the canal. The framework looks at three layers of interventions as block-level interventions, household-level interventions, and special interventions. The principles for community framework addresses ways to mobilise communities to deal with solid waste management and other civic issues that negatively impact the public realm. By distributing accountability to the communities the long-lasting challenge is turned into an opportunity. Other key concepts are the potential of community-led “waste as a resource,” programmes and circular economy concepts in order to reimagine and expand the idea of decentralised waste management as the lynchpin of sustainable communities along the canal.
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Figure 52: Community Framework Plan (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
2.3.7 Expected outcomes: 1. The level of service and quality of service benchmarks of basic services improve from the current state. 2. Businesses and real estate opportunities thrive in a healthy manner. 3. The neighbourhoods along the canal take ownership in the upkeep of canal bed and other ancillary amenities. At least there is one inclusive community building activity that is held every month. 4. There is an improvement in the quality of the public realm, thus promoting safety for women, children, the disabled, and the elderly in open spaces and streets. 5. There is greater empowerment and involvement of marginalised and vulnerable groups in having a say in the development of the neighbourhood, including actors such as sanitation workers, migrant labourers, and children.
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Chapter 3: Canal Edge Masterplan 3.1 Introduction Weaving with Water is a water-driven collective approach for the Mullassery canal that addresses the intersections between landscape, mobility, community, and governance. The Mullassery canal is considered as a testing ground to demonstrate the implementation of this multi-pronged design framework to tackle the larger ecological issues faced by the Greater Kochi Area. The Canal Edge Master Plan addresses flooding, mobility and solid waste management issues with proposals for renaturalization and daylighting illustrated via critical sections for different site conditions as may be required. The site extents consist of the entire 1.4km stretch and site-specific buffers at minimum 3m on either side of the canal. The approach aligns with the framework plan illustrated in the previous chapter and highlights specific canal rejuvenation strategies based on the existing opportunities in the context. ‘Weaving with Water’ as an approach has the potential to redefine the current paradigm in urban development which does not commonly position water as the central component for all decision-making.
Figure 53: Weaving with Water as a concept shall redefine the current paradigm of urban development and integrates all urban components through water (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
Opportunities for ‘Weaving with Water’: The existing features in Mullassery Canal precinct which are adjoining the canal are categorised/mapped as opportunity areas for landscape, mobility, and community interventions based on the land use, predominant activities, landform, and stakeholder presence. The western and easter end of the canal where it drains to the backwater and to the Perandoor canal respectively are identified as potential nodes for landscape interventions. The Maharaja ground as one of the largest open spaces along the canal edge also offers opportunities for landscape interventions. The Padikathukulam colonies, Karrikummari neighbourhood, and the Fashion street are the high potential community opportunity areas. The presence of Maharaja Metro station, KSTRC Bus Stand, and the Marine Drive Boat Jetty gives the most interesting opportunity to work on the mobility layer. These opportunities are taken as the base for developing the Canal Edge Master Plan and the ‘Weaving with Water’ approach will infuse the values of all three layers across the entire canal stretch.
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Figure 54: Opportunity mapping along the Mullassery Canal edge (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
3.2 Canal Rejuvenation Strategies The below listed canal rejuvenation strategies for all three layers has condensed the framework principles and key components to directly inform the canal edge master plan.
Figure 55: Canal Rejuvenation strategies across the 3 layers - Landscape, Mobility, and Community (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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Landscape 1.
Canal Bed Naturalising : The canal bed was concretised for a depth of 2.5m, causing water logging and reducing the carrying capacity. Breaking the canal bed and naturalising it will increase the carrying capacity, and improve the biodiversity and the health of the canal. This is proposed throughout the canal stretch as part of Operation Breakthrough. 2. Canal Daylighting : The canal is covered by concrete slabs for more than half the length This reduces the visibility of the water body and prevents people from interacting with it. Daylighting the canal will increase oxygen penetration, reduce the dense growth of phytoplanktons that currently coat the canal, and enable visual and physical access. The stretch from MG Road to TD Road is proposed to be opened up. 3. Canal Deepening and Widening : The canal floods often, disrupting life and causing damage to infrastructure. By widening the canal and deepening it, we are increasing the infiltration and carrying capacity to mitigate flooding in the future. A natural edge will also allow the settlements to leverage the flooding and improve biodiversity. This is presented along the KMC Waste Management site. 4. Living coast : The coast of Kochi currently has a hard seawall. Here, Unnatural siltation affects the water movement into and from the canal and the coastal edge ecosystem is lost. There is also regular damage as a result of ocean wave swelling. By softening the edge, the living shoreline can tackle coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, and nurture an ecosystem which needs less maintenance. Breakwaters with rocks and local coir are proposed to effectively reduce the force of the water before reaching the shoreline, thus reducing the impact of erosion. This will be effective along the entire Marine Drive stretch.
Figure 56: Concept for canal edge rejuvenation along Priyadarshini Park (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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Mobility: A. Activating canal edge - Shared streets: The constricted right-of-way and dead edges of streets along the canal make it impossible for pedestrians and cyclists to move and spend time on streets. Shared streets will reduce the speed, make street space safe and convenient for all users, and give opportunity to connect with the canal. Lt Unniyattil Karunakaran Ln, Market Road, Fashion Street, and Mullassery Canal Road are proposed as shared streets. B. Last-mile connectivity - NMT lanes & PBS: The open green spaces and the low-income housing colonies along the canal are not connected as part of the larger mobility network and limits the seamless movement of people. NMT lanes and PBS stations shall densify the mobility network and ensure last-mile connectivity. Connection between Park avenue and Marine drive through Priyadarshini Park, movement along Padikathukulam West colony, movement through MG Road road and Fashion street along the canal, and connection within the KSRTC Bus Terminal are proposed through NMT lanes and PBS. C. Adding new connectors - NMT bridges: Canal is the breathing corridor for citizens living on either side of the bank. But, the lack of physical connectivity across the canal makes people take longer detours and create dead edges. NMT bridges shall create shorter routes and promote exchange of activities across the canal edges. Padikathukulam West colony and Fashion street are proposed with new connectors. D. Smart utility management: Management of underground and above ground utilities effectively play an important role in maintaining the visual and functional integrity of Mullassery canal. Canal edge redevelopment and Street redesign are the biggest opportunities to plan and design for integration of utilities. The entire canal edge is proposed to have a smart utility management system.
Figure 57: Concept for canal edge rejuvenation along Fashion Street (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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Community: I.
