In the town of Lonar in Buldana district of Maharashtra, a huge crater exists marking the only example of a hypervelocity impact on basaltic rock in the world¹. This crater houses a salt-water lake with a unique set of flora and fauna, making it a significant subject of study by geologists and microbiologists around the world. In this eco-sensitive and no-development zone, 606 slum families established their housing over the last few decades, which were identified for relocation under the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP). IHSDP was launched by the Government of India by merging the schemes of National Slum Development Programme (NSDP) and Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAMBAY).

For the Lonar crater, the main threat to ecology and the source of degradation was identified to be the dumping of sewage into the reservoir from the nearby settlements. 22 hectare of dry land in the crater is being farmed, which causes water laced with pesticides and fertilizers to flow into the lake, changing its pH levels. The Lonar-Mantha road has damaged the most sensitive part of the lake’s ecosystem - a one kilometer area outside the crater where rock material thrown by meteoric action is deposited². The plan also involves removal of 25885 Babool trees, to be replaced by naturally growing shrubs at a cost of Rs.45 lakhs, while the Archeological Survey of India is working on development of the area for tourists³.

Under the IHSDP scheme for this project, all issues of sewage management, agricultural land, social aspirations of the people have been addressed. The relocation site is 1.5 km away from the crater at Durga Tekdi on government land. The project is planned and designed as an eco-friendly habitat with provision for water harvesting, cleaning and utilisation. Dual piping for toilets have been adopted with a view to reusing the water for horticulture. The habitat is designed as an inclusive neighbourhood colony for the urban poor, with cluster planning according to contours, requiring minimum cut and fill as well as maintaining the available top soil. The houses are arranged to create a central lot, open green area for playing and socialising. Land is also provided for the people to continue their horticulture activities. All such efforts are designed to maintain and harness their livelihood activities and to increase their quality of life and economic status. Incremental house design has been adopted, thereby providing earmarked space for expansion of housing units. Ground floor houses allow expansion within plot boundary as the family size, aspirations and requirements increase. The project is implemented as Green Building Project under the Guidelines of GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) & Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.

While this award-winning project paints a promising picture for the slum dwellers of Lonar, the reality shows a conflict between the steps for environmental protection and the need for sustainable development of the slums, with a clash in priorities and boundaries between the two.

In 2010, all construction and development activity was ceased within 500m of the lake. This protective eco-sensitive zone was reduced from 500m to 100m in a notification issued by MoEFCC in 2015 without consultation from the ecological experts involved⁴.

The Slum Redevelopment project covers all the components laid out in the IHSDP with the aim of providing “adequate shelter and basic infrastructure facilities” yet it cannot be considered a success. As of April 2018, 314 houses developed under the scheme remain unoccupied, 3 years after construction. The high court rejected pleas of the slum dwellers for an extension on the relocation deadline⁵. The Buldhana Municipal council has been ordered to demolish the structures near the crater and take police protection for the procedure if necessary.

While the process sounds exacting and the public sympathises with the slum dwellers, the scientific significance of the crater and the need to maintain its ecosystem far outweighs the insistence of the families to continue staying there. Here, the housing project developed by the government shows prospects as an exemplary representative case for slum rehabilitation, if adopted. A post-occupancy survey of the inhabitants and their reservations to accept the proposed change holds potential to help the government and other developers understand the shortcomings of the proposal and for developing future schemes. ■

Apurva Singh
Apurvasingh.mail@gmail.com

References:
1.Best Practices : Habitat Planning & Design for the Urban Poor. Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Government of India, New Delhi
2.https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/rs-10-crore-for-conserving-lonar-lake--34325
3.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ city/nagpur/what-has-govt-done-to-develop-lonar-lake-asks-hc/articleshow/63101206.cms
4.https://scroll.in/article/805114/why-a-50000-year-old-crater-lake-in-maharashtra-may-not-last-another-50-years
5.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ city/nagpur/hc-dismisses-lonar-slum-dwellers-plea/articleshow/ 63687700.cms