With a vision for Kochi's problems
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Straying from the path of planned development will turn Kochi's future bleak. Architects in the city are trying to highlight proactively issues that need attention to help Kochi overcome its various problems, writes RENU RAMANATH.
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Photo: H. Vibhu
FOCUS ON ISSUES: At the exhibition, `Tomorrow's Cochin', organised by the Indian Institute of Architects, Cochin Centre, that opened on Friday on the Jawharlal Nehru Stadium Grounds.
No urban area can exist without planned development. Or, that is what history teaches us. Throughout the history of human civilisation, cities were distinguished as well-planned areas of human habitation. But, when it comes to Kochi, all these notions on planned development seemingly fall flat.
The city has already started to pay a heavy price for the chaotic way of growth that that it is engulfed in. This coastal city, which used to be criss-crossed with waterways once upon a time, is one of the most waterlogged areas in the whole of the State once the monsoon starts. The narrow roads, which are mostly just country lanes that have been tarred and made motorable, are literally choking with the ever-increasing flow of vehicles. Long-winding queues of vehicles inching along the roads are commonplace, just like the mosquitoes. Huge heaps of half-rotten garbage dot the roadsides and pavements.
Finding solutions
So, what is the solution? Is there any solution at all? Yes, say a group of architects, who have taken upon themselves the formidable task of charting out a course of sensible development for this city.
The Cochin Chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects has been working upon this theme for the past couple of months. Fed up with having to witness the slow ruining of a city that has been endowed with one of the world's most beautiful natural environment and heritage areas, the architects have decided to take an active stance towards Kochi's development.
With a group of architects working on various aspects and factors related to the development of the city, the IIA, Cochin Chapter has compiled a long list of issues faced by Kochi at present. "Studies have been conducted on the built-up heritage of the city, about public spaces, affordable housing for the urban poor, effective mass transportation schemes, solid waste management and a large number of similar subjects," according to Biley Menon, city-based architect and Convener of the `Vision Cochin' Programme.
Study
More importantly, a separate study has been done on the carrying capacity-based development of the city. Taking a particular area in Kadavanthra as a sample, the carrying capacity analysis of that area has been done as part of this project. "The carrying capacity of a particular area, or the estimate of how much development can a particular area bear, could be estimated scientifically," pointed out Mr. Menon.
Such a study analyses the available water, power and drainage systems of that area. The total buildable area in that portion, putting aside the heritage zones, wetlands and other non-buildable areas is calculated. Then, a proposal for the development of that area is drafted. If the development
in a particular area exceeds its carrying capacity, there will be problems like drinking water shortage and garbage accumulation.
The IIA points out that while drinking water shortage is a perennial problem for West Kochi, the same area houses large institutions like the Navy and the Port Trust, which also have huge demands for water that are met from the same source as that of drinking water. If such large institutions are able to do a certain amount of water harvesting to meet at least a portion of their needs, there could be a big difference in the quantity of water that can be made available for the people in the same area, it is pointed out.
Heritage zones
Another major issue that the city is facing is that of heritage zones and public spaces. Though only Fort Kochi area has so far been recognised officially as a heritage zone, the city has many other areas that could be classified likewise, the architects point out. Mattancherry and Fort Vypeen could be classified as heritage zones. Not many people have even seen the Harbour Terminus of the Railways, which is classic heritage building, it is pointed out.
Likewise, Ernakulam Central, or the heart of the city stretching from Ram Mohan Palace which had earlier housed the Kerala High Court to the Durbar Hall, is in fact a good heritage area, said Mr. Menon. Though everyone has heard of the Synagogue and Jew Town in Mattancherry, hardly anybody knows that there are two Synagogues and a Jew Street in Ernakulam. Unfortunately, as examples of unplanned development activities taking place in the city, two huge institutions have come up in this key area, said Mr. Menon.
They are the new High Court complex and the Revenue Tower coming up near the Ernakulam Boat Jetty. When the Revenue Tower was planned, the huge parking needs that would be generated by the building to house a large number of Government departments was not even taken into account, it is pointed out.
It was also doubtful how the surrounding roads could take on the added burden of more traffic brought about by these `functional magnets.'
Public spaces
Perhaps the biggest toll of unplanned urban development is taken on public spaces. It is no wonder that the majority of Kochi's public spaces are situated within the heritage zones. The newly developed areas, on the other hand, hardly offer any common spaces to the public.
Interestingly, another phenomenon on the rise these days is the rise of the `gated communities.'
Mr. Menon pointed out that when the areas such as Panampilly Nagar were being developed, great care was taken to provide common public spaces between the residential plots. But in the case of the new generation `gated communities,' which are colonies existing within walled compounds with a gate and security, totally cut off from the surrounding environment, whatever public spaces are provided within the gates become exclusive zones not accessible to the public.
The very concept of `public space,' as a space that provided access to people from all walks of life failed here. Another major aspect that the IIA has been focussing upon was public transportation. Criticising the present proposal for the Metro Rail Project on elevated tracks as uneconomical and unviable to meet the specific situations of Kochi, the architects came up with a proposal for a
Suburban Metro Rail Project, which could make use of the existing railway lines to a great extent.
Housing
Another major issue that has been neglected in the recent past is the issue of housing for the urban poor. Even when the housing areas such as Panampilly Nagar was being planned in the past, adequate provisions had been made to accommodate all classes of people at rates affordable to them.
But, while the present-day accommodation projects carried out by private entrepreneurs totally neglect the needs of the poor, even the Government is insensitive to the issue these days.
This will soon pose a grave problem, as the driving force of any city that makes it run comes from the urban poor people. With the land prices rocketing up in Kochi, even for the middle-income groups, finding an accommodation within the city has become quite an ordeal.
Instead of pushing out the urban poor from the city limits, the Government should have taken steps to take the huge institutions like the Revenue Tower and High Court out of the city.
This, on the other hand, would have helped create new urban centres, instead of exerting more pressure on the presently over-burdened urban areas.
All this, and many more issues are being highlighted at `Vision Cochin,' the programme organised by the IIA, Cochin Chapter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Grounds from Friday.
An exhibition and a workshop, which have been organised with the aim of spreading awareness on these issues among the public, is part of the IIA's campaign on creating a sensible development path for Kochi.
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