Structure of Urban povetry: the case of Bombay slums

The decay in major metropolitan centres leading to sub-human conditions of slums and squatter settlements is a problem defying city administrators. Generally the problem is studied in an empirical manner.
The present work is based on a field-study of the problems relating to relocation and improvement of slums in the city of Bombay. The study points out the glaring gap between the official statements of intent and actual practices and analyses the causes underlying such contradictions.
The author's prime concern in this work is the dominant economic and political forces which control land in this metropolis. This study identifies such forces, analyses how they operate and influence the process of urban development.
The work contains a wealth of material and information not readily available elsewhere. This work belongs to an area where the domains of urban sociology and political sociology converge and provides a different and meaningful perspective for analysing the nature of urban development in India.