Contributed by: C. Aparnaa
The everyday life of the streets and public spaces comprises ecological elements besides humans. These comprise the natural elements which have found a place to exist within the urban fabric. The vegetation, the birds and the animals are some of the stakeholders which utilize the streets and influence the activities around them. For instance, a sphere of religious and social space is formed around the Ashwath katte. Cow feeding practices take place at different scales right from the threshold of an individual household to a street edges with a vegetable vendor throwing the remains or a maidan. The existence of a chabutra in a courtyard in the Old City of Ahmedabad also creates a space for social interaction for humans around it. Pigeons can be seen sitting on the electrical fences. Dogs and cats sleep under the shade of a tree in various neighbourhoods.
Location: Motera Road, Ahmedabad. Picture Credit: C. Aparnaa
Location: Ahmedabad-Patan Highway Road, Ahmedabad. Picture Credit: C. Aparnaa
What are some of the ecological practices in your neighbourhood’s public spaces? How are the various ecological elements being protected because of what we do?
Transformations of any place or neighbourhood always impact its ecology. Once nothing but an empty DDA land growing tall wild grass up to the river is now under the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for constructing a Water Treatment Plant (WTP).
The land has a few Keekar trees, which reside many birds like the greater coucal, crows, sparrows, mynas, and occasionally owls and migratory birds during the winter. The ground also provides a home for squirrels, small snakes, mongooses and other critters.
Since 2022, the DJB has acquired the land to construct WTP to supply water to the neighbourhood. The onset of clearing the land and the start of construction work led to a decline in the spotting of these creatures. It is almost as if they have either left or died as their homes were destroyed. Many Keekar trees and their branches have also been broken due to the aggressive movement of the excavators.
These pictures display a difference of one year, and there are still many changes to occur. The establishment and commencement of the WTP will change the neighbourhood's ecology even more. They are discharging various types of pollutants, perhaps making it a toxic environment for these birds and animals and the neighbourhood's residents.
The only hope is that the neighbourhood might start receiving a proper water supply, their fundamental right, but at what cost?
Location: Dhobi Ghat, Jamia Nagar-Okhla, New Delhi. August 2021.
Location: Dhobi Ghat, Jamia Nagar-Okhla, New Delhi. August 2022.