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Physical accessibility to canal - Ghats & decks: Mullassery canal in its existing condition is inaccessible along the entire length due to lack of any accessible spatial elements and poor maintenance. With the rejuvenation of the precinct, making the canal edge accessible could allow people to interact with water and engage in multiple activities. Ghats, decks, stairways, and walkways are provided along the coastal edge, Priyadarshini Park, and KMC land. Visual permeability to canal - Fenestrations & Thresholds: Households living along the canal edge most commonly turn their back to the canal and do not have opportunities for physical / visual connection. As one of the rejuvenation strategies, the household could be encouraged/mandated to shift their fenestration, and threshold spaces (Entry porch, Front yard, Balcony, Windows) towards the canal. Padikathukulam East and West colonies along with the households in the fashion street are proposed to have such alterations. Placemaking & programming - Parklets & Breakout spaces: The canal edge presently does not have opportunities for any specific programs that could invite people and encourage them to spend time. The reclaimed open spaces along the canal could be reimagined as parklets and breakout spaces through placemaking and programming. Dedicated vending zones, kids play area, shaded seating space, performance floor, and art installations are proposed to be included along the canal edges Solid waste management - Community sensitization: Poor solid waste management is the biggest threat for the maintenance of Mullassery canal and health of people living around. Community sensitization on effective management processes through capacity building activities and including them as part of the process could be the best way for a healthy future.
Figure 58: Concept for canal edge rejuvenation near Padikathukulam East colony (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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3.3 Comprehensive Canal Edge Masterplan The concept canal edge Master Plan ties together all the 3 frameworks and presents in a comprehensive manner as an unified vision for the rejuvenation of Mullassery Canal. The various planning and design components from the landscape, mobility, and community frameworks and the rejuvenation strategies are interdependent and require holistic implementation for achieving maximum impact. For instance, creating flexible green edges (Landscape) is complementary to realigning or laying out pedestrian trails (Mobility) along the canal, and together will influence the access to public services (Community). Hence, embedding an integrated water-driven thinking at all stages of the project is critical. The concept canal edge Master Plan outlines the proposed edge condition of the canal, the layout of mobility corridors, and the integration of community interventions. Key interventions that are outside the scope of the canal edge master plan, but proposed as part of the framework plan is also highlighted so as to show the larger interrelationships between spaces.
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Figure 59: Canal Edge Master Plan (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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3.4 Canal Edge Scenarios The Canal Edge scenarios present the above-elaborated strategies across the landscape, mobility, and community layers in a comprehensive manner illustrated via critical sections for different site conditions as may be required. The site extents consist of the canal edge through the entire stretch and site-specific buffers at minimum 3m on either side of the canal. The seven scenarios highlight the feasible combination of different strategies with respect to site context.
Figure 60: Canal Edge Master Plan (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
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Stretch A - Near KSRTC Bus Stand
Figure 61: Canal section along the (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
The meeting point of the Mullassery Canal with the Thevara Perandoor Canal is fraught with problems of waste dumping and obstructed flow of water, which lead to extreme flooding. While it is recommended to consider this stretch as a complete project in itself, the canal masterplan framework proposes a solution to effectively manage the waste from downstream Mullassery Canal and Vivekananda Canal. As the water flows through a culvert before reaching the wetlands, waste filtration screens are proposed on both sides to filter out the waste and localise the pollution. Along with dredging, the screens should be maintained regularly to prevent clogging of the canal. Along the Green Mobility Corridor, maintenance gratings or trash traps are proposed on top of the Vivekananda Canal, to curb the dumping of solid waste. Opportunities - The proposed Green Mobility Corridor project has the potential to turn the stretch along the Railway line into a public realm, as an extension of the neighbourhood’s social spaces. Constraints - As the depth of the Mullassery Canal in stretch A is less deeper than TP canal, the flow of water is obstructed and leads to silting. The depth of the and the culvert must be increased to streamline the flow of water towards the wetlands.
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Stretch B - Karikkamuri Neighbourhood
Figure 62: Canal section on Mullassery Canal Road (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
In the stretch between MG Road and the KSRTC bus stand, the canal is covered by concrete slabs, acting as the access point for dense housing and commercial structures situated on both sides. During the day, the canal is also encroached by residential and heavy vehicle parking. As the possibilities of opening the canal are limited, the landscape design is proposed as a symbolic and civic amenity in the form of low-cost, pop-up parklets with porous paving. A stormwater drain is provided alongside the canal, which collects water from northern drains and channels it into the wetlands. This helps to manage the runoff into the canal and mitigate flooding at the KSRTC bus stand. To ensure the safe movement of vehicles and people, the Mullassery Canal Road is designed as a shared street, with speed limits restricted to 30kmph. Opportunities - Community Parklets facilitate greater social interaction and will make the neighbourhood safer for women and children. It will also spotlight the efforts of the Kudumbashree workers, who will maintain the structures. Constraints - As the Right of Way along stretch A varies from 5m to 8m, the parklets can be placed only at certain intervals. Demand for on-street parking outside warehouses and commercial establishments also occupies road space inequitably.
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Stretch C - Fashion Street
Figure 63: Canal section on Fashion Street, showing the adjacent KMC Park (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
This stretch refers to the covered canal stretch between MG Road and TD Road, that is used as a vending zone. This stretch of the canal is lined with 70- 100-year-old trees and has the opportunity to open up into pedestrian pathways and transform into a public space for placemaking. As the section of the canal in this region is fairly narrow and occupied by vendors, it is proposed to open up the canal for daylighting along with canal bed naturalisation. This shall enhance biodiversity, improve the health of the canal, and reduce the dense growth of phytoplanktons that currently coat the canal due to lack of oxygen penetration into the canal. The deepening of the canal will also help to increase the capacity, to effectively channel water from local retention spaces during rainfall events. Opportunities - To mitigate the extreme flooding which takes place at the MG Road Junction, the PWD Park is reimagined as a series of natural landscapes, which can ‘hold and delay’ stormwater before it reaches the canal. The opening of the park towards the canal and the daylighting of the water body will showcase the importance of blue-green landscapes in the city, while facilitating interaction and ownership of the canal as a public space. Constraints - While daylighting the canal, an effective waste management and maintenance strategy should be integrated to prevent the canal from becoming a dumping ground for residential and commercial solid waste.
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Stretch D - Padikathukulam East colony
Figure 64: Canal section near Padikathukulam East Colony (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
This stretch refers to the canal segment between TD Road and the Market Road. The Northern bank of the canal is lined up with private low-rise buildings and the Southern bank has the Padikathukulam East Colony, a few private buildings, and the vacant land of Govt. Law College. As the section of the canal in this stretch is fairly narrow and the building on the either side do not leave room for wideniting, it is proposed to recover the encroached canal RoW on either side / utilise the private set back areas and provide a pedestrian + cycle link. This shall densify the mobility network and also give opportunity to improve physical access to the canal edge for the public. In addition, necessary measures to tackle the discharge of sewage water and unfiltered surface run-off has been introduced. Based on the bed level of the canal near Fashion Street and the Lt: Karunakaran lane, the depth of the canal along this stretch could be deepened further in order to improve the carrying capacity. Opportunities - To improve the liveability of the community around the canal edge and also make the canal edge as their front yard, a continuous NMT trail has been inserted. A liner strip of green filtration bed will also serve as a holding channel during cloudburst events and delay the storm-water discharge rate. Constraints - While the widening of canal edge and integrating with the larger open space system is a possibility if the Law College vacant land is developed under the principles of water-driven integrated approach, under the current situation with settlements packed on either sides of the canal, the widening is not a possibility.
