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A study on institutional imbalances of the urban–rural governance framework in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, India

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Abstract

The population growth rate of Mumbai city within Mumbai Metropolitan Region shows a declining trend, while that of other areas has been increasing since the past few decades. Kalyan and Bhiwandi are two such developing nodes within the region and the villages around them are also fast urbanising. This study analyses the polycentric governance structure of Mumbai Metropolitan Region with respect to the policy provisions at national, state, and local levels and points out the weaknesses in the system by following an inductive approach. Documentary analysis and interviews with government officials and experts from various related organizations form the base for institutional mapping, and the evolution of the existing regional planning structure is also elaborated upon. The study reveals the hierarchy and inter-relations between the organizations involved in the urban and rural centres within the region. Overlapping, complementing, or conflicting objectives and differences in accountabilities are the major issues discussed to highlight the inefficiencies in development planning and management. In doing so, the study draws theoretical conclusions for overcoming the deficiencies in the system through a reciprocal relationship between the governing bodies, both vertically and horizontally, to make the governance framework more effective.

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(adapted from Pethe et al. 2012)

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Notes

  1. Union territories are administrative division, but unlike states they are ruled directly by the central government.

  2. Panchayat refers to a local self-government institution for rural areas as specified by the Constitution of India, Part IX, of the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992. Raj implies ‘rule’. Panchayati Raj is the system of rural governance based on the Constitutional provisions.

  3. Gram (village) Panchayat is a rural governing body consisting of representatives elected by the village people.

  4. Panchayat Samiti is a block level body and acts a link between the village and the district.

  5. Zilla Parishad is the administrative body at the district level. It is the apex of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system.

  6. An undeveloped area may be specified as a ‘notified area’ by the state government after issuing a notification in the Official Gazette. The State Government may also constitute an authority or appoint any Development Authority to be the Special Planning Authority for developing the notified area. (MRTP Act, 1966-Section 40).

  7. Gram Vikas Adhikari is the Village Development Officer appointed by Zilla Parishad.

  8. Gram Sevak can be translated in English as village-level worker appointed by Zilla Parishad.

  9. Sarpanch is the head of the village elected by the villagers.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Block Development Officer of Bhiwandi Panchayat Samiti, the Village Development Officers of the villages in Bhiwandi Surrounding Notified Area and the officials in the Planning Department of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority for their support in carrying out this study.

Funding

This work was supported by Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI Grant number 16H03311 and the Japanese Government Monbukagakusho Scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Regional Planning, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Research Building-5, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606 8501, Japan

    Richa Kandpal & Izuru Saizen

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  1. Richa Kandpal
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  2. Izuru Saizen
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Correspondence to Richa Kandpal.

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Kandpal, R., Saizen, I. A study on institutional imbalances of the urban–rural governance framework in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, India. Asia-Pac J Reg Sci 3, 137–154 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41685-018-0089-x

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