Restructuring the open space around the water system of Udaipur

Abstract

Water systems are the life lines of human settlements serving various livelihoods, functional and recreational needs of people. There was a time when cities had strong associational value with rivers and lakes or the water system around them. With the increasing urbanization and rapid urban development, water system is often ignored which disconnected them from public life and turning them as mere drainages. Increasing encroachments, degrading quality of water system, inaccessible edges, privatization, and pollution are some of the major issues associated with rivers in cities. Cities which were once identified through rivers are now turning their backs to them. Lakes are given more priority (specially in case of Udaipur) but lakes should not be seen as an individual identity there is a whole water system which needs to be looked upon Like in traditional water system how well lakes were connected with the river small ponds and Bawdi(step wells) how ground water table was maintained. The urban development is increasingly concentrating on creating new urban features to brand cities but leaving being their natural assets which can become potential spaces for present day public activities, recreational facilities and give a unique place identity and sense of connectedness with nature and ecosystem. In many cities there is a requirement to address this issue of creating interactions with natural features and harnessing them to revive associational values with built environment. Introducing public realm, activities, tourism and integrating urban fabric with water system can be some of the solutions through which the connections can be re-established. According to master plan 2031 Udaipur will have to cater the population of 10 lakh people which is 4.65lakh currently (censes of 2011). Also, a city with more than 9lakh tourist visiting per year has a great potential in term of devolving as a tourist hub. And Due to urbanization, there is land crunch people have started encroaching on natural features like rivers, buffer zone, low laying area lake area forest which results in flood like situation, unhealthy living, disturbing the eco system. And over time they are disturbing and degrading the water system of the city. There was a time when lakes and water system were having great associational as well as socio cultural values of people Bathing, public gathering at Ghats and step wells were one of the recreational for the people. As Rajasthan has the harsh climate lakes and step wells were one of the resting places for cattle grazing people as well as for the local peoples. With the concept of smart city lot of infrastructure is developing which is not going hand in hand with the consideration of various factors like water system, ecology, qualitative aspects of publicness that city inherits. So with this thesis I will be able to relate the development which is going on or what is going to happen in the future, will happen with ecological sensitivity, keeping the water system as the guiding factor for development so that water system becomes the part of the people and also in the process we can bring back publicness which is the soul of the city and the associational value of people with the city and its water systems, to make it everyday life event.