Bombay dying

Mumbai has long lost its claim to being “urbs prima in Indis”; though it could well be argued that no other Indian city can lay claim to that status of being the primary city in India either. But Mumbai’s situation is dire, according to the latest World Development Report of the World Bank which not only says that the city is losing its lustre but that its restrictive land and building regulations have added to the downslide by aiding the growth of slums.

This puts a peculiar twist on the entire issue of slums and Mumbai’s downfall. Large-scale migration from the villages is often blamed for the proliferation of slums which in turn have left Mumbai in a mess. However according to the World Bank, rural to urban migration is to be encouraged as it signifies progress. The problem lies with lack of housing and infrastructure once people arrive in Mumbai. Hence, slums.

This has added a new dimension to an ongoing argument between developers, the government and housing activists and what is more, thrown a spanner in the anti-migrants argument so beloved of many of our local politicians. The crux of development in Mumbai has been laws like floor space index (FSI), which in effect restricts building heights. Activists feel this is necessary as taller buildings will mean more demands on an already stretched and often crumbling infrastructure. The World Bank counter to this is a more holistic approach to development, rather than the current seemingly ad hoc approach of a flyover here, a skywalk there and a freeway to nowhere. Land is the city’s bane not because of its shortage but because of  corruption, mismanagement and a lack of vision. There can be no doubt that restrictive and archaic land usage laws have stymied Mumbai’s development. The state government is well aware of this but unfortunately its efforts to sort matters out get lost in a morass of conflicted and vested interests.

The anti-migrants argument starts with being unconstitutional and is also illogical. All cities are made of migrants and Mumbai has benefited greatly from the diversity of energies and cultures that have built it. The vibrancy and dynamism of an urban centre comes from this mixed population. It is also somewhat hypocritical for Indians to criticise the United States for restricting migrants into the US and then using a similar argument to stop citizen moving within their own country.

In fact, all the World Bank report does is to hold up a mirror to our problems, warts and all. Much time and effort is spent in finger-pointing and not enough in problem-solving. Before Mumbai becomes completely unliveable, a reality check and a sensible approach to development are needed.