Course

Today, cities are understood and designed primarily for, within and beyond the boundary limits. The boundaries emerge from natural and non natural features of the land and water as understood by humans. Administrative limits, road and transport channels, land classifications, distinguished ideas of sea, river, nallah and changing species identification with changing depth of the water are some of the parameters that physically define the boundaries.

Over the time we have recurrently strengthened the idea of drawing a hard line between the land and the sea. Land, a rigid and definite entity which fosters and supports human life, practices and aspirations; and sea which is beyond land balances numerous ecosystems. These hard boundaries on maps when translated on ground generates conflicts amongst the inhabitants, their aspirations, nature & its ecosystems and requirements to balance ecosystems for thriving lifeforms. Numerous  interventions to support human life are thus curated and constructed to develop and support human aspirations. Environmental flows (biotic and abiotic) if balanced and actuated can support a thriving ecosystem. Dynamic, changing, agile and adaptive flows need to be supported and re constructed to be able to find a middle ground between human aspirations and the environment.

The project this year uses the method of drawing to map and construct narratives of these agile, dynamic and non-static living practices and lives. These drawings will thus attempt to articulate a new ground having transformative and transactional capacities, a ground which is defined as a continuum just like the  flows, and practice cycles, nurtures networks, movements and transformations through time  instead of rigid administrative divisions. 

The area of focus for this year is the Sewri-Mahul Creek area. This part transitions from land to mudflats to sparse mangroves to sea on either side of the creek. This eastern edge of the city was dotted with a line of salt pans. Over the past 85-90 years these salt pans have transitioned into informal settlements, housing buildings, factories, city transport systems along with their supporting infrastructure. This studio focuses on studying these transitions so as to narrate the story of the ground  (sub soil to sky) and its supporting life forms (human, non human both). Transitions will be studied through multiple transects along the eastern edge of the city and for the defined zone (see zone selection below).

Story of Mumbai's Eastern Edge

 This part transitions from land to mudflats to sparse mangroves to sea on either side of the creek. This eastern edge of the city was dotted with a line of salt pans. Over the past 85-90 years these salt pans have transitioned into informal settlements, housing buildings, factories, city transport systems along with their supporting infrastructure. The study focused on these transitions so as to narrate the story of the ground and its supporting life forms.

The study was structured through a contemporary lens which questioned the idea of drawing landscapes and lifeforms with hard lines. Over the time we have recurrently strengthened the idea of drawing a hard line between the land and the sea. Land, a rigid and definite entity which fosters and supports human life, practices and aspirations; and sea which is beyond land balances numerous ecosystems. These hard boundaries on maps when translated on ground generate conflicts amongst the inhabitants, their aspirations, nature & its ecosystems and requirements to balance ecosystems for thriving lifeforms. Numerous interventions to support human life are thus curated and constructed to develop and support human aspirations. Environmental flows (biotic and abiotic) if balanced and actuated can support a thriving ecosystem. Dynamic, changing, agile and adaptive flows need to be supported and re constructed to be able to find a middle ground between human aspirations and the environment. 

These landscapes, which include swamps, mangroves, mudflats and farmlands occupy the fluid and open gradient of an estuary. We looked at maps of Bombay Adminarlity 1879, 1969 map of Bombay and the present day map in an attempt to understand the shift in the landscape." These landscapes, which include swamps, mangroves, mudflats and farmlands occupy the fluid and open gradient of an estuary”(Soak, 2011, Anuradha Mathur & Dilip de Cuha). 

These estuarine  landscapes needed a different way of seeing and a different mode of representation through section, horizon and time. Here the estuary is seen as a continuous form of wetness. The extent of the degree of wetness depends on the amount of water and the water bearing capacity of a landform. Breaking the estuary into smaller sections of different terrains allows one to see parts through saltpans, which gradually transform into marshes and swampy land where there are farmlands which lead into the settlement. 

Therefore we knew that a single line would not help us. Hence we looked at it in two methods; First 

The idea of wetness i.e.  how everything is seen as a continuous form of wetness. The extent of the degree of wetness was based on two factors- the amount of water and the water bearing capacity of a landform. In our first Iteration, we used various densities of stippling's to map the wetness's of 3 different years and overlaid them to see the shifts in the estuarine landscape. We then further developed these maps by adding more layers and in extension more information. 

Alongside this entire rich ecology runs the eastern expressway, which is a major road in terms of automobile traffic, serves as the principal means for the transport of cargo goods brought in by the ships and boats along the eastern coast of Mumbai. These estates today are heritage structures that house the offices of trade related business along the coast. The first phase of major land reclamation for the building of docks started between 1800 to 1825 in Mumbai that overlapped with cotton trade.  

Indira dock, princess dock and Victoria docks are three of the main docks along the Eastern Coast. Princess and Victoria docks have been functioning less due to outdated handling equipment. 

The relatively smaller part of port lands that is open and not leased, is also not readily available for development mainly because it is encroached upon by informal settlements such as slums and other micro commercial activities, or is available in small parcels not amenable to any meaningful development. 

With the decline of industrialisation in Mumbai the port lands that were meant for related activities fell into disuse. The properties on these lands soon slipped into being used for unrelated small and medium sized commercial activities, including activities of the unorganized sector. This includes many of the warehouses which were built to house goods from the port, like cotton, which are now vacant. A number of unregulated small-scale industries like ship-breaking, marine repairs, copper and aluminium turnings have sprung up in some places and also have informal scrap markets for iron and steel. The rise of informal sector commercial and industrial activities in the port lands was accompanied by the growth of slums on vacant plots whose inhabitants provide the labour force for such activities. Most of these settlements are raised on stilts, since these were initially active docks and hence have muddy waters as soil and the ladder then becomes an essential part of everyday life.

