AD theory assignment- Batul Kanchwala, group 4

SUMMARIZING
Boy: The Mumbai mega region has been a powerhouse of economic growth in India
and particularly in Maharashtra, the state in which it is located.
(You know dude, Mumbai is the economic capital of India and Maharashtra)
Friend: however, it suffers from severe infrastructure lags in transport, electric
supply, drinking water supply, sewage and sanitation, solid waste management and
the like. Above all, it has an acute shortage of affordable housing, leading to 50% of
its population living in squatter settlements.
(yeah, but living here is hell. To take a piss, 50% of the population will need to walk
a kilometer to find the nearest toilet, which will be clogged like demons shit in it. At
least it will be pitch dark so they cant see it. Its either that, or moon passengers on
the local train.)
Father: to address such problems, a political strategy of restructuring growth by
developing a new city, Navi Mumbai has been perused for the last 37 years and a
number of projects and policies have been implemented in sectors such as water
and sanitation, transport, housing and slum improvement.
(Son, the government is working their butts off solving these problems for the last
37 years. What do you think Navi Mumbai is for?)
Friend: Nonetheless the problems persist.
(Well, I dont see any difference)
Boy: Its only now that the city is beginning to adapt an approach that transcends
problem solving and aspires to a larger vision. The much advertised slogan
Transforming Mumbai into a world class city with a vibrant economy and globally
comparable quality of life for its citizens. The basic strategy to achieve this vision is
to ensure that the city remains in a sustained Virtuous Cycle. Key elements of the
virtuous cycle include stimulating economic growth and mobilizing resources for
investment in infrastructure, improving delivery of services, and thereby leading to
improving the quality of life and environment.
(Have patience man. To transform Mumbai into a kick ass place, we gotta make
investments first. Havent you heard of the virtuous cycle, you noob?
Friend: lol wut
Boy: Yeah, basically we gotta make investments in buildings and bridges. Plus we
have to improve delivery services of resources or some shit.

Friend: A shortfall in any of these aspects of the citys development can adversely
affect the others and push the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) into a vicious
rather than virtuous cycle. Good governance therefore, must be at the core of such
a strategy.
(Man, what have you been smoking? It will be like a house of cards. One thing fails,
and the entire castle falls. What we need is a good Government ready to whupp ass
as soon as theres a sign of problems.)
Father: The present population of the Mumbai region is around 20 million and likely
to be about 34 million by 2031. The numbers are daunting.
(please, there will be no talk of smoking in this house. And you think the
government isnt trying? Managing 20 million people is a nightmare. Come 2031, it
will be 34 million)
Friend: the fundamental challenge lies in not merely the wise use of resources and
the implementation of strategic projects, but perhaps and most importantly, in good
governance.
(Well maybe the government should get off its lazy ass and do some proper work,
and not just whine like little girls)
Father: Governance has two critical and interdependent aspects, public policies and
the various government institutions that set implement and regulate them. The
Indian constitution recognizes local municipal entities as the third tier of its
democratic govt (the first and second tiers being the union and state govt
respectively). Within the MMR there are seven municipal corporation, 13 municipal
councils and a large number of village panchayats. In such a situation, the
constitution has the framework for a metropolitan planning committee (MPC)
responsible for coordinated planning of the region. However, such MPC has yet to be
established. In addition, the are many departments such as. All of which are
subjected to the union and govt regulation control.
(Its not so easy. The govt has to different departments to make and implement
public policies. There are en numbers of committees and the one committee which
is supposed to coordinate them isnt even formed! Its like asking the orc army to
storm middle earth when sauron isnt even awake. With no one ring to bind them
all, how will they work?/ its like asking an army to go to war without a general. Who
will coordinate them? Plus, they have to follow a set framework the constitution
defines. )
Boy: The institutional scene of Mumbai is complex and fragmented. The MMRDA has
the potential to act as the regional development authority in that it could have cut
across sectorial boundaries.

(Yeah, its crazy complicated. But dad werent you saying the other day that the
MMRDA can act as sauron/the general?)
Friend: however, its role has been diminished in recent years. Today, it is seen as a
line agency under the urban development department and is largely responsible for
implementing projects for transport infrastructure development (roads and transit)
and real estate development (such as BKC and wadala truck terminal)
(Sauron/general my ass. Nowadays, the only thing MMRDA is capable of doing is
making houses and bus stops. You wouldnt want the soldier building the tents
leading the army would you?)
Father: In such a situation, a pressure group made up of elite members of
commerce and industry- Bombay Fist- has emerged. By lobbying with the chief
minister of the state govt, Bombay Fist established a Citizens Action Group and an
Empowered Committee with adequate representation for itself.
(You sound so interested in this. Maybe you should think of enrolling in the Bombay
Fist. They lobby with the CM and have good representation)

Friend: At the same time, public policy initiatives, priorities for investment and
allocation of resources effective remain with the state govt and cm, despite the
constitutions promise and pledge for decent governance. With this fractured
institutional framework, consensus building for public policy has become extremely
difficult. Redevelopment of textile mill land and the slums, particularly dharavi are
the most recent examples of extreme lack of consensus and controversy. In many
cases, this has led to public interest litigation that has caused delays but not
injected sanity within decision making. In most cases, the judiciary has refused to
consider substantive issues and has contained itself to finding out whether the
procedure as laid down by the law has been followed. Substituting judicial action for
ensuring sound public policy has not been successful.
(What good is that? The power remains in the hand of the lazy privileged few. They
just ignore the constitution. Even the courts are useless here. If someone complains
about bad policies, the courts look at whether the work is legal or not. They dont
care if the policy is basically insane.)
Boy: since the mid-1990s and particularly after the macroeconomic liberation in
1991, Mumbais income (GDP) has steadily increased. This, supported by expanding
housing finance, tax breaks and lower interest rates has considerable expanded the
demand for housing space.
(Dont be all gloom and doom. Things are improving. Since 1991, Mumbais GDP has
increased, and so has demand for housing space)

