37
According to WWF, population’s demand on nature has exceeded the replenishing capacity of the earth for more than 40 years and the population demand is 1.6
times higher than the replenishing capacity of earth ((https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/all_publications/ ecological_footprint2/, accessed on 22-12-2019). The
continuous depletion of natural resource will result in shortage of food and water,
contamination of land, loss of bio-diversity, depletion of mineral resources, generation of more wastes and extinction of species.
2.7.2 Urban Sprawl
Growth and development of urban areas are occurring at a very rapid rate in the
world. According to Bhat et al. (2017), India’s urban population increased from 79
million in 1961 to 388 million in 2011. According Census data 2011, 31.16% of the
total population of the country is living in the urban areas. Urbanization in India is
due to two reasons: first, the increase in the urban population itself and second
through migration of people from rural to urban areas. The main causes of urbanization are industrialization, employment opportunity, education facility, other social
factors, etc.
The increase in population affects the environment in following ways:
a. Change of landuse: As urban sprawl is increasing more construction on bare soil
is occurring and urban areas are also increasing. As a result the land use pattern
is changing along with natural drainage pattern of the area.
b. Generation of waste: Urban areas in India are already overpopulated and it is
continuously increasing. As a result generation of domestic wastes is also
increasing along with generation of more sewage water.
c. Increase of flooding and water logging: The increase in urban areas is not following a scientific and planned way which is evident from the poor drainage system
in India. This poor drainage system and unscientific increase of urban areas
increase the risks of natural hazards as well as vulnerability.
d. Loss of rural areas: Increase of urban areas is directly linked with loss of rural
land. As a result the green cover of the country may also decrease with increasing
urbanization.
e. Air pollution: Vehicle emissions produce over 90% of air pollution in urban
areas in developing countries (Contreras and Ferri 2016). More than 50% cities
of India has moderate to poor air quality (Shrivastava et al. 2018).
f. Climate Change: According to UNCC news (https://unfccc.int/news/rapidurbanization-increases-climate-risk-for-billions-of-people) rapid urbanization
increases the climate risk for billions of people.
2 Contemporary Environmental Issues – The Indian Perspective
According to WWF, population’s demand on nature has exceeded the replenishing capacity of the earth for more than 40 years and the population demand is 1.6
times higher than the replenishing capacity of earth ((https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/all_publications/ ecological_footprint2/, accessed on 22-12-2019). The
continuous depletion of natural resource will result in shortage of food and water,
contamination of land, loss of bio-diversity, depletion of mineral resources, generation of more wastes and extinction of species.
2.7.2 Urban Sprawl
Growth and development of urban areas are occurring at a very rapid rate in the
world. According to Bhat et al. (2017), India’s urban population increased from 79
million in 1961 to 388 million in 2011. According Census data 2011, 31.16% of the
total population of the country is living in the urban areas. Urbanization in India is
due to two reasons: first, the increase in the urban population itself and second
through migration of people from rural to urban areas. The main causes of urbanization are industrialization, employment opportunity, education facility, other social
factors, etc.
The increase in population affects the environment in following ways:
a. Change of landuse: As urban sprawl is increasing more construction on bare soil
is occurring and urban areas are also increasing. As a result the land use pattern
is changing along with natural drainage pattern of the area.
b. Generation of waste: Urban areas in India are already overpopulated and it is
continuously increasing. As a result generation of domestic wastes is also
increasing along with generation of more sewage water.
c. Increase of flooding and water logging: The increase in urban areas is not following a scientific and planned way which is evident from the poor drainage system
in India. This poor drainage system and unscientific increase of urban areas
increase the risks of natural hazards as well as vulnerability.
d. Loss of rural areas: Increase of urban areas is directly linked with loss of rural
land. As a result the green cover of the country may also decrease with increasing
urbanization.
e. Air pollution: Vehicle emissions produce over 90% of air pollution in urban
areas in developing countries (Contreras and Ferri 2016). More than 50% cities
of India has moderate to poor air quality (Shrivastava et al. 2018).
f. Climate Change: According to UNCC news (https://unfccc.int/news/rapidurbanization-increases-climate-risk-for-billions-of-people) rapid urbanization
increases the climate risk for billions of people.
2 Contemporary Environmental Issues – The Indian Perspective