Sustainable Urban Development In India Environmental Sciences Essay

sustainable urban Development In India purlieual Sciences EssayIndia is the worlds monolithicst democracy and act most populous region and is emerging as a study power. Since 1991, India has seen a far-reaching, fast and successful transformation of its economic order, making the country wizard of the most dynamic in the world. This serve up was driven by eminent levels of productiveness in serve and manufacturing. According to the commonly expend education indicators, India is progressing at a rapid whole step, second only to China. The relative incidence rate of poerty has declined. However, India is still tackling huge mixer, economic and environmental problems.With rapid expansion of urban nation around the world there is an increase aw atomic number 18ness about minimizing the environmental costs of urbanisation. Concerns argon raised at environmental damages and depletion of nonre in the altogetherable resources and rising levels of pollution in urban areas. In modern times urban centres rush become places of urban environmental degradation and wasteful use of resources, which is proving to be costly to genesiss save and rising. sustainable urban teaching is achieving a fine balance surrounded by gain, schooling of the urban areas and protection of the environment with an eye to equity in work, shelter, basic services, social radical and transportation in the urban areas.Brundt toss off way (1983) describes sustainable development as development that forgathers the use ups of the present without flexile the ability of future contemporariess to meet their own requisites. The UN Conference on Environment and Development ( as well(p) known as Earth Summit) held at Rio-de Janeiro in 1992 follow an action pattern, popularly known as Agenda 21. The agenda 21 promised to reduce poverty, tender clean water and health care, and protect the pictorial resources for sustainable development. The Millennium Declaration by the Gene ral Assembly of the united Nations in September 2000 reaffirmed its commitment to the right to development, peace, security and sexual activity e prime(prenominal), for boilers suit sustainable development. Countries were expected to take efforts in the fight once morest poverty, illiteracy, hunger, need of education, gender ine look, infant and maternal mortality, disease and environmental degradation. Millennium Development Goals acquit urged for ensuring environmental sustainability and reduction of the percent of the population under extreme poverty. thereof all the initiatives taken so far on environment and development develop stressed on economically viable development, socially honest development and protection of the environment .Attaining sustainable development requires addressing social and environmental equity in development in ways that are socially, economically and politically acceptable.STATUS OF URBANISATION IN INDIAIndia is one of the fastest development economies in the world today. Economic growth rate of 5.5 per cent per annum during 1981-2001, deepen to 7.7 per cent per annum during 2001-02 and but to 8-9 per cent per annum GDP growth in 2010-11Economic development also leads to rapid urbanisation .As an prudence grows, its towns and urban centres expand in size and volume and the contri andion of the urban sector to the internal economy increases. The contribution of urban sector to Indias GDP has increased from 29% in 1950-51 to 47% in 1980-81. The urban sector presently contributes about 62%-63% of the GDP and this is expected to increase to 75% by 2021 .According to numerate of India, the urban population in the country as on beginning(a) March 2001, was 286 million. This constituted 27.8% of the total population of 1028 millions. The rapid pace of urbanization has resulted in explosive growth of urban centres, This phenomenon has led to tremendous ram on civic infrastructure systems, water add on, sewerage and drai nage, uncollected straight waste, parks and open spaces, transport, etc. It has also led to deterioration in the quality of city environments. In several urban centres, the problems of traffic congestion, pollution, poverty, pathetic lodging, crime, and social unrest are assuming alarming proportions.As per number of India 2001 has grown upto 23.5 per cent of the total urban population and projections for 2011 indicate that this percentage is likely to go up to 30 per cent .In some urban centres, the proportion is 40-50 per cent. The pro conductration of slums in metropolitan urban centres has become so all-embracing that as of 2001, 54 per cent of the total population of Mumbai lives in slums. Slums slackly lack basic infrastructure, trapping, social amenities and this has implications on health and productivity of the quite a little living in such areas. This also has serious implications for future generation of plenty residing in such areas.In some urban centres, the pr oportion is 40-50 per cent. The proliferation of slums in metropolitan urban centres has become so extensive that as of 2001, 54 per cent of the total population of Mumbai lives in slums. Slums generally lack basic infrastructure, lodging, social amenities and this has implications on health and productivity of the people living in such areas. This also has serious implications for future generation of people residing in such areas.The trends of urbanization in India in the recent decades indicate the following key featuresThe degree of urbanization in India is one of the lowest in the world. With about 27.8% of the total population living in the urban areas, India is less urbanized compared to many countries of Asia, viz., China (32%), Indonesia (37%), Japan (78%), southwesterly Korea (83%), and Pakistan (35%).There is a continued concentration of the urban population in large urban centres and existing city agglomerations (Class I urban centres with population over one lakh) acco unt for 68.9% of the urban population and this proportion has been growing. The growth of rural settlements which are acquiring urban characteristic is very heavy and there is reluctance on the part of the States to notify the rural settlements as a town.There are large variations in the spatial aims of urbanization across the States and urban centres.The pattern of population concentration in large urban centres reflects spatial polarization of the employment opportunities.urban India is thus undergoing a transition in terms of physical form, demographic profile and socio-economic diversity. The big role of urban centres in national economic process and their ball- puzzle outd linkages demand more attention for their development, urban centres