Abstract:
In the context of my own birthplace, I hold the belief that I may be part of one of the
last generations to hold memories associated with the local river. I still vividly recall
crossing a river, hand-in-hand with my mother, in my childhood, the water was
crystal clear as I stumbled on stones to get to the other side. However, that same
river, which was once a source of joy and wonder, became a symbol of
environmental destruction and neglect, as I learned in my eighth-grade
environmental studies class, eight years later. This stark contrast between my
childhood memories and the reality of the river's pollution struck me deeply,
highlighting the problem of how our cities grow without considering the impact on
our natural resources.
Rivers have always been an essential part of human life, serving as a means of
transportation, a source of food and water, and a natural habitat for aquatic life.
However, in today's world, it seems that people move across, over, and beside
rivers with little regard for their well-being. Pollution in the rivers is rampant, and
the aquatic life that once thrived is dying out. It is alarming to think that the very
same river that provides water for our survival is being threatened by pollution.
Efforts are often directed to treat rivers as problems to be solved, rather than as
valuable assets that can enhance urban life.
This thesis aims to shed light on the state of an urban river in Pimpri Chinchwad, a
bustling industrial town located in close proximity to Pune. Through a careful
examination of the traditional and contemporary association with the Pawana river,
which flows through the heart of the city, a deeper understanding of the current
trends of gentrification and their impact on the local community's relationship with
the river are inspected. Despite the river's central location and historical
significance, many residents who have migrated to the area lack any meaningful
connection to it. The research seeks to identify the underlying barriers that
contribute to this disconnection and to develop strategic interventions that can
bring people closer to the river. By doing so, the thesis hopes to demonstrate how
greater social, environmental, and economic benefits can be derived from a
stronger relationship with the river.
