Animating the Adi Ganga

Abstract

The thesis is about a fascinating channel flowing in southern Kolkota. The channel is heavily polluted inspite of being considered sacred in the City's memory. The thesis tries to understand and interrogate the residual memory of this channel to propose strategies for its rehabilitation. The study uses a three-fold approach: the historical analysis, to understand the causes of the present situation; the geographical analysis, to discern the extant physical conditions and spatial scales; followed by an integrative design proposal. In the contemporary debate of river restorations in India, where holy rivers have turned into polluted drains, Urban streams and channels are being considered as a viable means of interventions. Realizing this, the thesis shows possibilities on how the rehabilitation of a polluted urban cannel can be approached.