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Stretch E - KMC Waste Collection Centre
Figure 65: Canal section near KMC waste management facility land (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
This stretch refers to the canal segment that takes a bend and passes through the KMC waste management facility land and the KMC workshop site. The average width of the canal increases here in the range of 5 - 10 m. As the canal adjoins public property on either sides it gives the opportunity to further widen the canal and naturalise the edges in order to improve the infiltration capacity and increase the carrying capacity. With the reclaimed land from KMC, anchoring the site with strong programs is critical. The western edge is allocated for various community activities including urban agriculture with the help of kudumbashree, which allow the canal to flood and overflow during peak monsoon events, while also enriching the soil. The urban farms and zero-waste strategies hope to empower the local community by helping them achieve self-sufficiency. The eastern edge will become part of the public domain. Opportunities - The land ownership being under KMC is the biggest opportunity for this to be reimagined as canal-responsive public space. The canal edge can be restored as natural riparian beds with indigenous species. This stretch also gives opportunity for transforming the dead space into a self-reliant canal community model with facilities for decentralised solid waste management unit, urban agriculture, nursery, public conveniences, and improved service delivery. Constraints - While this stretch spatially presents the opportunities to widen and naturaise the canal, the exact location and growth of existing vegetation may stand as a constraint to implement the same. Before implementation, a detailed topographical survey and flora survey should be done in order to articulate the design in a manner that least impacts the existing vegetation.
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Stretch F - Karunakaran Lane, Outside Jewish Cemetery
Figure 66: Canal section near Karunakaran Lane (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
At this stretch, towards the mouth of the canal, various public and institutional spaces are adjacent to the canal, highlighting a need for the canal to function as a safe and lively public space. Multi-use floodable landscapes are proposed to act as catchment areas during high-rainfall and flash flood periods, and revert back to more civic uses during dry spells for the adjoining communities. Where possible, the canal edge will also be naturalised and widened. Karunakaran Lane is reimagined as a shared zone - an extension of the St. Theresa’s College and the Jewish Cemetery. The design proposes a green street, with tree pits and bioswales to ‘hold and delay’ the flow of water into the canal, along with street lights and seating to provide safe spaces for the community. Opportunities - This stretch has the potential to serve as a pause point amidst the heavy traffic corridors of Park Avenue and Market Road. St. Teresa College, Jewish Cemetery, and Esplanade mall being the prominent land properties along this street has unique potential to activate the canal edge through temporal transformation. The before and after-college activities of St. Teresa college can spill over to the street for students to spend their evenings. It can also serve as an extended activity / exhibition space. Jewish cemetery when redeveloped as an open air museum will serve as a major tourist magnet and has the potential to activate the canal edge with high footfall. The frontage of Esplanade mall can open up a vending zone along the street to capitalize on the footfall. Constraints - While the street has the maximum opportunity to work as a connector across social (KMC public plaza), ecological (Canal mouth), and cultural (Jewish open air museum) nodes, the holistic transformation is a long-term process. As a pilot street level intervention, the actual impact of the intervention cannot be observed instantly.
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Stretch G - Canal Mouth
Figure 67: Section showing living coastal edge scenario (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
The widening of the canal near its mouth includes softening the edge to build resilience towards sea-level rise and sea water intrusion. Rather than a hard seawall which reduces the biodiversity of the area, a living shoreline is proposed to tackle climate change risks, including coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion. The quality of the living shoreline to adapt to the seasons is effective in nurturing an ecosystem which needs less maintenance and can reduce the impacts of extreme climate events. Breakwaters with rocks and local coir are proposed to effectively reduce the force of the water before reaching the shoreline, thus reducing the impact of erosion. The living shoreline is envisaged as a recreational realm, with decks and open spaces for people to interact. Opportunities - The canal mouth when developed in a holistic manner with Priyadarshini Park and Marine Drive has the potential to be transformed as a key biodiversity hotspot. The project will also bring in more visibility to the entire canal and present it as a punctuated landmark that prioritizes people and ecology. Constraint - The development of design layout and detailed specifications can be done only with site-specific information on water table, tidal action, soil condition, water levels, and the influence of other geographic features. The section has to be worked out in a conscious manner so as to avoid any negative impact on the site ecology. The intervention along the marine drive that influences the current coastal line, will require insights and approvals from multiple agencies which can both strengthen and delay the process.
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Chapter 4: Participatory Planning 4.1 Introduction
In order to realize the change proposed through spatial frameworks and principles, it is critical to embed collaborative governance models in the systems of implementation, operations, and management. Collaborative governance as processes and structures of decision-making involves stakeholders from a variety of sectors and levels ‘to carry out a public purpose that could not otherwise be accomplished’ (Emerson, 2012). For the context of Mullassery canal, the stakeholders may range from the state and city officials, politicians, community, NGOs, private sector investors, development banks or financing units, and experts from the various fields of urban studies. Through a collaborative governance model, the city and its allied agencies / stakeholders can benefit in the following three ways. a. Financial investments can be streamlined, optimised, and spent in a prudent manner with public consensus and in a transparent manner. b. The vision for a larger framework and paradigm can be co-developed with due respect and acknowledgement given to the requirements and needs of all stakeholders. c. Through collaborative implementation, project conception, operations & maintenance, the city can nurture an open cross-departmental learning culture. Integrated urban development and its principles of horizontal and vertical policy integration are based on the integrated approach to urban development developed since the beginning of this century, with important steps like the 2007 Leipzig Charter, as well as the Pact of Amsterdam and New Urban Agenda signed in 2016. 1.
The horizontal integration of policies and projects within a city requires the various corporation departments and utility agencies to work together closely for the project to be designed and implemented by incorporating planning (choice of site), social (training, employment measures), environmental (impact to biodiversity) and economic (support to business) aspects.
2. Vertical integration involves the co-production of policies and actions with the local stakeholders concerned (local citizens, associations, public and private-sector partners) but also with the competent higher level authorities at the state and/or national levels. Horizontal integration in practice integrates ● ● ● ●
diverse policy areas/sectors, different locations and spatial relationships, diversity of local stakeholder groups, and the balancing of economic, social and environmental objectives.
Meanwhile, vertical integration between levels of governance can refer to ● ● ●
the engagement of decision-makers and stakeholders, the alignment of strategies, and the mobilisation of funds from different levels.
