ANNOUNCEMENTS
The 21st century, recognized as the “urban millennium”, has more than half of the population (55%) in cities, with this figure projected to rise to two-thirds by 2050, and this growth would primarily be in developing countries. India alone is expected to add 416 million urban dwellers in the next three decades (United Nations, 2019, UN-Habitat, 2015). This rapid expansion creates ‘peri-urban’ spaces with ambiguous urban definitions (Narain, 2009) and slums affecting service provisions and liveability outcomes. Policies like ‘Smart Cities’ and ‘AMRUT’ face significant challenges in implementation due to inadequate grassroots information, data, and an understanding of on-the-ground realities. Despite global and national city rankings on liveability, the application of these indices to improve the performance of cities is limited. Moreover, top-down approaches in the composite water management index developed by NITI Aayog ignore people’s perceptions, thereby raising ‘equity’ issues (MoHUA, 2019; NITI Aayog, 2018). Given the fundamental role of water in liveability, it is significant to understand its ‘value’ beyond economics (UNESCO, 2021). This research study addresses these knowledge gaps by developing a diagnostic tool for policymakers to calibrate plans and contribute to the quality of life for all. The study’s rationale is rooted in addressing the key challenges in defining liveability with a prime focus on the inclusivity of diverse water users. The study utilizes cognitive approaches and develops a conceptual framework to explore urban water-liveability dynamics. It further tries to gain insights and links between microscopic complex city interactions and the macroscopic liveability performance of the cities in the context of urban water management systems.
The study seeks to create inclusive urban liveability metrics for water management by assessing diverse stakeholders’ perceptions of waters’ liveability and value. It also identifies differential perceptions and preferences in urban (including slums or informal settlements) and peri-urban areas and determines their priorities. One of the objectives is to develop a participatory urban liveability index for water management (PaULI-WM), followed by investigating limiting variables to propose innovations for improving liveability in urban water management systems. This actionable agenda supports creating liveable-equitable-sustainable cities in the context of urban water management systems fostering pro-environment behaviour. The scope of the study is restricted to domestic water users in mainstream urban, slums, and peri-urban areas and examines cognitive values within the urban water management systems.
Conducted in Gurugram, India, a rapidly expanding and water-stressed city with a huge administrative set-up, the study employs a mixed-method approach using a novel SaRVO framework developed during the literature review. Through face-to-face interviews, focus group discussions, and statistical and participatory modelling tools (Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping), complex relationships between human values, key variables and concepts of perceived values and liveability indicators within urban water management systems are explored. Data analysis through exploratory factor analysis and obtaining centrality scores helped to meet the defined objectives.
The findings revealed the stakeholders affected by the water challenges, and ‘ought’ to be involved in urban water management using the ‘boundary critique’ approach. Differences in perceptions across key dimensions of human values (biospheric and altruistic, egoistic, hedonic) and perceived value (water use behaviour) among water users in mainstream urban, slums, and peri-urban areas were identified. Three latent factors or constructs underlying the observed variables were revealed: water amenities, water access and availability, and water for culture and tradition. These factors explained a significant portion of the total variance, indicating they captured essential dimensions in the data set.
Similarly, factors related to the perception of liveability were identified at household, neighbourhood and city levels. These were analysed for differences in their perception between mainstream urban, slums, and peri-urban areas. There were differences in how water users valued reliable and equitable sources of water and access to services, revival and maintenance of surface water bodies, effective treatment and management of stormwater and wastewater, good quality of water supply, water infrastructure, and water sustainability. The variations in the perceptions of the water users in these three settlement types were further analysed through quantitative study and complemented by the qualitative study. There were also differences observed between the desires of the water users and their water use behaviour. Though all water users were willing to pay for safe and reliable water services, those in slums or informal settlements desired low-cost water. Additionally, the water users in slums believed in availability of water for future generations.
Relationships between human values, perceived water values through water use behaviour and liveability were explored, showing complex interactions. The findings identified the priorities and preferences of the water users and the factors that can enhance liveability. These factors were contextual to the settlement type, hence it emphasized the need for targeted interventions. The index, PaULI-WM was developed, and limiting variables were identified. These were categorised into engagement and coordination deficiencies, governance and infrastructural challenges, and resource and population pressures. The study aligns liveability indicators with sustainability indicators (SDG 1, 3, 4, 5,6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13).
Based on these complexities and interactions, micro-level innovations are proposed for enhancing Gurugram’s liveability, including participatory governance, innovative educational and awareness programs, and technological innovations. Additionally, policy-level recommendations are proposed such as infrastructure investment, innovative pricing and incentives, integrated stormwater management, decentralized wastewater treatment, effective communication strategies and grievance redressal, community participation and preservation of cultural knowledge, to create a liveable, equitable and sustainable city. Future research could compare the perceptions of water providers and water users on liveability and conduct scenario analysis to identify robust strategies for enhancing liveability in Gurugram, particularly concerning water use behaviour and liveability outcomes. The scope of water users can be extended to businesses and industries including real estate. Additionally, comparative studies can be conducted at intracity level using geospatial analysis. Further, comparison can be done across cities and countries, to understand the applicability of PaULI-WM in varied contexts. This will help to understand different factors influencing urban water management and liveability outcomes across different geographical and socio-economic conditions.
Key Words of the Research: Liveability, urban water management system, peri-urban, equity, cognitive approach, sustainability.
