Assessing the socio-ecological effects of lakeside gentrificationA case study of two lakes in South India
Dispossession; Lakeside gentrification; Political ecology; Restoration projects; Urban commons
The global push for sustainability and the urgency of addressing climate change have compelled city governments worldwide to prioritize the upkeep and restoration of urban commons. However, this state-led or private-driven greening often becomes a marker of gentrification. This study examines the ecological conservation policies applied to Periyakulam Lake in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and Hebbal Lake in Bengaluru, Karnataka, aiming to elucidate how these policies exhibit flaws and lack inclusivity. Through the lens of urban political ecology, the research scrutinizes the state-led and state-supported strategies, emphasizing their tendency to favour a minuscule population while perpetuating aspects of gentrification. It critically examines the dual phases of lakeside gentrification, wherein the first phase involves the modification of the lake under the label of rejuvenation. The subsequent phase witnessed a transformation in the surrounding region's social, spatial, and economic characteristics as it became increasingly attractive and subject to investment. Such processes displace and dispossess livelihoods and instil a new urban imaginary where only urban elites become the standpoint for such beautification consumption. This study contributes to the literature on lakeside gentrification and argues how state-led and state-supported extractive policies remove the safety valves for a stable future by negating the linkages between society and nature. 2025 The Author(s)
Deivanayagam, Sindu; M, Maya; Varma, Sankar
Urban Governance;Volume;5;Issue;4;pp.542-558
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ugj.2025.08.006 https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105014967964?origin=resultslist
Deivanayagam S., Department of Sociology, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India; M M., Department of Sociology, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India; Varma S., Department of Economics, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India