A conceptual model for the city of Kochi to adopt an integrated approach through collaborative governance is illustrated in the figure below.
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Figure 68: Collaborative governance model for integrated approach (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
Key components for collaborative governance: 1. Institutional setup for implementation & monitoring: Setting up a Mullassery Canal Precinct Rejuvenation Committee for interdepartmental cooperation and coordination 2. Canal research & leadership unit: Piloting data-based research platforms and improving leadership in canal management by collaborating with local institutions. 3. Participatory canal planning & management: Adopting and practising various participatory tools including ‘Weaving with Water Game modules’
4.2 Implementation 4.2.1 Implementation - Sponge framework: The realisation of a Sponge Framework in Kochi requires a regional development plan with a proactive conservation agenda to protect upstream Sponge landscapes. At individual basin scales, Sponge Landscapes can be identified for protection and conservation and building upon a Sponge Landscape Infrastructure Potential map. The production of this map requires an overlay of digitised datasets describing the topography, aquifer, soil and land cover. Based on this foundation dataset, a Basin/Neighbourhood framework plan for the Mullassery Canal can be made. While a geospatial analysis can reveal potential sites for Sponge Landscape infrastructure, detailed area-based plans and prioritising projects for implementation requires a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency effort. The municipal corporation and other government agencies should work with the local community, urban planners, landscape architects, ecologists, hydrologists and economists to create a holistic framework and implementation timeline.
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Figure69 - Mapping of the stakeholders who will be responsible to adopt policies, implement interventions, and maintain them, for projects in the Sponge Framework (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Figure 70: Graphic showing the stakeholders involved, data-set required, and the necessary allied projects for the successful implementation of landscape layer (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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Figure 71: Implementation Data and Inputs for Sponge Framework (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
Table Types of Data required
Purpose
1
Detailed survey of Canal including inventory of stormwater and sewage water outfall locations, depth and slope of canal bed
Assessing feasibility of conceptual canal edge sections outlined as part of the Canal Edge Masterplan Framework.
2
Flood-prone areas and Stormwater Capacity Data. Preferred Format: Plan
Establishing infrastructural and
of flooded areas from 2018 Kochi floods and list of 100 year, 20 year, and 5
ecological baselines for assessing
year flood elevation level within Mullassery Canal
potential for implementing a Cloudburst Resiliency Framework
3
Existing stormwater infrastructure network plan including inlet and outlet
Assess feasibility of a Cloudburst
locations and designed capacity (rainfall/hour) of primary, secondary, and
Resiliency Framework pilot
tertiary stormwater lines
project and utility design and
Preferred Formats: To scale Plan of system within Mullassery precinct area
planning
in CAD or print Acceptable Formats: Schematic network drawing with labels in print
4
Standard street section drawings indicating slopes, curb height. the diameters of the storm water pipes (primary, secondary, tertiary) and sewage lines (primary, secondary, tertiary) as per Kochi Municipality standards
Pilot Project feasibility and design including design of amenities, utilities and blue-green infrastructure
5
Ownership of land along 1.4km stretch of canal and within study area
Land use planning framework for
Preferred Format: Plan with ownership data of study area
canal edge masterplan;
Acceptable Formats: List of parcels that are publicly owned or managed within study area
identification of stakeholders for
List of Planned or Proposed infrastructure projects within and around
Utility design and planning;
study area including stormwater, sewage, and road upgradation or
integration of canal edge master
expansion
plan themes into existing context
6
pilot project feasibility
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7
Depth to Water Table and Geology
Formulating strategies to capture
Preferred Format: Map with water table spot elevations, soil
and delay water and prevent
characteristics, and bedrock geology within study area
saltwater intrusion as part of the Cloudburst Resiliency Framework and Canal Edge Master Plan as well as a potential Community Groves pilot project; assess feasibility of living shoreline strategies for long-term rollout.
8
Existing sewage infrastructure network plan including treatment and outlet locations
Utility design and planning; detail design for a potential MG Road Pilot project
4.2.2 Implementation - Mobility framework: Detailed planning and seamless implementation of the mobility framework require a range of datasets, collaboration across departments, and rigorous stakeholder consultation. The critical datasets that should be investigated are existing street RoW, traffic volume count, parking activity mapping & demand analysis, utility layout, activity pattern, the layout of property entrances, and open space usage patterns. While the larger network planning and pilot design could be conceptualised with the limited data and survey, the actual realisation of the same require coordinated across from multiple agencies who are responsible for planning, design, implementation, and maintenance. Integration of other allied projects which can support the success of this project should also be given attention to maximise impact.
Figure 72 - Mapping of the stakeholders who will be responsible to adopt policies, implement interventions, and maintain them, for projects Mobility Framework (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
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Figure 73: Graphic showing the stakeholders involved, data-set required, and the necessary allied projects for the successful implementation of mobility layer (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
4.2.3 Implementation - Community framework: Detailed planning and seamless implementation of the community framework require a range of datasets, collaboration across departments, and rigorous stakeholder consultation. The critical datasets that should be investigated are detailed survey of existing neighbourhood-level service infrastructure, land value & real estate analysis, waste movement mapping, and mapping of existing local CSOs, RWAs, and other champions. For achieving the maximum output, it is recommended to kick-start the allied projects along with a detailed study done using all required data-set.