Another essential aspect of everyday life becomes the sewage and storm water drainage system which facilitates the hygiene, sanitation and well-being of the region. Urban solid waste contains biodegradable, non biodegradable, construction, demolition and hazardous waste.  The garbage from all over the city is collected and is treated at Kanjur processing site and rest is disposed off at the 2 dumping sites in Deonar and Mulund by simply dumping on the site. The seven zones are Colaba, Worli, Bandra, Versova, Malad, Ghatkopar and Bhandup. The sewage from Colaba, Worli and Bandra is disposed of into the sea through marine outfalls, from the neighbouring service areas it is disposed of into creeks after treatment. The discharge of wastewater along the coastline has polluted seawater at beaches, seafronts, coasts and creeks.

Mumbai’s storm water drainage system (SWDS) was originally designed in 1860 when the British ruled India. In addition to storm water, the drains also carry sewage overflow from septic tanks, surface water, etc. The flow from the open drainage is discharged either into nallas, creeks or sea. This map shows all the major outfalls of sewage and storm water in the city. There are various drains and nallas which are part of the site. In eastern suburbs, multiple out-falls discharge in the Thane creek, Mahul creek and the Mithi river.

Almost half of all the settlements are not recognized by the government. Lack of government recognition, also referred to as “non-notified status” in the Indian context, may create entrenched barriers to legal rights and basic services such as water, sanitation and security of tenure. Non-notified status also prevents the development of sewer infrastructure in these settlements. As a result, excreta from the pay-for-use toilet blocks in these settlements empties directly into the adjacent ocean.

The harvested salt is collected in mounts which are then transported to refineries in trucks. The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, also known as the Sewri Nhava Sheva Trans Harbour Link, is an under-construction 21.8 kilometres, freeway grade road bridge connecting the city of Mumbai with Navi Mumbai. The road will be linked to the Mumbai Pune Expressway in the east and to the proposed Western Freeway in the west. With the proposed idea of the Trans Harbour Link from 1980s, and other major infrastructural projects that had their proposed ideas for a long time period, the major transport infrastructure outbreak was seen in 2013, with the inauguration of the Eastern Freeway that ran right from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus up till the Thane Creek. The freeway running through the Sewri – Wadala zone is situated on ground whereas at certain places it is elevated. Within a year’s span this same zone also saw the inauguration of the Monorail which is an elevated transport service. The monorail being elevated has large concrete piers that hold the elevated rails and these piers have a concrete pile foundation that goes deep in the soil up to 5 m deep.

Over the period of years, Sewri-Wadala zone witnessed large transport infrastructural developments that connected this part of the city to the main city for ease of trade, communication, etc. Railway transport has a potential impact on the soil. Toxic substances polluting the soil in the vicinity of railways may be transported from soils to plants growing near the railway tracks and to groups of living organisms.

In the 1870’s the reclamation of land started with the emergence of cotton mills which led tanners and dry fish dealers to relocate in informal settlements. In the late 20th century, with the decline in the cotton mills market, there was growth of factories and manufacturing industries. By the year 2000, almost everything was urbanized with an area of 600 sq.m covered by these settlements which was then increased by 200 sq.m till the year 2014. Over the years, with the increase in the number of industries, the waste released into the estuary increased, and the effect of which could be seen as the substantial decrease in mangrove cover. After 2000’s, Koliwada people were the ones who initially practiced fishing. With the decline of the fishing industry, workers had to change occupations to work in small scale industries, construction workers, drivers, domestic workers. In many houses, the home front on the ground floor has been converted to shop selling and collecting scrap materials. The Koliwada region also saw few apartment buildings come up in the area. 

Increase in the developmental activities of this area induced certain changes in the neighbouring ecologies of mangroves, birds, insects, etc. The site hosts a myriad of bird species including a large congregation of migratory birds from as far as the Arctic Circle and resident wetland birds which use the area both as a wintering ground and stopover. It is the habitat for mangroves, intertidal and underwater species of fishes, invertebrates like molluscs and worms, amphibians and insects.

In 1879, the island of Trombay was surrounded by thick growth of coconut and palm trees with fewer salt pans and paddy fields whereas the opposite edge was marked by numerous salt pans, paddy  fields, Sewri fort and a chain of docks. 

Over the years, these edges transformed into embankments and industrial land causing loss of salt pans and hence the variety of flora and fauna which earlier thrived in the region. Moreover in 2020, reclamation activities caused the sea to narrow and form what we refer to as Mahul creek in the present day. The intent was to be able to emphasize the ground-water relationship in conjunction with the biodiversity which flourishes in peculiar habitat conditions. The tidal activities which help sustain the adjacent mudflats and the species which survive in the muddy ground. Mangroves form an integral part of this ecosystem which help prevent soil erosion by holding the particles with their roots.

Salt pans are extremely suitable environments for birds such as Indian pond heron, flamingo, lesser sand plover, greenshank, sandpiper, little stints, black headed gull, whiskered tern, gull billed tern, common redshank and crabs namely orange mudcrab, metaplax longipes.

The winter visitors have their breeding grounds in the Himalayas, Pakistan Or even further. So they have a larger wingspan and can fly at great heights.

The learnings from the two week settlement study module, led to us questioning various ecological characteristics and its presence. It opened up discussions on how the ecology has evolved over the years and its relationship with the living kind. Various questions around the idea of co existence and interdependencies emerged. Questions on how we can curate spaces and infrastructure that would help us become sensitive of our environment were asked. While making cartographic drawings, there are considerations taken for the flora and their growth patterns. While this becomes an important observation, the discussions raised questions on how the same drawings could include the fauna, their movement and growth patterns, the interdependencies that get generated, thus questioning the type of drawings that get produced.