Mumbai mantra

Diplomatic advisories being somewhat more routine affairs than their authors suspect, the US embassy8217;s advice that Americans should avoid Mumbai during the monsoon can be treated with a polite lack of interest. But there8217;s a difference, and it has nothing to do with Americans and everything to do with Mumbai. This great city, India8217;s first truly cosmopolitan metro, the cradle of Indian entrepreneurship and a hoped-for hub of global finance, is in a state of such civic disrepair that normal monsoon rains have acquired the dimensions of a systemic threat. After the great rains of 2005, rivers of concern and a sea-ful of recommendations flooded the public discussion space. But fundamentally, the city8217;s capacity to absorb normal rainfall hasn8217;t increased. There are many micro reasons for this. But there8217;s a grand problem as well 8212; Mumbai needs, but doesn8217;t have, high-profile political ownership of its problems.

This has been said before and bears repeating till the political system accepts it: India8217;s big cities, many of which are state capitals, can8217;t be run as extensions of state politics via municipal bodies.

Urban governance needs a different rhythm, a different set of priorities and a different attitude to modern solutions than afforded by big city politics as we know now. That means changing the political/procedural mandate on big city governing structures and, therefore, creating a separate centre of political power and influence. That8217;s what presumably politicians baulk at. Which Maharashtra CM would want an elected administrative chief for Mumbai who rivals him in attention and importance and, in so far as Mumbai8217;s problems go, has a greater say?

Many good things are expected of Mumbai8217;s sea link and some species of reform in land use is beginning to happen. But there8217;s no doubt about the increasing raggedness of this remarkable city. Many great cities, New York in the 8217;80s, for example, have come close to quasi-civic implosion and then rediscovered the political will to regenerate. Mumbai needs a similar paradigm shift in politics.