TY - JOUR
T1 - Enhancing disaster resilience through local environment management
T2 - Case of Mumbai, India
AU - Surjan, Akhilesh
AU - Shaw, Rajib
PY - 2009/4
Y1 - 2009/4
N2 - Purpose: Persuading "urban communities" and "sustaining" environmental risk reduction measures among them, always remains a challenge. Disasters are generally perceived as one-time, long return period, high impact events. Even in the disaster struck areas, as the time passes, people tend to overlook the miseries of the past and continue to create risk. This paper seeks to examine how neighborhood environmental issues bring communities together and also sustainably reduce risk in Mumbai. Design/methodology/approach: This diagnostic study is based on thorough literature survey backed with field visit to capture viewpoints of communities, local officials, civic society, etc. The urbanization pattern of Mumbai is elaborated with specific focus on city governance and recognizing environmental and disaster vulnerabilities. Recent flood in Mumbai is deconstructed to delve of specific role of communities and other stakeholders. Existing participatory mechanism known as ALM is construed to reflect on its role in risk reduction followed by suggestive course of action. Findings: ALM as "municipal agency-neighborhood group partnership" has helped people learn caring the areas beyond own housing premises and work together for locality problems. City government boosted this community-led effort, as it was not only reducing burden on overstressed municipal services and reducing flood risk but also helping to let down epidemics and water-borne diseases. Research limitations/implications: This study is based on field study from only one city of India. Inputs from other cities from the developing world may further enrich the research. Practical implications: It is observed that with due encouragement and support from local government, the voluntary community action towards neighborhood level issues can be well mobilized and sustained for long-term. Originality/value: People-centered approaches transcend across developmental disciplines and significantly contribute towards reduction of environmental and hazard risk.
AB - Purpose: Persuading "urban communities" and "sustaining" environmental risk reduction measures among them, always remains a challenge. Disasters are generally perceived as one-time, long return period, high impact events. Even in the disaster struck areas, as the time passes, people tend to overlook the miseries of the past and continue to create risk. This paper seeks to examine how neighborhood environmental issues bring communities together and also sustainably reduce risk in Mumbai. Design/methodology/approach: This diagnostic study is based on thorough literature survey backed with field visit to capture viewpoints of communities, local officials, civic society, etc. The urbanization pattern of Mumbai is elaborated with specific focus on city governance and recognizing environmental and disaster vulnerabilities. Recent flood in Mumbai is deconstructed to delve of specific role of communities and other stakeholders. Existing participatory mechanism known as ALM is construed to reflect on its role in risk reduction followed by suggestive course of action. Findings: ALM as "municipal agency-neighborhood group partnership" has helped people learn caring the areas beyond own housing premises and work together for locality problems. City government boosted this community-led effort, as it was not only reducing burden on overstressed municipal services and reducing flood risk but also helping to let down epidemics and water-borne diseases. Research limitations/implications: This study is based on field study from only one city of India. Inputs from other cities from the developing world may further enrich the research. Practical implications: It is observed that with due encouragement and support from local government, the voluntary community action towards neighborhood level issues can be well mobilized and sustained for long-term. Originality/value: People-centered approaches transcend across developmental disciplines and significantly contribute towards reduction of environmental and hazard risk.
KW - Cities
KW - Communities
KW - Environmental management
KW - India
KW - Risk management
KW - Sustainable development
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U2 - 10.1108/09653560910984474
DO - 10.1108/09653560910984474
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:70350312658
VL - 18
SP - 418
EP - 433
JO - Disaster Prevention and Management
JF - Disaster Prevention and Management
SN - 0965-3562
IS - 4
ER -