Fluid Institutions: Commons in Transition in the Periurban Interface

Abstract

Amidst growing concern about the decline of the commons, this case underscores the importance of understanding how the commons are refashioned and remade to address emerging challenges in periurban spaces. This article describes how institutions surrounding the use of common property resources get transformed and evolve in periurban contexts. What were once johads – common property village ponds – undergo a change in their usage from storing rainwater to storing waste water of the city for irrigation. This emerges as a collective response to the uncertainty attached to the availability of waste water. New institutions evolve with regard to contributions to waste water infrastructure, as well as the appropriation of waste water. Further research should document the changing use of village commons and the emergence of new institutions governing them.