Author(s): Sachin Marti; Sirus Libeiro
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Rural-Urban Transition; Flooding; Water Security; Conservation; Community Water Management
Abstract: Concerns over depleting water sources dovetails with the pace of haphazard urbanization in Indian cities and its peripheries, increasing instances of flooding, and threat to water security. This challenge has also been accompanied by a growth of local initiatives, both organizational and individual, to address some of these concerns. This paper zooms into the case of the Vasai-Virar area within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, India. It examines the role of activists and ‘do-it-yourself’ citizen scientists in water-related advocacy, to unpack the strategies they use, and to reflect on the effectiveness of their role in generating change within the community. The paper also underscores the efforts made by these individuals to build networks of expertise and secure resources to address limitations of finance and technical knowledge. This case study presents a useful way to think about inclusive water management and planning.
Year: 2024