Overlooked territory

Experts debate why the commons do not reflect in urban planning

The battle to save Mumbai’s Aarey forest, where the authorities resorted to midnight chopping of some 2,000 trees to make way for the Metro Rail car shed, has grown into one of the most prominent environmental campaigns in recent months. As citizens and environmentalists call out that construction inside Mumbai’s last remaining lungs will affect the temperatures and rains, and result in huge floodings in the city, the movement highlights the growing frustration among people due to poorly conceived urban growth and chaos. Be it parks, public squares, green spaces or sidewalks, urban folks are increasingly realising the importance of shared spaces in providing clean air and water supply, preventing floods droughts and heatwaves and ensuring their physical and mental well-being. Then, why are urban planners hesitant to re-imagine the urban commons? reaches out to experts to understand the scope and limitations.

JITENDRA

Traditionally, the commons were managed sustainably by communities whose culture and livelihoods were intrinsically linked with them. Over last few decades, unplanned urbanisation, commercialisation of land, encroachments and over-exploitation of resources and unravelling

of traditional structures have resulted in their deterioration.

There is also a pronounced lacuna in the governance and regulations of urban commons. In recent years, civil society groups and citizen-activists have stepped in to fill this gap. Some notable models include the initiative by The Nature Conservancy in Chennai to restore wetlands through scientific reclamation of lakes and catchment areas by involving local communities; civic engagement in lake management in Bengaluru through partnership with the authorities; and the movement for a “raahgiri” (car free) day for use of roads by residents in Delhi.

The moot question is how to replicate and scale up such “islands of excellence”. The governance of urban commons should be integrated with the “right to the city” initiatives. Local

governments should lead the way in setting up regulations, providing incentives and mentoring start-ups by millennials. These measures may result in the transformation of the “tragedy of the commons” into a triumph.