India case study -- geography

Four types of environmental issues:

Waste disposal, dereliction, air pollution, water pollution.

How many residents does Dharavi have?

+1 million residents

What does it act as and for who?

Business centre — micro-entrepreneurs

Output of the slum:

£700m annually.

Which industry has helped thousands get out of poverty?

The recycling industry.

Type of dumps there.

Municipal

What is sorted in every shack?

Things like car batteries, computer parts, lights, pens.

Who collects waste?

Barefoot children collect waste.

How many single-room factories?

15,000

What does Dharavi do?

Recycles its own resources and makes something out of abandoned objects.

How many people does the recycling industry employ?

250,000 people

How many people does the recycling industry, specifically plastic, employ?

10,000 people

How much plastic waste is given a new life?

80%

The new money from recycling results in…

new slum gentry

How much of the e-waste is generated in the country annually?

96,000 tonnes of the 12.5 lakh tonnes

Where does the remaining e-waste end up?

5% ends up at authorised recycing centres

Negative impacts of e-waste on environment?

Contaminated soil & ground water

How many tonnes of plastic are dumped per day?

800 tonnes

Who sifts through the tonnes of plastic (which are dumped per day), and what do they make?

Rag pickers sift through for things to make pellets, moulded plastic & yarn out of it.

How many lavatories per 1,500 residents

1

Any public hospitals?

No.

How many municipal schools?

A dozen

Issues with Mumbai?

 poor infrastructure, weak government, searing inequality, corruption and crime.

What looks over the slums? 

£4m penthouses

Summary of ‘Vision Mumbai’ -

Demolition work has begun and police are forcing out inhabitants = homelessness. Ignore industry & slums.

What plan was opposed in Mahim?

‘beautification ‘ plan for the 37-acre park

When do tankers bring in potable water?

once in a fortnight

What’s happening to Powai Lake?

‘Dying’ Powai Lake – water hyacinths + invasive weed indicate low dissolved oxygen levels and high pollution levels.

What’s happening on Mumbai shores?

Viral infection killing marine life

What is the Mithi River reduced to?

Reduced to a nullah (where sewage, garbage & industrial waste is dumped)

How much of the original Mithi Riverbed was lost, and what was it lost to?

54% of the original riverbed lost to encroachments, roads and development.

What are the traffic jams like?

Severe

What are the levels of car ownership?

Low levels

How many of the trips in the city are walked/public transport?

91%

What type of schemes does it lack?

Lacks public bike-share scheme

What doesn’t it have in terms of public transport?

No Bus Rapid Transport Systems (BRTS)

Any bus lanes?

No

What is sabotaging the possibility of new transport?

A lack of political enthusiasm - no urban leaders are willing to act tough on cars.

What are the many pointers for the urban future: (2)

1. Impressive statistics for non-motorised modes of commuting

2. Management of large numbers of people via public transport

What are the reasons for air pollution (3)

1. Road construction main cause of pollutants (especially suburbs)

2. Smoke from bakeries/crematoriums – other reasons

3. Traffic congestion = higher carbon monoxide levels & particulate matter emissions have risen owing to traffic congestion 

What are residents of the eastern suburbs breathing?

Excessive smoke and concoction of chemicals.

Why are residents of the eastern suburbs breathing bad air?

Due to frequent fires at the Deonar/Mulund dumping grounds.

How many incidents of fires at the Deonar/Mulund dumping grounds?

5+

What happens to residents close to the Deonar/Mulund dumping grounds?

Homes forced to be left in areas close to dumping ground

How many tonnes are dumped daily at the Deonar/Mulund dumping grounds?

6,000 tonnes.