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Figure 74 - Mapping of the stakeholders who will be responsible to adopt policies, implement interventions, and maintain them, for projects in the Community Framework (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
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Figure 75: Graphic showing the stakeholders involved, data-set required, and the necessary allied projects for the successful implementation of community layer (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
4.2.3.1 Post-implementation Community Waste management Strategies
Figure 76 - Solid waste management strategies are integrated into the frameworks, to effectively rejuvenate the canal (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
A critical factor for the success of any pilot project in the Mullassery Canal precinct is an effective solid waste management strategy, which will facilitate the maintenance and continued success of the project after implementation, and also promote effectiveness of the Sponge and Mobility frameworks by ensuring that water channels and drains remain unclogged and uncontaminated by pollutants and solid waste. This report highlights the critical role of an empowered local community from an overall systems perspective in ensuring the continued success of a solid and sewage waste management strategy along the canal. Detailed site documentation both before and after the EnteKochi urban design competition, as well as conversations with stakeholders have highlighted solid waste management and sewage outfalls as a major issue along the canal edge and in the canal bed. There is empirical evidence from studies on civic participation in Indian cities that solid waste management in particular is an issue that leads communities to greater public cooperation, and hence fosters social bonding and cohesion within a community through the formation of neighbourhood associations, both in terms of organising for collective action as well as taking individual responsibility and behavioural change (Coelho and Venkat, 2009)5. Patchy solid waste management in the context of Kochi has resulted in collective public action against landfill sites in the vicinity of communities with mixed outcomes (Ganesan, 2017)6. Coelho, K. and Venkat, T. (2009) 'The Politics of Civil Society: Neighbourhood Associationism in Chennai', Economic and Political Weekly, 44(26/27), pp. 358-367. Ganesan, P. (2017) 'Landfill sites, solid waste management and people's resistance: a study of two municipal corporations in Kerala', International Journal of Environmental Studies, 74(6), pp. 958-978. 5
6
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In the context of Kochi, there is also evidence that attempts to fix this problem through centralised solid waste management deflects the problem further upstream, but does not comprehensively solve the issue of solid waste management from an overall systems perspective. The centralised Brahmapuram city-level septage treatment plant has resulted in a deterioration in the quality of life of neighbourhoods surrounding the plant due to the smell, pollution, and sanitation issues arising from gaps in the waste management process (Hridya, Lukose and Rajesh, 2016)7 . At the other end of the scale, a decentralised pilot project in Pachalam division of Kochi, which employed the “waste as resource” framework by providing subsidised biogas to aid material recovery as close to source as possible substantially reduced the number of unauthorised solid waste accumulation sites in the ward, thus arresting the process of solid waste ending up in waterways (Chettiparamb, Chakkalakkal and Chedambath, 2011)8. According to Chettiparamb et al (2011), in 2004-5, more than 70% of Kochi’s waste was organic and bio-degradeable. As a result, material recovery close to source, either at the household or neighbourhood level in the context of Kochi tends to be more efficient if well-executed. Coupled with Kerala’s strong tradition of decentralised governance, there is therefore a strong case to be made for the efficacy of decentralised solid waste management systems in the context of Kochi. It is evident that a combination of centralised and decentralised approaches to solid waste management are essential to ensure the continued success of any civic infrastructure investment along the canal. A solid waste management focused community strategy that is predicated on circular economy concepts would yield multiple co-benefits, such as upskilling and boosting the local economy, and can serve as a template for the future development of Kochi in line with a circular resource paradigm as outlined in Chapter 1.
Hridya, K.K., Lukose, P., Rajesh, R (2016) ‘Solid Waste Management in Cochin, India: Practices, Challenges and Solutions,’ Journal of Basic and Applied Engineering Research, 3(9), pp 746-751 8 Chettiparamb, A., Chakkalakkal, M. and Chedambath, R. (2011) 'In my Backyard! An Alternative Model for Solid Waste Management', International Planning Studies, 16(4), pp. 313-331. 7
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4.2.4 Glimpse into Pilot Projects The canal precinct has been divided into 3 subsites: Subsite A stretching from the KSRTC bus stand till MG Road, Subsite B stretching from MG road till the western edge of Maharaja’s College Ground, and Subsite C from Karunakaran Lane till the mouth of the canal in the west.
Figure 77 - Subsite B key plan. Image from the enteKochi Urban Design Competition brief
Pilot projects for each of these stretches have been identified as follows: 1.
Subsite A a. Pilot 1: Community centre at KSRTC campus b. Pilot 2: Community grove c. Pilot 3: Parklets along the canal in Karikkamuri neighbourhood 2. Subsite B a. Pilot 1: MG Road and PWD Park b. Pilot 2: KMC Park c. Pilot 3: MG Road Metro Plaza 3. Subsite C a. Pilot 1: Lt Karunakaran Lane - Reimagining the street segment as Walk- & Cycle- only public space b. Pilot 2: KMC waste management facility land - Public plaza with community facilities c. Pilot 3: Padikathukulam West Colony - Service enhancement + Placemaking
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4.2.4.1 Subsite B
Figure 78: Subsite B pilot projects (Image Credit: Sponge Collaborative)
There are two pilot projects that we have identified within the Subsite B masterplan that have been detailed in this document. One potential future project is identified that is part of the overall masterplan and can be included in the future potential scope of work. Pilot 1: Redesigning the sidewalk and medians for 100m of the MG Road stretch alongside the PWD park south of the A.K.Seshadri Road & MG Road intersection until the Maharaja College Metro station to create a boulevard. Pilot 2: Regrading and programming the KMC Park from PT Usha Road till the A.K.Seshadri Road & MG Road intersection as an open public park. Daylighting the canal along this stretch and transforming A.K.Seshadri Road into a woonerf.
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4.2.4.2 Subsite C - Pilot project The strategic pilot site as identified by the stakeholders is the Kochi Kochi Municipal Corporation (KMC) Waste management facility and housing colony integration around canal bend (both sides of the canal). The proposal aims to address the following key issues: 1. waste management 2. housing and services integration 3. community integration 4. economic regeneration
Figure 79: Pilot site area in subsite C (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
Project vision: The proposed demonstration project is part of the larger subsite-C area. The design aims to revive the canal bend segment retention basins, micro wetlands, and riparian edges for effective flood management. The canal edges are proposed to be softened and made flexible for multifunctional uses along the Market road and tree cover is densified to create a continuous green corridor along the canal. A new Canal market in the KMC waste management facility land and reorganising the Nepali bazaar will streamline the informal vending and create an active community space that is well connected to the green network. The public space around institutions like St. Teresa's college and the Kochi Refineries Park are designed with gender sensitive elements - porous street edges, safe lighting, inclusive furniture, to make the space safe and usable for all.
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Figure 80:Concept for Karunakaran Lane as part of the pilot design (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
For more details on the pilot project and to check out the drawings, refer to the Detailed Project Report to be submitted as part of the ‘Ente Kochi Project’. 4.2.4.3 Additional Pilots A potential pilot that can focus on the solid waste and community strategy is a neighbourhood scale solid waste “innovation hub” on vacant land in the canal precinct that can harness the potential of “waste as a resource,” and circular economy concepts in order to reimagine and expand the idea of decentralised waste management as the lynchpin of sustainable communities. The Kerala state government currently has several schemes dealing with waste management, which can be programmed and layered, alongside community outreach desks, workshops, and other opportunities to catalyse civic engagement at the local level. There is also potential to scale up the neighbourhood-level waste management strategy to every ward in the city by retrofitting existing waste collection centres.Some potential programmes for a neighbourhood level waste innovation hub could be: 1.
2. 3. 4.
5.
Information kiosk for households interested in waste recovery at source, waste collection and sorting (existing processes such as segregation at source and door-to-door collection by Kudumbashree are essential pre-conditions to this intervention) composting via Watsan parks, and other forms of material recovery Re-use by means of scrap markets and swap shops Promoting recycling by means of grants to businesses, leasing workshop and office space to social enterprises and entrepreneurs dealing with recycled products, workshops and training sessions to upskill and protect the livelihoods of the Haritha Karma Sena (waste workers) A community centre to promote cooperative action amongst stakeholders on civic issues
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6.
