The Reconstruction of Bhuj: Reflecting on the Planning Process

Abstract

The Gujarat earthquake in 2001 was one of the first major natural disasters in India significantly impacting urban areas. Considering this fact, in retrospect it appears that the degree of success achieved in rebuilding the affected towns is quite remarkable. Post-disaster reconstruction situations are often characterized by expedient decision-making leading to the creation of new vulnerabilities instead of taking the opportunity to build resilience. This case study discusses two redeeming aspects of the planned reconstruction carried out in the town of Bhuj, very close to the epicenter of the quake and one of the most affected areas: (1) the role of land use planning and development control regulations at the city level in creating a new regime of resilience in this highly hazard prone city and (2) the role of land pooling in achieving relatively resilient reconstruction in the old city of Bhuj, a very densely built historic fabric. The author, who led the team that prepared the plans at both the city level and in the old city, takes advantage of the intervening years to reflect on the process, on the achievement, as well as on lost opportunities.

The author is an architect and urban planner. During the reconstruction of Bhuj, Mr. B.R. Balachandran held leadership positions in the team of urban planners from Environmental Planning Collaborative (EPC), Ahmedabad, who prepared the plans for reconstruction. In the initial phase – preparation of the Development Plan – the author was a joint Team Leader (along with Ms. Shirley Ballaney) and in the latter phase – preparation of Town Planning Schemes – he was the sole Team Leader. Throughout the process, Dr. Bimal Patel, who founded EPC, guided him. The author currently heads Alchemy Urban Systems Pvt. Ltd. an urban planning consultancy that he cofounded with Mrs. Sowmya Balachandran.