Effects of urbanisation on the use of lakes as commons in the peri-urban interface of Bengaluru, India

The rapid increase in urban land uses has transformed the agricultural landscape around freshwater lakes in the south Indian city of Bengaluru. This transformation has resulted in marked land degradation, adversely impacting water availability for local citizens and the livelihoods of traditional users. The peri-urban interface is a complex mosaic of rural, urban, and natural subsystems, emerging as a consequence of urban-rural linkages. Urban sprawl, a characteristic of peri-urbanisation in developing countries, manifests itself as dispersed development around the edges of cities and along arterial roads. This disordered and fragmented pattern of growth often results in the formation of the peri-urban interface, where environmental, social, and institutional characteristics are distinct from those in urban and rural areas. The impacts of urbanisation on collective access and management of the commons in the peri-urban interface of Bengaluru were analysed using insights from equity and ecology. The study found that changes in institutions for management and a transformed social demography resulting from rapid urbanisation have made collective action challenging. This has had implications for the weakened protection of these urban commons. The peri-urban interface of Bengaluru is home to several freshwater lakes that are part of the urban ecological commons. These lakes are essential for the livelihoods of traditional users and provide water for local citizens. However, the rapid increase in urban land uses has led to the degradation of these lakes, resulting in reduced water availability and negatively impacting the livelihoods of traditional users. The study highlights the need for sustainable and equitable urban growth in the global South, where the impacts of urbanisation on collective access and management of the commons are critical. The peri-urban interface of Bengaluru serves as a case study for understanding the effects of urbanisation on the use of lakes as commons in this region. The findings of the study have implications for urban planning and management, highlighting the need for integrated approaches that consider the environmental, social, and institutional characteristics of the peri-urban interface.