Friend: however.. introduced in the first place

(Im not being doom and gloom. Its the hard truth. The expand in housing demand
simply means that the real estate prices have risen. And since most people cant
afford them, they settle in slums. The system is so twisted that the policy used to
reduce poverty is being selectively relaxed to increase it. The Rich get richer, and
poor get poorer.
Father: The fractured institutions, lack of public policy domain and rent seeking
have inevitably precluded consistent data systems and that help monitor and
evaluate the outcomes of policies and projects. This in turn precludes transparency
and lessons of learning by doing.
(You cant be too harsh on them. Its a trial and error process. Policies which fail give
valuable information and the govt can learn from their mistakes.)
Friend: such a situation is not conducive to meaningful urban planning as generally
understood.
(I call bullshit. They cant keep this trial and error process forever. When will they
start urban planning on a large scale?)
Boy : however, the path from impossibility of planning to the possibility of..
urban design could be a certainty.
(The govt is trying its best, isnt it dad? Improving the situation is not so impossible
you know. Firstly, the need to establish a committee for economic and
environmental development. Secondly, public policies need to admit that the real
estate market is hell right now. They have to figure out a way to stop people from
exploiting it. Thirdly, we need investments in resources and infrastructure. With
these three points, the city could become what we dream it to be.

THE SCRIPT
NARRATOR: Today, we shall witness a love story.
Today we shall witness a boy asking for his loves hand in marriage from her father
Today we shall witness a brave young man air his views on the economic and
political scene of Mumbai to a government official.
Let me set the stage for you, and introduce the characters. This beauty you see
over here is Champa

CHAMPA: Hi!
NARRATOR: The handsome guy over here is her boyfriend Kali Charan.
KALI CHARAN: Hello.
NARRATOR: And the grumpy old man over there is Appa, Champas father.
APPA: Aiyyo!
NARRATOR: Now let us see how the lunch goes.

SCENE
CHAMPA: You know dude, Mumbai is the economic capital of India and
Maharashtra.

KALI CHARAN: yeah, but living here is hell. To take a piss, 50% of the population
will need to walk a kilometer to find the nearest toilet, which will be clogged like
demons shit in it. At least it will be pitch dark so they cant see it. Its either that, or
moon passengers on the local train.

APPA: Son, the government is working their butts off solving these problems for
the last 37 years. What do you think Navi Mumbai is for?

KALI CHARAN: Well, I dont see any difference

CHAMPA: Have patience man. To transform Mumbai into a kick ass place, we gotta
make investments first. Havent you heard of the virtuous cycle, you noob?

KALI CHARAN: lol wut

CHAMPA: Yeah, basically we gotta make investments in buildings and bridges. Plus
we have to improve delivery services of resources or some shit.

KALI CHARAN: Man, what have you been smoking? It will be like a house of cards.
One thing fails, and the entire castle falls. What we need is a good Government
ready to whupp ass as soon as theres a sign of problems.

APPA: please, there will be no talk of smoking in this house. Not where his mother
can hear. And you think the government isnt trying? Managing 20 million people is
a nightmare. Come 2031, it will be 34 million

KALI CHARAN: Well maybe the government should get off its lazy ass and do
some proper work, and not just whine like little girls

APPA: Its not so easy. The govt has to different departments to make and
implement public policies. There are en numbers of committees and the one
committee which is supposed to coordinate them isnt even formed. Its like asking
an army to go to war without a general. Who will coordinate them? Plus, they have
to follow a set framework the constitution defines.

CHAMPA: Yeah, its crazy complicated. But dad werent you saying the other day
that the MMRDA can act as the general?

KALI CHARAN: general my ass. Nowadays, the only thing MMRDA is capable of
doing is making houses and bus stops. You wouldnt want the soldier building the
tents leading the army would you?

APPA: You sound so interested in this. Maybe you should think of enrolling in the
Bombay Fist. They lobby with the CM and have good representation

KALI CHARAN: What good is that? The power remains in the hand of the lazy
privileged few. They just ignore the constitution. Even the courts are useless here. If
someone complains about bad policies, the courts look at whether the work is legal
or not. They dont care if the policy is basically insane.

CHAMPA: Dont be all gloom and doom. Things are improving. Since 1991,
Mumbais GDP has increased, and so has demand for housing space

KALI CHARAN: Im not being doom and gloom. Its the hard truth. The expand in
housing demand simply means that the real estate prices have risen. And since
most people cant afford them, they settle in slums. The system is so twisted that
the policy used to reduce poverty is being exploited to increase it. The Rich get
richer, and poor get poorer.

APPA: You cant be too harsh on them. Its a trial and error process. Policies which
fail give valuable information and the govt can learn from their mistakes.

KALI CHARAN: I call bullshit. They cant keep this trial and error process forever.
When will they start urban planning on a large scale?

CHAMPA: The govt is trying its best, isnt it dad? Improving the situation is not so
impossible you know. Firstly, the need to establish a committee for economic and
environmental development. Secondly, public policies need to admit that the real
estate market is hell right now. They have to figure out a way to stop people from
exploiting it. Thirdly, we need investments in resources and infrastructure. With
these three points, the city could become what we dream it to be.

SCENE
NARRATOR: After the lunch, Appa had to admit that he admired Kali Charans
interest in politics. He thought maybe, just maybe, this boy was worthy of his
precious daughter. So now, I am very happy to invite you all to the wedding of
Champa and Kali Charan. I hope you all attend.