| Author | Mani, Devyani |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.HS-93-17 |
| Subject(s) | Urbanization--India--Ahmedabad
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. HS-93-17 |
| Abstract | This study reviews the institutional arrangements at Ahmedabad for the delivery of
sewerage and storm drainage services. The agencies responsible are the Ahmadabad
Municipal Corporation (AMC) for the municipal limits and the Ahmedabad Urban Development
Authority (AUDA) for the urban fringe areas. In recent years, these agencies have been unable
to meet the city's requirements for these services. The lack of finance, the use of inappropriate
technology and the nature of the institutional arrangements have been identified as three major
constraints in the service delivery, of which the third is the focus of the study. At Ahmadabad,
several alternate arrangements have emerged as attempts to overcome the deficiencies in the
services. Assuming that the public agencies will continue to be at least partially responsible
for the delivery of these two services due to their "public goods" characteristics, their changed
role as "facilitators" rather than "providers" of the services is investigated.
The areas found deficient in terms of the access to and installation of the services are
the recently annexed East Ahmadabad area, the slums and squatter settlements and the
western fringes of the city. The nature of the supply by the alternate agencies corresponds to
the demand specific to each area, its physical features, legal status and the socio-economic
characteristics of the residents. In East Ahmadabad, the alternate services are largely different
types of site specific services installed by private developers and individuals. In the slum areas,
the services are provided by NGOs and CBOs as part of the schemes for services for the urban
poor instituted by the Central Government. In the western fringes, a number of agencies are
active including the individuals, private developers, Gram Panchayats and District Panchayats.
The responsible institutions are unable to effectively deliver the services due to their
legislative bases, organizational structures, working procedures, practices of finance and staff
management, and the standards imposed. Their links to other organizations, however, indicate
a potential for improved service delivery. The alternate agencies focus on the access and
installation of the services only. The major constraints faced by the NGOs and CBOs
participating in service delivery for the poor are the sustenance of the community organization,
and the lack of access to credit and technical support. Their efforts are found to be more
effective when the women of the community are mobilized. The private installation of drains is
piecemeal following the high and middle income housing development. The construction is also
substandard affecting the operation of the services. The Gram Panchayats are activated by the
Sarpanches but do not have sufficient technical capacity and the District Panchayats are limited
to a very small area. The on-site services are poorly constructed and maintained.
Scenarios simulating future development indicate the need to incorporate the alternate
arrangements for more equitable service delivery closer to the needs of the people, the
resistance of the responsible agencies to change and the factors likely to affect the success
of strategies proposed for the integration of the various institutional arrangements, mandated
and alternate. Further research is suggested to determine the implementation of strategies such
that the various actors involved in service delivery have positive stakes in the system. |
| Year | 1993 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. HS-93-17 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Amin, A.T.M. Nurul;Parenteau, Rene; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Sheng, Yap Kioe;Kelkar, Govind; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Norwegian Agency for International Aid; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1993 |