London vs Mumbai Flashcards
(13 cards)
Significance of Mumbai
● India’s largest city with a population over 20 million
● The financial and commercial centre of India (home to India’s stock exchange) as well as being home to the popular Bollywood industry
Mumbai’s development
● Following India’s independence from the British in 1947, Mumbai developed rapidly - modern architecture, the Bombay Stock exchange, a boom in manufacturing and services
● In 2015 it accounted for 33% of India’s income tax, 25% of industrial output, 40% of foreign trade
● Growing fast, highest population density of any city in the world - strain on infrastructure
Economic and social well-being in Mumbai
● Since 1991 population has nearly doubled - influx of migrants from other parts of India seeking better employment
● Resulting population is very diverse, 16 major languages
● Around 60% of Mumbaikars live in ‘slums’ and the average Indian would need to work for 3 centuries to pay for a luxury home in Mumbai
Industries in Dharavi
● Home to thousands of micro industries, including garment-makers, tanners, welders and potters, which produce over $650m annually
● However living and working conditions are very poor
What is the population density like in Dharavi
Highest population density in the world at 300,000 people/square km
What is housing like in Dharavi
● Housing quality is poor and the slums lack basic infrastructure
● Each toilet is shared by over 1,000 residents
● Services such as water and electricity not always available
● Years of government neglect have resulted in inadequate hygiene standards
Why was Dharavi attractive to investors
● Due to the northward expansion of Mumbai, Dharavi found itself occupying an area of prime land in the CBD of India’s richest city
● Made it a key target for developers eager to make money from the construction of luxury apartments
What did the government-led Dharavi Redevelopment Project promise
All residents who can prove residency since 2000 would be provided with a new 300sq ft house for free
What is the climate like in Mumbai
● Tropical climate
● The south west monsoon brings heavy rainfall from June-september - can be devastating as the city is mainly built on low-lying land
Effects of 2005 monsoon
● 944mm of rainfall - a 100 year high, caused a devastating flood
● electricity, water supply, communication, transport all shut down
● 400 people died
● 10,000 homes destroyed
● losses amounting to £1.2 billion
Why was the monsoon so bad
Nowhere for the rainwater to go as rapid uncontrolled developments had replaced most public parks, gardens, mangrove swamps and wetlands
What was created after the flood
The Greater Mumbai Disaster Management Action Plan
