A Heart felt Plea for Malabar Hill’s Future

The Mumbai Development Plan 2034 has led to a boom in construction activity all over Mumbai. When a structure is certified irreparable or unfit for habitation, it is crucial that it be reconstructed. Slums and cessed buildings fall under this category, too. But our city is increasingly witness to even those, in structurally-sound condition, and with a lifespan of several more years, being redeveloped for extra FSI. Not only will this law cause irreversible damage, it will also create infrastructural and environmental challenges – never before seen in Mumbai. Our natural resource lifelines, which are being compromised due to incessant construction, are reeling under severe duress. Mumbai faces a growing threat of climate-induced extreme weather, emanating from urban heat island effects and sea-level rise. A recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment states, “Mumbai will suffer record-breaking heat in the coming years due to massive concretisation.”
The biggest casualty of this flawed rule, is the destruction of existing trees on building plots, which are being cut down, to make way for new construction. We, on Malabar Hill, are blessed with old-growth trees. Over centuries, residents have enjoyed their multiple benefits. Biodiversity abounds here, including rare species. Malabar Hill is, what it is, due to its green canopy. Which is falling prey to ill-planned development. New saplings/trees planted in lieu of the hacked green cover, will take years to grow and we will be bereft of environmental wellness—for a long, long time to come. In our quest for plush high-rises, we seem to have forgotten the lessons of the pandemic. It is a scientific fact that loss of the natural environment leads to warming, and an increased risk of disease transmission between humans and wild species. Without the trees in our midst, the air quality will worsen and consequently, our well-being, too. Trees prevent soil erosion and reduce landslide risk. Malabar Hill has experienced several landslides in its history, the most recent one being in August 2020, when Ridge Road had caved in. Moreover, Malabar Hill lies on a fault line, is close to the coast, and has unique geological challenges. The locality’s narrow lanes and small roads are ill-equipped to sustain heavy construction vehicles plying on them frequently. This spate of unrestrained construction is cause for grave concern. Geology experts have warned of ramifications. Therefore, before the sanctioning of any further redevelopment projects, a geotechnical survey to ascertain the carrying capacity of the Hill—is the need of the hour. As is, a regulation on height restrictions.