Team Herald
PANJIM: The city has to be accessible to everyone meaning the rich and the poor and it cannot be identified by any ideology or symbol. This was a theme put forward by Gautam Patel High Court Judge as he presented the case of how the city of Mumbai was let down by the judiciary as well as the political class when it came to the equitable distribution of land left unused following the collapse of the textile industry in that city. He made these points during the course of a speech at the Z Axis 2018 which was inaugurated on Thursday at the Kala Academy. Organised as part of the Charles Correa Memorial lecture, he spoke in detail about the part played by Charles Correa in preparing a document that would ensure the equitable distribution of the land and how everyone would be satisfied. Sadly, the state ignored it and took some suggestions and upended the entire process. The effects of that decision are still being felt in Mumbai. The Memorial Lecture was given by Ricky Burdett, Professor of Urban Studies at LSE and Director of the Urban Age and LSE Cities during which he talked about the importance of placing the individual at the core of development. He talked of the importance of avoiding gentrification and the moves made in London in preparation for the Olympics to revitalise the underprivileged side of that city and its long-term effects. The three day conference ends on Saturday