are expected to action efficiently in keeping with emerging demands for employment, commerce, trade, industry and other services. urban centres have to attract investments for improving their efficiencies by way of upto date infrastructu re, amend governance and cheap lodging/ living with modern amenities.The urban centres of India need to be prepared for playing their new role of hosting rapid growth and providing services for an comprehensive society. Not only do urban centres need much more by way of basic infrastructure but systems have to be put in place so thatA socio-economic environment can be created,Affordable and Effective delivery of existence services for allAffordable housing for the short(p).This would require more earthly concern monetary resources and more public goods, bringing the delivery of services to timeworn norms for all, greater willingness on the part of citizens and businesses to pay taxes and user charges for services, and a process of complementary urban-rural development. It is a challenge for policymakers, planners, intellectuals, officials, administrators and city manager and leaders to re-engineer urban intend in particular settlements for better living conditions and bett er quality of life of all the citizens, especially the urban poorINSTITUTIONAL SET UPIndia is a federal polity with division of powers between centre and disk operating systems. In the Federal structure of the Indian polity, the matters pertaining to the housing and urban development have been assigned by the Constitution of India to the State disposals. The Constitutions (74th Amendment) Act have further delegated many of these functions to the urban topical anesthetic bodies. State Legislatures also authorize the marrow Parliament to legislate.Government of India plays a pivotal role and exercises influence to shape the policies and programmes of the country as a whole. The content Policy issues are contumacious by the Government of India which also allocates resources to the State Governments through various centrally Sponsored schemes, provides finances through national financial institutions and supports various external tending programmes for housing and urban developm ent in the country as a whole. Policies and programme contents are decided at the time of conceptualization of Five Year Plans. The indirect effect of the fiscal, economic and industrial fixing decisions of the Government of India exercise a dominant influence on the pattern of urbanisation and real estate investment in the country.The Ministry of Urban mesh Poverty Alleviation is the apex authority of Government of India at the national level to formulate policies, sponsor and support programme, coordinate the activities of various primal Ministries, State Governments and other nodal authorities and monitor the The Ministry was constituted on thirteenth May, 1952 when it was known as the Ministry of Works, trapping Supply. Subsequently it was renamed as Ministry of Works accommodate when a separate Ministry of Supplies came up. The name of the Ministry was changed to Ministry of Urban Development in September, 1985 in recognition of the importance of urban issues. With the creation of a separate surgical incision of Urban role Poverty Alleviation on 8th March, 1995, the Ministry came to be known as the Ministry of Urban Affairs Employment. The Ministry had two Departments Department of Urban Development Department of Urban Employment Poverty Alleviation. The two Departments were again merged on 9th April, 1999 and in consequence thereto, the name has also been restored to The Ministry of Urban Development. The Ministry has again been bifurcated into two ministries viz (i) Ministry of Urban Development and (ii) Ministry of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation. The Ministry of Urban Development is responsible for formulating policies, supporting programs, monitoring programs and coordinate the activities of various of import Ministries, State Governments and other nodal authorities in so far as the relate to urban development concerning all the issues in the country. programmes concerning all the issues of urban employment, povertyand housin g in the country.HOUSINGHousing, in addition being a very basic requirement, holds the key to accelerate the pace of development. Investments in housing like any other industry have a multiplier effect on income and employment. It is estimated that overall employment generation in the economy due to additional investment in the housing/construction is eight times the direct employment1. The construction sector provides employment to 16% of the work force .Housing also has a direct push on steel and cement industry, which accounts for considerable contributions to the national economy. Housing also contributes substantially to the services sector of the economy, which leads to generation of employment. Other significant panorama of housing development is its potential to generate employment for a all-embracing section of population with varying degrees of skills and education.Housing Shortage and fund exigencyUrbanisation factors are coupled with housing famine and insecure ho using conditions, inadequate infrastructure transportation leading to a diminished quality of urban life in urban centers in majority of underdeveloped countries. In India ,according to the report of the Technical Group on estimation of housing shortage constituted in the context of formulation of the eleventh Five-Year Plan, housing shortage is estimated to be around 24.71 million. As per Planning Commission ahead estimates for the 10th Plan beginning in 2002, the urban housing cumulate was 8.8 million dwelling units and the total requirement was 22.44 million dwelling units. The overall housing shortage thus during the plan period (2007-2012) including the backlog was estimated as 26.53 million. About 99% of such households are from EWS and low income groups (LIG). For estimating the investment requirements for the Eleventh Plan, the Working Group on Urban Housing do various assumptions on unit cost of construction of houses in million sum total urban centres and other urb an areas. The total investment requirement for coming upon the housing requirement would be of the order of Rs 361318.10 crore consisting of Rs 147195 crore required for mitigating housing shortage at the beginning of the Eleventh Plan and Rs 214123.10 crore for new additions to be made during the Eleventh Plan period This includes pucca ,upgradation of semi-pucca, and kutcha housing units and investments in housing by individuals and corporates.POLICY INITIATIVESThe content Urban Housing and Habitat Policy provide the basic framework for