Activating existing open spaces with upcycled artwork and connecting the innovation hub to other neighbourhood level institutions to provide visibility and wider awareness about neighbourhood-level waste management strategies, as well as allowing stakeholders from surrounding civic institutions access to common amenities and open spaces.
4.2.4 Pilot Phasing and Implementation Timeline Pilot Phasing
Figure 81:Phasing of pilot projects and long-term initiatives (Image Credit:Sponge Collaborative)
A potential phasing strategy for the pilot projects, which each correspond to the Adapt, Connect and Empower principles, as well as long-term policy and planning interventions to bolster the impact of these pilots has been suggested in the table above.
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Implementation Timeline
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Figure 82:Phasing of institutional efforts, framework plans, subsite masterplans and pilot projects (Image Credit:Sponge Collaborative)
4.2.5 Funding opportunities, existing initiatives
Figure 83:Funding sources and key stakeholder groups (Image Credit:Sponge Collaborative)
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Innovative Alternative Funding Mechanisms: 1.
Blended finance - Blended finance is the mixing of private and public funds to a common scheme; the mechanism allows local governments to access development finance from various international agencies as well as philanthropic funds in order to fund initiatives that are designed to achieve specific social or environmental outcomes that are in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Blended Finance is also known as “outcome-based financing” , and is a critical instrument that can be leveraged to make long-term climate resilience investments such as the Living Shoreline, and Sponge Framework infrastructure. A robust data collection regime, as well as Independent evaluation and monitoring mechanisms need to be developed in order to take advantage of this funding mechanism.
2. Community Land trusts - A community land trust is a nonprofit organisation that holds land on behalf of a local community. The CLT is particularly useful as an entity that can ensure long-term stewardship of a landscape asset for the common good, and may be useful in the context of Community Groves and Decentralised waste management centres, as the mechanism also promotes accountability and transparency. Local government agencies,too, can play a part in providing technical support and funding for the setting up of the CLT.
4.3 Serious Gaming Toolkit for a collective framework: The toolkit provides multiple water-based tools/solutions to specific issues observed along the canal in the layers of landscape, mobility, community, and governance. The tools and solutions are organised along scales, stakeholders involved, spatial typologies, cost, and carbon footprint of the interventions. GOVERNANCE:
Figure 84: Tools for collaborative governance (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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ECOLOGY:
Figure 85: Tools for Landscape & Ecological regeneration (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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MOBILITY:
Figure 86: Tools for adaptive and integrated mobility (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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COMMUNITY:
Figure 87: Tools for liveale community (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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Participatory Process - SERIOUS GAMING: The process-driven approach aims to co-produce site specific solutions in collaboration with the local stakeholders by using the design toolkit as part of a ‘scenario building game’. With the basics in place, a thriving canal area is co-created with the concerned stakeholders by using the toolkit as part of a scenario building game. During the stakeholder engagement session the toolkit solutions were introduced through gaming sessions to make the different user groups be aware of the range of water-sensitive solutions available for sustainable urban development.
Figure 88: The tools are the basic units for participatory planning through serious gaming activities (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
Vision: Ensuring people are at the heart of any and all decisions pertaining to Kochi’s urban environment and also nurture effective inter-departmental coordination Objectives: 1. To introduce the proposed sustainable urban design strategies for Mullassery canal redevelopment 2. To familiarize the stakeholders of the various tools and solutions proposed as part of the cloudburst resilience framework and canal edge master plan
Figure 89: Interaction with stakeholders through serious gaming tools (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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Variants in gaming process: The gaming process is devised as two variants anchoring to two different purposes. Variant 01 is focused on the tools for cloudburst resilience and Variant 02 is focused on comprehensive resilience tools across all 3 layers. Variant 01: Components included: Tools for cloudburst resilience + Tools for collaborative governance Desirable user group/ players: All stakeholders including representatives from government agencies, funding agencies, and citizens
Figure 90: Basic of ‘serious gaming’ - Variant 01 (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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Variant 02: Components included: Tools for comprehensive resilience covering the landscape, mobility, and community layers + Tools for collaborative governance Desirable user group/ players: All stakeholders including representatives from government agencies, funding agencies, and citizens (preferable to have a mix of players from different backgrounds.
Figure 91: Basic of ‘serious gaming’ - Variant 02 (Image Credit: Weaving with Water team)
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Annexure 1. Background of Flood Mitigation Efforts in Kerala There have been a number of engineering-focused flood mitigation efforts in the Mullassery Canal precinct, beginning with the Esteem Report in 2004 and culminating with Phase 1 and Phase II of Operation Breakthrough in 2020, in the aftermath of the Kerala floods of 2018 caused by an extreme rainfall event. Esteem Report Recommendations ● To avoid flooding in MG Road, a new west flowing drain is proposed from Chittoor road across MG road at Padma Junction and discharging into Market Basin Canal. ● To avoid water logging in KSRTC bus stand, Karikkumari neighbourhood the canal is proposed to be widened to uniform width of 3m from KSRTC premises upto the point where the canal is having 4m at present. ● To relieve the pressure in Karikkumari area another west flowing drain is proposed along Hospital road cutting across MG road from Chitoor road. ● For effective discharge at all times the invert level has to be kept above the high tide level of +0.44 during rainy months. Operation Breakthrough Recommendations: The Operation Breakthrough progress report 20209 observes that under an AMRUT scheme, the bed of the Mullasserry canal was concreted and raised by 2.5m for a length of 400m so that it was at a higher level than the Thevara-Perandoor canal into which it drains. Prior to the concreting of the canal bed, the canal depth was at 4m depth. The report states that as a result of the concreting of the canal bed, the KSRTC bus stand and South Railway station began to see waterlogging during normal rainfall due to a reduction in the carrying capacity of the canal. Operation Breakthrough was implemented in the aftermath of the 2018 flooding, in two phases. ● In phase 1, the drains of the city were renovated to avoid flooding for a budget of Rs 10 crore. ● In phase 2, the mouths of canals were desilted and cleared of obstruction, including the Mullasserry canal. Increasing the carrying capacity of the canal will go some way towards reducing waterlogging in the case of a normal rainfall event. However, the issues of desilting and canal maintenance is not a long term solution.10 Plastic waste and illegal sewage connections into canals, too, add to the problem of obstructions in the carrying capacity of the canal which require long-term and ongoing action under a unified framework.
