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50 glorious years of a satellite town: Navi Mumbai
from MCCQ March 2024 Vol1 Issue1
by MCCQNews
Mumbai,
Feb 21
by Prachi Merchant (Urban Planner)
What was conceived as a satellite and twin town of Mumbai with an agenda to decongest Mumbai, has today achieved a status of an independent well planned green city with some of the most successful experiments. After 50 glorious years of its evolution, Navi Mumbai (New Mumbai) has lessons for urban professionals towards systematic planning. It has 7 self-sustaining nodes, affordable housing provision for all sections of society, one-of-the-first kinds in transit oriented development around railway stations, adequate open spaces, holding ponds, state-of-the-art physical and social infrastructure, etc. which was mainly possible because of the greenfield status of land available for planning.
As stated in the article ‘Social well-being through open space planning: The Navi Mumbai case study’ published in the Question of Cities, 2024, the open space hierarchy, quality and quantity provision in Navi Mumbai is 3.9 sq.mt per person per capita, which is higher compared to most of the other Indian cities and also some national and international cities. This provision is ensured through accessible gardens, playgrounds, theme gardens, avenues, green connectors, open parks along the streets, stadiums, green and blue connectors, around the water bodies, green buffer areas along highway, railway line, nallas, lakes, below high tension wires, catchment areas, along mangrove parks, etc. The open spaces has become an important aspect for the social well being of its citizens as also an environmental and a climate resilient factor. The green cover reduces the urban heat effect and helps in flood resistance.
According to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.7, one aspect mentions that having sufficient public space allows cities and regions to function efficiently and equitably as it gives opportunities to people to meet and recreate. Access to open public space improves the quality of life of a citizen and prepares the city against the flood-like situation. The provision of open space for recreational and physical activities also reflects in the social and mental well being, the planning and development of which offers a template for other Indian cities as one of the best practices.
Besides open spaces, housing provision for all strata of the society was done by the Government which opened up opportunities for buying houses at an affordable rate. From lower middle class, middle class and higher class, police quarters, Government colonies, artist colony with home cum studio units, high end housing, etc., all provisions allowed mixed use development. Sector planning ensured provision of mixed use land use with residential, market, recreational and open spaces planning. All this together contributes to a high Liveability index of a city. One such example of green buffer area development on land below the high tension wires that runs along the entire Navi Mumbai is a model that can be replicated in any part of the world. An example of policy implementation laid down by the authority and maintained by the residential community, contributing to the social welfare and greening.
As per the article Navi Mumbai Residential Colony Stops Encroachment, Turns Barren Land Into Green Wonder, published in The Better India in 2020, describes how in the late 1990’s, a group of citizens of Sector 9 in Belapur of Navi Mumbai realised that the barren land adjoining their complex was being encroached upon and that the only way to save that land was to stop any kind of construction. Measuring nearly one hectare, this decision to green the land gave way to the founding of the CBS resident’s Agro Society, a residents’ association committed to environment friendliness and conservation of the sensitive ecosystem in that area.
The primary aim of the Society, fondly called Agro Garden, is to keep the open land free from encroachments, and develop it as a green area.
Under this broad umbrella of greening, the Agro garden has explored many concepts. They first terraced the land to prevent soil erosion due to the heavy rainway of the monsoons. They followed it up with sinking a natural open well, created a pumping arrangement and laid a network of pipes for irrigation. After this, they planted gardens and other arrangements resulting in a vast expanse of a vegetable farm through organic methods, a relaxing Senior citizens park, and a lush playground for younger residents which was later used for crops due to high demand in organic crop produce.
The vegetable garden grows crops throughout the year and sells its fresh organic produce to the residents as well as neighbouring areas. Most of the crops are grown through trial and error by the local residents, especially by the retired army of senior citizens. Today, there is a large variety of crops including exclusive articles such as herbs, saplings, leaves, flowers, festival based natural produce, medicinal plants and fruits besides seasonal vegetables. The Agro garden holds its vegetable sale twice a week and is managed through online groups where they take orders as well as for delivery coordination.
As per The Better India article, the Botanical Garden & Butterfly Park (BG & BFP) came in the second phase of development and was developed on an extended land on the eastern side with a similar purpose, i.e. to save it from being encroached by the adjoining colony for car parking. The Agro garden volunteers started planting a variety of host and nectar plants required for the butterfly park. They soon realised that the park could also be developed into a botanical garden, and combined the work for both.
From planting saplings, digging pits, filling dump areas, to making paved pathways from waste tiles, building small bridges over small streams, the BG & BFP has come a long way. It has turned 10 years old this year and even today it relentlessly works towards protecting nature, providing opportunity for people to interact with nature, supporting educational activity and is a source of material for consumers. Through continued voluntary efforts, the BG & BFP has grown into an extremely green expanse full of butterflies and a variety of plants.
For some, it is a peaceful green lush oasis in the midst of urban chaos, for others it’s a daily stress buster and for some others it is a recreation. For butterfly and birding enthusiasts, it is a haven to simply sit by the lotus pond for hours and spot a variety of birds and butterflies.
Agro garden has managed to create a complete ecosystem by this effort by creating this biodiverse area on a barren land. Today the Agro garden houses a variety of 250 types of trees, shrubs and other plants, attracting around 25 to 30 species of birds, 30 to 40 varieties of butterflies and innumerous insects.
There are many events conducted by the volunteers at the Agro garden towards environment protection awareness such as nature trails, school educational trips, children's workshops, yearly springtime celebration fair, etc. There are also collaborations with other organisations towards sustainable practices including reducing waste. One such effort is that of collecting plastic waste from the Navi Mumbai residents on a monthly basis and recycling them into products such as garden benches which are placed in the garden itself. Started with a dual purpose to protect the land from encroachment and to maintain greenery, Agro garden has evolved well and strives to maintain and improve by engaging more people. While it continues to do urban farming and helps in spreading environmental awareness through creative programs, the real success would be in institutionalizing its working as a sustainable model to make it irreversible practice and to be replicated in other places.
