TOI : Open space gets further eroded : Sept 11, 2007
Open space gets further eroded
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Mumbai was the first city corporation in the country to adopt the
concept of a development plan in 1964. However, over the next few decades, a
massive growth in population (from less than 5 million in 1961 to over 12
million in 2001), has turned it into the most densely populated city in
India.
The pressure on land has been enormous and resulted in open areas and
green spaces being encroached upon in the absence of low-cost housing. BMC’sEnvironment
Status Report, which presents details of land use for various purposes, once
again establishes the fact that recreational areas and open spaces have been
rapidly diminishing in the city.
Data compiled with the use of satellite images during the years 2001,
2002, and 2003 presents comparitive figures for wetlands, mangroves,
forests, along with residential, commercial and industrial areas.
The survey shows the biggest chunk of the over 460 sq kms of land in
Mumbai is under Residential and Mixed Residential use. It adds up to more
than one-third of the total area (36 per cent). Industrial and commercial
space, which includes airports, the harbour, the railways, and other
government and semi-government together take much another huge chunk of
space (approximately 10 per cent).
Of the remaining, eco-sensitive stretches such as mangroves, salt pans
and forests account for about 20 per cent. But since the figures are based
on satellite images captured four years back, it does not reflect the
erosion which has taken place due to the construction boom. “A lot of
erosion took place between 1995 and 2003, especially of mangroves. In fact I
think the loss could be quantified in the region of 3,000 acres. But since
then,
there has been some plateauing,” says environmental expert Rishi Aggarwal.
Going by the survey, the most depressing finding, however, remains the
fact that Recreational (1.15%) and Open space (5.24%) diminished in
percentage terms from a negligible 6.39 per cent to 5.92 per cent by 2003.
The study shows that open space, in particular, reduced from 24 sq kms to
22.7 sq kms in the two years between 2001 and 2003, thereby leaving an
adverse impact on the overall quality of life in the metropolis.
VANISHING COVER: Recreational space in Mumbai is about 1%