How (not) to save the city

Not many Mumbaikars know that a very important event that took place in their city last week which could well have been the first step towards resolving many of the problems that plague the city they love It was a conference on the challenges faced by Mumbai as a mega city Organised jointly by the state government the European Union and Bombay First it was held on November 1819 The conference was important in many ways especially for a city that is on the brink of total collapse thanks to unplanned development and chaos in almost all spheres mdash traffic management real estate safety of life and property quality of life and infrastructure development Mayors and representatives of 35 cities from European nations shared the experiences they have accrued while dealing with major issues that are common in mega cities The conference was important in view of the MMRDArsquos recent decision to prepare a vision plan for the next 40 years for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region which has twocrore inhabitants It also comes at a time when the city is debating over three most crucial issues mdash illegal constructions encroachments and the safety of its citizens Despite an announcement from CM Prithviraj Chavan union ministers Kamal Nath Jayanthi Natarajan and Shashi Tharoor were missing in action So the task fell on the statersquos Chief Secretary J K Banthia to represent the government He offered a few suggestions such as the appointment of working groups to study and formulate solutions for Mumbai But even Mr Banthia knows that such reports are useless in the absence of drastic decisions from the political leadership But sadly vote bank politics coupled with avarice for power and money hoarded by a select class has dashed any hopes for a better metropolis The builders class hand in hand with the land mafia and with the support of the political and bureaucratic classes has plunged the city into a complete state of decline The state government and civic body look the other way while the builders get away with encroachment and illegal constructions in the city As a result the development plan for Mumbai and discipline in governing the city has mostly remained on paper The bureaucracy that handles daytoday affairs of the city is more concerned about its postings transfers and promotions and has left it to the political leadership to take a call on major issues concerning the city It has chosen to be a toothless class that benefits from mutual silence Without its cooperation it is impossible to have massive instances of illegal construction encroachments or road damage Today unplanned development and growth has plunged the city in complete chaos And yet there is almost no word coming from the urban planners or experts in city management about means to decongest it When it is clear that the city cannot add to its existing burden we talk of projects worth thousands of crores on the pretext of traffic and infrastructure development Instead efforts should be taken to create business hubs and wholesale markets in adjoining districts of Thane and Raigad The upper and lower middle classes too should accept a part of the blame When it is time to vote they take vacations Those who can afford it get their work done by bribing and pulling strings In the absence of informed educated voters the political parties find it easy to influence the poor and the unlettered offering them easy sops in exchange for votes Till the day such issues are tackled headon symposiums and conferences are futile hypocritical enterprises that will never end in anything concrete mdash The writer is Political Editor MiD DAYu00a0