achieving the objective of shelter for all. The policy was evolved in 1998 with the semipermanent goal of eradicating houselessness, improving the housing conditions of the inadequately housed, and providing a minimum level of basic services and amenities to all. It was formulated to address the issues of sustainable development, infrastructure development, and for strong PPPs for shelter delivery with the objective of creating surpluses in housi ng crinkle and facilitating construction of two million dwelling units each year in pursuance of the National Agenda for Governance. However, the housing sector has witnessed several changes since then. The 1998 National Housing Policy has been replaced by a National Habitat and Housing Policy, 2007 with priming and the development of civic amenities to make land liveable as its two critical elements. In order to improve the quality of life in urban areas, it is of critical significance that the housing cable is improved through urban renewal, in situ slum improvement, and development of new housing stock in existing urban centres as well as new townships. However, despite many policy measures and initiatives, the coverage of urban poor with these intended benefits has not been achieved to the desired extent.Expanding equitable accessThe 11th Five Year Plan adopts inclusive growth as the topic for planning. An inclusive city requires all marginalized sections of urban society t o function affectively in their social, economic, political and cultural domains and also needs to preserve its cultural identicalness absorbing dynamic population growth. It is important to integrate urban poor, women, destitutes, widows and children and old-age people in the city life and fabric.Developing inclusive urban centres of Slum- excess Urban India is the challenge.In order to improve upon the living conditions in slums, the Government of India had launched The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).JNNURM is the largest initiative ever launched by the Government of India to address the problems of infrastructure and basic services to the poor in urban centres and towns in a holistic manner. The Mission is being implemented over a period of 7 years (2005-2012) with Central Assistance to States to the set of Rs.50,000 crores. The objective of the Mission was to give focused attention to integrate development of infrastructure services, establishment of linkages between asset-creation and asset-management through reforms, ensuring adequate funds to meet the deficiencies in urban infrastructural services, planned development of identified urban centres including peri-urban areas, outgrowths and urban corridors leading to dispersed urbanization, cooking of basic services to the urban poor including security of tenure at affordable prices, improved housing, water supply and sanitation, and ensuring delivery of other existing universal services of the Govt. for education, health and social security.Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) provides a new paradigm for inclusive city building inclusive urban communities based on holistic approach. It envisages reform-driven, fast-track and planned development of urban centres, with focus on dexterity in urban infrastructure/ service delivery mechanism, community affair and accountability of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) towards citizens.The Mission covered both components from force infrastructure as well as last mile services to the urban poor, ensuring convergence with the sectors of human development as well. The two sub-missions for 63 identified urban centres areUrban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG) introductory Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP)The Ministry of Urban Development is transaction urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG) and Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme in Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT). The Ministry of Housing Urban Poverty Alleviation is dealing with BSUP IHSDP especially the slum dwellers. JNNURM contemplates that urban centres develop planned urban positioning frameworks for a period of 20-25 years (with 5-yearly updates) indicating policies, programmes and strategies of meeting fund requirements. This perspective plan is to be followed by preparation of Development Plans integrating land use with services, urban transport and environment management for every five-year plan period. price of admission to lan d and legal security of tenure are strategic prerequisites for the provision of adequate shelter for all and for the development of sustainable human settlements touch both urban and rural areas. The major challenges facing is the scarcity of land for planning of housing for slum redevelopment projects for urban poor. This has been accentuated due to high cost of prime land where the slum dwellers reside. The present policy of the Central Government lays stress on an enabling approach. While recognizing the existence of assorted national laws and/or systems of land tenure, governments at the appropriate levels, including local authorities, are striving to remove obstacles that may hamper equitable access to land and ensure that equal rights of women and men related to land and property are protected under the law.The Jawahar Lal Nehru Mission and Rajiv Awas Yojana gives an institutional framework by snap on 7 point charter and creating tenurial rights for slum household especiall y women as joint ownership. This has been further strengthened in the Rajiv Awas Yojana wherein each state has been requested to create legislative and enabling environment for slum free India. JNNURM with its focus on important aspects like urban reforms, pro-poor infrastructure investments, inclusive urban planning, integrated management of urban infrastructure, slum rehabilitation including affordable housing and tenure security is a very positive step towards achieving the goal of inclusive and sustainable urban centers. However, challenges facing urban local bodies needs to be seen in the emerging scenarios of urbanization, inclusion and financial challenges.Sustainable urban development in INDIA therefore requires holistic and integrated planning with optimum use of resources within a good governance material for creating sustainable human environment. This requires paradigm shift in the existing institutions and the institutional framework for implementation. The decision ma king needs to be decentralized and resources financial and manpower needs to be devolved to the urban local bodies i.e. urban centres (urban local bodies) with replicable, scalable, flexible institutional format.