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http://www.irrigation.kerala.gov.in/images/pdf/Breakthrough.pdf https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/crores-spent-but-citys-canal-system-still-in-tatters/article31752643.ece
10
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2. Best Practices A. Sponge Framework Many cities are following the landscape approach and “Adapt” framework to design stormwater management and flood mitigation systems. ●
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In China, the Sponge cities Program is a framework that refers to the creation of a system of wetlands and parks that serve to retain water or otherwise have “sponge” features, which involves retrofitting existing urban areas and implementing the SCP in new developments. Active, Beautiful and Clean (ABC) guidelines in Singapore have focused on putting in place strong guidelines for how people should manage water within their properties, creating a clear hierarchy for stormwater management. In Copenhagen, a Cloudburst Framework has focused on creating a city-wide masterplan of streets and open spaces as conveyance and retention spaces for water in case of a cloudburst event instead of solely focusing on upgrading grey water infrastructure.
Figure 92: China, Singapore and Copenhagen all have versions of Sponge City frameworks
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B. Canal Cleanup Strategies The waste management strategy for the precinct is proposed in collaboration with the local community, to raise awareness about waste and use bottom-up approaches to tackle it. However, to rejuvenate and restore the canal, it is important to remove debris, tackle solid waste pollution, and prevent the flow of illegal sewage into the water. The following are some approaches to localise and collect waste, which are proposed in addition to a larger campaign. 1.
Air Bubble Barrier to trap plastic has been piloted in the canals of Amsterdam. A perforated tube pushes compressed air towards the surface, which helps push the waste towards one side. The trash then gets trapped in a small rubbish platform, which is collected and recycled. 2. Floating booms in the Gowanus Canal, New York have helped to catch solid waste from storm water drains. In the Mullassery Canal, they can help to contain debris and trash, preventing it from moving into the backwaters. 3. Drainage nets around stormwater and sewer pipes in Australia have proven to be a cost-effective solution to prevent plastic waste from polluting the canal.
Figure 93: Air bubble barrier, flooting booms and drainage nets around stormwatera nd sewer pipes (Image provided by: Sponge Collaborative)
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C. For collaborative governance and community participation
₹ubbish (2015) Developed by: Fields of View, mediaLAB Amsterdam A board game that is designed to make people aware of the environmental and economic considerations at play in Bangalore’s waste crisis. The players’ responsibilities include collection and disposal of dry waste and ensuring the overall cleanliness of the city. Every round, waste is generated in all wards, however, the players can only collect the waste that is generated in the wards that have a DWCC. The remaining waste will be dumped in the landfill. When this landfill overflows, all players lose. If the players manage to create a DWCC in every ward, they all win the game. ₹ubbish sets targets and goals for the players, which will guide their decisions to win the situations by cutting-off waste overflows. Insights from here could be applied from the canal’s perspective in determining the water overflow and flood mitigation.
Figure 94: Collaborative board game model to make the stakeholders aware of Bangalore’s waste crisis, Rubbish (Source: Fields of View, mediaLAB Amsterdam)
Chain Reaction Game
Developed by: DeZwarteHond Chain Reaction is a game developed to understand the inter-connections across multiple urban sectors including mobility, energy systems, community health, etc. It challenges the authorities, designers, and developers to seek smart, integrated solutions for their urban environments. The Netherlands has ambitious visions for the future and foresees transitions in the coming years. The board game gives the stakeholders an opportunity to tackle one assignment at a time but to combine several of them, by connecting the dots through an iterative process. Chain Reactions opens out the way to link the solutions across layers, know its match and mismatch, and develop comprehensive strategies.
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Figure 95 Collaborative card-based gaming designed to encourage the development of systemic-approaches in urban development and plan integrated solutions, Chain Reaction (Source: DeZwarteHond)
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D. An Integrated approach
Lao jie river restoration, Taiwan Introduction Year: 2011 Site area: 3.1 km Client: City of Taoyuan Climate: Sub tropical Humid Project type: River restoration & redevelopment Project scope: Urban renewal
Figure 96: Project map of Lao jie river restoration
Site history: The Laojie River Market was constructed in 1997 by covering up roughly 725m of the river course. The project aimed at de-culverting the market and restoring the river landscape for multiple benefits of city fabric through an integrated approach. River restoration approaches for Lao Jie: Before 1996 - Flood defence as a single objective 1996 - 2001 - Green beautification and water accessibility After 2001 - Ecologically-oriented river engineering 2011 - Multi-functional integrated approach through Water and Green Construction Plan encourages river development towards flood protection, bio-diversity and recreation. Integration approach Deciphering the layers: ● ●
Ecology: Improvement of insufficient channel cross section was carried out to enhance the flood prevention capacity. Mobility & Amenities: Building interceptor box culverts along the riverbank were done to converge household sewage to the sewage treatment plant. A gravel contact oxidation facility in Xinshi Park
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facilitated the discharge of treated water into the river and also for fresh water needs. A 3.6km circular scenic bicycle path and sidewalk along the Laojie River was constructed to promote green transit within the city. Community: Integration of green leisure spaces on either bank to recreate the blue and green belt landscape of the Laojie River and offer more recreational opportunities for the community. Establishment of River Education Center provided the opportunity for the community to know the history of the Laojie River as well as be aware of restoration and environmental studies specific to the river.
Figure 97: The components that supports integrated water-driven approach
Outcomes / impact The project was a larger rejuvenation strategy for the entire city which brought in the values of resilience, liveability, and also triggered economic growth. Some of the key impacts of the project are 1. The present value of land along the remediated river is 14% higher than it was before the improvement process began. 2. In addition to decontaminating the river and creating absorptive green spaces, the project ended illegal wastewater discharge and improved environmental education. 3. The flood carrying capacity of the river was increased which reduces flood risk for 192,500 sq m area within the urban fabric. 4. Improvement of the river is leading to a spike in tourism, as visits per month have risen steadily after 2012. The usage of open spaces by city residents has also increased.
The Rochor canal project, Singapore Introduction Year: 2013 Site area: 1.2 km Client: Public Utilities Board, Singapore under the ‘Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters)’ programme. Climate: Warm & Tropical Project type: Canal restoration & design Project scope: Urban renewal
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Figure 98: Rochor canal project, Singapore
Rochor River is an urban stormwater canal which flows from Bukit Timah all the way down to Marina Barrage. The canal flows mostly through a dense urban fabric and flows along stretches of heavy traffic roads. The new role of the Canal is to create a ‘tie’ connecting the segregated enclaves together, and give a stronger sense of the Marina, the City and its water edge. The design embraces an integrated approach that caters to multiple perspectives through - parallel pedestrian boulevards from the surroundings - Rochor Promenade, a waterscape which combines both green, blue and orange (human) elements - bursting with activities and life. At the same time, the green belt offers a green corridor for fauna along the canal, enabling residents an opportunity to appreciate the wildlife at their doorstep. The design of the new Rochor Promenade is intended to bring people closer to the water edge. A layering system for the different city infrastructures of green, vehicular, pedestrian, culture, etc is adopted so that the design can react flexibly to the current conditions and programs while still being united as a whole.
