In News:What are major challenges faced by Indian cities?
1.What are the key challenges posed by rapid urbanisation in India, and what comprehensive measures can be implemented to address these issues effectively?
India’s rapid urbanisation, driven by economic distress, has led to a significant influx of people into urban areas. With an estimated 40% of the population residing in approximately 9,000 urban centres, the country faces a multitude of challenges stemming from this rapid growth.
Key challenges posed by rapid urbanisation in India
- Housing shortages: Rapid urbanisation has led to a severe housing shortage in urban India, resulting in the growth of slums and informal settlements characterised by poor living conditions. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) reports that there is a shortage of around 19 million decent housing units in urban areas, which has led to a slum population of 65.5 million people.
- Inadequate spatial planning: Urban planning agencies often rely on outdated spatial and temporal plans that fail to accommodate rapid population growth. This results in haphazard urban development and insufficient infrastructure to meet the needs of residents.
- Massive migration: Economic distress and lack of opportunities in rural areas drive significant rural-to-urban migration, leading to overcrowding in cities.
- Environmental degradation: Unplanned urbanisation contributes to air and water pollution, deforestation, and loss of green spaces, exacerbating climate change impacts. Chennai has lost 90% of its wetlands to unplanned urbanisation.
- Social inequality: Urbanisation often intensifies social disparities, with marginalised communities facing challenges in accessing essential services, education, and economic opportunities.
- Traffic congestion: Increased reliance on private vehicles due to inadequate public transport options has led to severe traffic congestion, impacting mobility and air quality. According to the traffic index, Bengaluru and Pune were named among the world’s ten worst traffic-hit cities in 2023.
- Vulnerability to climate change: Cities face severe pollution and are increasingly subject to urban flooding and “heat island effects.” Among the 10 most polluted cities in India, eight are in the NCR region around Delhi.
- Governance limitations: The 74th Constitutional Amendment aimed to empower urban local bodies (ULBs), but many still lack the necessary authority and resources to effectively address urban challenges.
Comprehensive measures to address these issues:
1.Sustainable urban planning:
● Comprehensive spatial planning: Developing long-term spatial plans to guide urban growth and development.
● Participatory planning: Involving citizens and stakeholders in decision-making processes to ensure local ownership and accountability.
● Green infrastructure: Investing in green spaces, parks, and urban forests to mitigate climate change impacts and improve air quality.
2.Infrastructure development:
● Prioritising public transport: Promoting public transportation systems to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.
● Water and sanitation: Improving water supply and sanitation infrastructure, especially in slum areas.
● Renewable energy: Encouraging the adoption of renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs.
3.Climate change adaptation and mitigation:
● Climate-resilient infrastructure: Designing and building infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events and climate change impacts.
● Green building standards: Implementing stringent building codes to promote energy-efficient and sustainable construction.
● Urban Heat Island mitigation: Implementing strategies like green roofs, cool pavements, and urban forestry to reduce urban heat island effects.
4.Inclusive urban development:
● Affordable housing: Promoting affordable housing initiatives to address the housing shortage and reduce slum dwelling.
● Social inclusion: Implementing policies to ensure equitable access to urban services and opportunities for marginalised groups.
● Urban poverty reduction: Targeting poverty alleviation programs to improve the living conditions of urban poor.
5.Strong urban governance:
● Empower local governments: Grantinh greater autonomy to urban local bodies to enable them to make decisions that best suit local needs.
● Capacity building: Providing training and technical assistance to urban officials to enhance their skills and knowledge.
● Accountability and transparency: Promoting transparency and accountability in urban governance to reduce corruption and improve service delivery.
By adopting a comprehensive and integrated approach, India can overcome the challenges of urbanisation and build sustainable, resilient, and equitable cities.
PYQ
- Does urbanization lead to more segregation and/or marginalization of the poor in Indian metropolises? 2023
- Discuss the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India. 2013
Source:
The Hindu (Text and context -04/11/2024)