Deciphering the layers: Ecology: Along with seating and decks, rain gardens punctuate the length of the route and filter rainwater runoff before it enters the Rochor Canal, which eventually flows into the Marina Reservoir. Mobility & Amenities: A 1.1km-long stretch of the canal (between Sim Lim Tower in Bugis and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority building in Lavender) has been transformed with an urban promenade, benches, lookout decks, new pedestrian bridges, and a seamless route for evening strolls. Community: The canal has been widened and deepened, but also transformed into an attractive zone that stitches together neighbourhoods along its route, connects seamlessly with existing HDB garden amenities, and provides new gathering spaces.
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Figure 99: The components that supports integrated water-driven approach
References Emerson, K., Nabatchi, T., & Balogh, S. (2012). An integrative framework for collaborative governance. Journal of public administration research and theory, 22(1), 1-29. Ramboll. (2017). CLOUDBURST RESILIENCY PLANNING STUDY.New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Web. https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dep/downloads/pdf/climate-resiliency/nyc-cloudburst-study.pdf
3. Stakeholder Engagement The consultant teams visited Kochi from the 27th of January till the 30th of January, and met withe following list of stakeholders: 27th January 2021 1.
Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Kochi - He recommended that the teams present a version of the Mullassery Canal Precinct plan to the High Court as an alternative proposal for flood mitigation. 2. Meeting with KMC Engineers - The teams presented the Sponge Framework and blue-green infrastructure concepts to the KMC Engineers. They mentioned that most of the flooding during the 2018 floods in Kochi occurred to the north and south, and the Mullassery Canal area generally does not get flooded except for localised waterlogging during heavy rains. They questioned the possibility of changing the road camber as all roads are designed as per IRC standards. 28th January 2021 3. Meeting with Karikkamuri Residents Welfare Association President - Team 1 and 2 presented their ideas which were welcomed by the president. She also approved of the idea of opening up the canal at various possible intervals within the sub-site A.
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4. Meeting with Prof. GiriShankar (Govt Law College) - The college is interested in a holistic plan for the campus which reconnects it with the surroundings and retaining its heritage value. Hence, he welcomed the EnteKochi Mullassery Master plan approach. He appreciated the design proposals and encouraged the idea of integrating the main campus with the proposed land parcel for developing a research center. The possibilities of opening up the campus towards the canal edge for both physical and visual accessibility were discussed. Team 02 proposed the scope for adopting integrated water-driven development approach as the core principle for developing the new research center site. Prof. Girishankar expressed his interest in discussing further on the scope for integration along with the Mayor, College Principal, and other department officials. 5. Meeting with Small Scale Merchants Association President The Vendor’s association is willing to relocate to daylight the canal at Fashion street. There are now 72 vendors in total. 6. Meeting with Kudumbashree - Teams 01 & 02 presented the concepts for reconfiguring waste management process and also leveraging existing Kudumbashree system for canal maintenance and other operations. The members of Kudumbashree shared the waste collection process and the experiences / learning so far. 29th January 2021 7. Meeting with Malabari Jewish Community members Community members understood and liked the design ideas presented by the teams but pointed out limitations with documenting and spatially locating all the tombs at site. They welcomed the idea of opening up the cemetery for public use and proposed to convert the site as an open-air museum showcasing the history of Malabari Jews. 30th January 2021 8. Meeting with the Collector - 30th January -The Mayor and the Collector directed the EnteKochi team to submit a report on an alternative proposal for flood mitigation in the form of the Sponge Framework within the 25th of February.
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Figure 100: Team 01 and 02 meeting with various stakeholders in Kochi
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4. Glossary Nature-based solutions (NBS) According to IUCN, “Nature-based solutions are actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and diversity benefits.” In the context of Kochi, this proposal has determined that an NBS approach inspired from traditional forms of natural resource management and reinterpreted for the dense, cosmopolitan city of Kochi is in line with the sustainable development goals with a positive impact on the future development of Kochi. This approach ensures an inclusive socio-ecological approach when it comes to investments to improve climate resilience that create co-benefits in well-being, placemaking, and biodiversity. Blue-green infrastructure Blue-green infrastructure consists of any system that utilises natural green and water systems to perform essential ecosystem services such as flood mitigation and water management. According to the World Bank, “Natural systems such as forests, floodplains, and soils can contribute to clean, reliable water supply and protect against floods and drought. In many circumstances, combining this “green infrastructure” with traditional “gray infrastructure” can provide next generation solutions that enhance system performance and better protect communities.” (World Bank and World Resources Institute, 2019) The same report underlines that the level of investment required for traditional infrastructure is many times more than the actual level of investment in this sector at a global level. Blue-green infrastructure (BGI), which can tap into cross-sectoral funding set aside for stormwater drain maintenance, provision of public amenities, and upkeep of public parks and open spaces, can supplement grey infrastructure systems in helping to bridge this investment gap. Investment in blue-green infrastructure reduces the volume of peak runoff by providing alternative channels and retention zones for water in the event of a heavy rainfall event, and thus reducing the probability of overflow of the existing stormwater drain network. Thus, instead of focusing on building higher capacity drains, it is possible to reimagine open spaces and streets as landscape spaces that function as water holding landscapes in heavy rainfall events. Landscape approach ●
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Integrated development framework: A landscape approach integrates social and ecological processes and systems into stormwater management to increase overall well-being and resilience, rather than being narrowly focused on stormwater management as an engineering issue without considering issues of systems, operations and maintenance, and the local context within which solutions are proposed. Decentralised framework, lowering risks in case of failure: decentralised systems that are more resilient to failure and create a wider variety of points for water retention and recharge. Accessing funds to bridge the investment gap in urban infrastructure: A landscape approach fits in with a number of other parallel benefits such as the creation of green spaces for biodiversity and recreation that also perform essential water management functions and other ecosystem services. This would allow the Kochi Municipal Corporation to allocate funds towards blue-green infrastructure that performs other functions and delivers co-benefits in biodiversity, greening, and public spaces. Inclusive infrastructure: An additional advantage of a landscape approach is that any investment would result in an explicit improvement in public spaces that are to the benefit of a wide cross-section ofl
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stakeholders, compared to a traditional stormwater management regime, in which infrastructure investments remain hidden, and perform no additional functions.
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Sponge Collaborative Team Sourav Kumar Biswas Landscape Architect Praveen Raj Architect & Urban Designer Shreya Krishnan Architect & Social Development Expert Manushi Jain Architect & Urban Designer Pankti Sanganee Architect & Urban Designer Sujhatha Arulkumar Architect Balaji Balaganesan Architect Aditi Subramanian Architect Suriya KP Architect
Weaving with Water Team Bala Nagendran M Landscape Architect Chandrasekaran S Architect & Urban Designer Ganesh Babu R P Architect & Urbanist Preetika Balasubramanian Urban Designer & Strategist T R Radhakrishnan Architect
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